Mata-Real’s dream doesn’t come true

SAN ANTONIO -- Some UCLA undergraduates have decisions to make, but the only Bruins player who knows for sure he won’t be back next season was the only one crying in the locker room.

Senior center Lorenzo Mata-Real was a starter on the team that lost to Florida in a national semifinal last season, but even though he played only seven minutes in the 78-63 loss to Memphis on Saturday, he said this one felt much worse.

“I can’t win a title with UCLA,” Mata-Real said. “That was my dream and I thought we’d have the chance this season.”

Mata-Real, from South Gate High, has been a fan favorite since his freshman season because of his enthusiastic defense and willingness to accept any role. “This has been the best four years of my life,” he said.

------

During the regular season, Memphis shot 59% from the free-throw line, but the Tigers made 20 of 23 (87%) against UCLA and are 151 of 214 (71%) in the postseason.

------

Some schools have lost money by reaching the Final Four because of expenses required by the NCAA, the Dallas Morning News reported, but UCLA is not among them, according to Athletic Director Dan Guerrero.

“Our experience the last two years has not resulted in any financial loss,” Guerrero said. “It isn’t likely that even with the mandates that have been imposed it would result in a negative cash flow.”

Oklahoma Athletic Director Joe Castiglione told the newspaper the Sooners lost $200,000 because of hotel rooms it couldn’t sell at the 2002 Final Four, and Texas AD DeLoss Dodds said the Longhorns lost $113,000 on the 2003 Final Four because the school couldn’t sell the mandatory 400 hotel rooms for four nights.

This year, the NCAA is requiring schools to pay for 470 rooms for four nights and 3,750 tickets, most of them in the upper levels. Schools also are required to pay for a $32,000 party in a ballroom reserved for them -- whether they want the party or not.

Times staff writer Robyn Norwood contributed to this report.

diane.pucin@latimes.com