What Would UCLA Basketball Look Like If There Was A 3-Year Eligibility Rule?

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It came to me just after the UCLA basketball team lost to the #1 Arizona Wildcats in the Pac-12 tournament semi-finals on Friday: what would UCLA look like with a 3-year eligibility rule in place? I imagined the Bruins with Kyle Anderson, Jordan Adams and Zach LaVine. Then I remembered Fansided’s article, What Would NCAA Basketball Look Like With A Required 3 Year Eligibility Rule.

That took me back one more year. I then thought about what this Bruin team would look like sans the recent phenomenon of leaving school early to play pro ball and it looks, in theory, like it would be a very fun team to watch and a very hard team to beat. Take a look at what a depth chart might be if players that had recently left would be required to stay three years:

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Imagine that line-up against Arizona or any one for that matter. Though this is a trip into fantasy land, with all things considered, if college players were required three-years, there would be a few minor differences.

March 15, 2013; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UCLA Bruins guard/forward Shabazz Muhammad (15) celebrates after the game against the Arizona Wildcats in the semifinal round of the Pac 12 tournament at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. UCLA defeated Arizona 66-64. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Still, for the fun of it, imagine if this team was available this season…. not only would they have a better record, played well on the road and possibly scored more than 7 points against Kentucky at halftime (as well as not allowing 41 points to be put on them), but they would be a really tough team to go against. It would be fantastic!

Imagine Kyle Anderson dishing off to Shabazz Muhammad, Norman Powell or Jordan Adams. I bet you can also imagine Kevon Looney and Tony Parker consistently getting fed in the low-post. It would be magical.

Not only that, the Bruins would have a deep, stellar bench that could actually contribute on a nightly basis. Along with them, younger guys can take the time to properly develop rather than being thrown into the fire due to lack of players because of ineligibility or poor recruiting.

Feb 8, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Jordan Adams (3) celebrates during the second half against the Southern California Trojans at Galen Center. UCLA defeated USC 83-73. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

If this rule was in effect, and this goes for all major conference teams across the country, the Bruins would be most improved. They would not only be a Top 25 team (I’d even say Top 10), but they would be gliding into the NCAA Tournament, rather than trying to claw their way in by their fingertips in hopes that others fall along the way.

In addition, the Bruins would have man-handled Arizona and Oregon in this season’s Pac-12 Tournament. Unfortunately that is not the case and the Bruins are currently sitting at home hoping to have their name called for the NCAA Tournament on Selection Sunday.

We can dream.