THE FRESH FIVE

A season after Kevin Durant was the national player of the year and another freshman, Greg Oden, became the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, the new crop has arrived. Each Tuesday we’ll look at how UCLA’s Kevin Love and USC’s O.J. Mayo stack up against the best of the freshman class:

Michael Beasley, Kansas State

Season stats: 31.0 ppg, 19.0 rpg.

What he’s done lately: The 6-10 forward scored 32 points and grabbed 24 rebounds against Sacramento State, breaking the Big 12 rebounding record in his debut, and came back with 30 points and 14 rebounds against Pittsburg State.

What’s ahead: Saturday vs. Western Illinois.

Eric Gordon, Indiana

Season stats: 33.0 ppg, 63.6 3pt.%.

What he’s done lately: The 6-4 guard scored 33 points against Chattanooga in the Hoosiers’ opener, making seven of 11 three-pointers.

What’s ahead: Sunday vs. Longwood.

Kevin Love, UCLA

Season stats: 21.5 ppg, 11.0 rpg. What he’s done lately: The 6-10 center played an all-around game with 22 points, 13 rebounds and three assists in the Bruins’ opener against Portland State and followed it up with 21 points and nine rebounds Monday against Youngstown State.

What’s ahead: Tonight vs. Cal State San Bernardino.

O.J. Mayo, USC

Season stats: 32.0 ppg, 4.0 apg.

What he’s done lately: The 6-5 guard scored 25 points in the second half of his 32-point debut against Mercer, but committed eight turnovers as then-No. 18 USC was upset by the Bears.

What’s ahead: Thursday at The Citadel, Saturday at South Carolina.

Derrick Rose, Memphis

Season stats: 19.0 ppg, 3.0 apg.

What he’s done lately: The 6-3 point guard had 17 points, six rebounds and five assists against Tennessee Martin in his first game and 21 points against Richmond in his second.

What’s ahead: Thursday vs. Oklahoma at New York, Friday vs. Connecticut or Gardner-Webb at New York.