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UCLA Basketball: The Bruins Lose To Cal and Possibly a Chance at the NCAA Tournament

By Mike Regalado

Feb 25, 2016; Berkeley, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Steve Alford and California Golden Bears head coach Cuonzo Martin talk with a referees as a call is reviewed during the second half at Haas Pavilion. The California Golden Bears defeated the UCLA Bruins 75-63. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2016; Berkeley, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Steve Alford and California Golden Bears head coach Cuonzo Martin talk with a referees as a call is reviewed during the second half at Haas Pavilion. The California Golden Bears defeated the UCLA Bruins 75-63. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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Despite needing a win, the UCLA Basketball team came out slow and uninspired against Cal and eventually fell to big brother, 75-63.

UCLA Basketball Head Coach Steve Alford said “there’s still hope” when asked about making it to the NCAA Tournament.

No, Steve. There is not.

The Bruin just got smashed at Haas Pavilion by an up-and-coming Cal Bears team that has all but punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament. Steve Alford lives in a fantasy world where he thinks that 15-13 overall record and a 6-9 conference record can get you into the NCAA Tournament.

The Bruins barely got into the The Big Dance with a 19-12 regular season record last season, so what makes Alford so certain that a 18-13 record (at best, if they win their last three games) will get them into the tournament this season?

I am not saying that Alford is smoking the same thing as Jelani McCoy, but there is definitely something off about his reasoning.

The Bruins just lost by double-digits. They started slow at the beginning of both halves and produced lackluster performances to follow it up. Sure the Bruins came within striking distance a few times, but they did nothing to capitalize on the momentum switch.

Cal on the other hand knew exactly what they needed to do and did not let up on the effort. Four of their five starters scored in double-digits. On top of that, Cal, being the best defensive team in the Pac-12, limited UCLA to 41% shooting on the night.

Despite having four of their own five starters score in double digits, not a single Bruin shot better than 50%. This is not a team that is NCAA worthy. This is a team that gets head coaches fired.

Still, Alford will continue into his fantasy world believing that things are hunky-dory and continue on with what he believes is a formula for good basketball. It is not. It is, in fact, quite detestable. This is not the UCLA way. Sure, Alford has not had problems with his teams off the court, but on the court, where it counts, Alford has been down right embarrassing.