UCLA Basketball Moves Back Into The AP Top 25

January 26, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Jordan Adams (3), guard Norman Powell (4) and guard/forward Kyle Anderson (5) during a stoppage in play against the California Golden Bears during the second half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

#23. That is the newest ranking for the UCLA Bruins (20-5, 9-3) basketball team as they re-enter the AP Top 25. After an impressive three-game win streak, the Bruins managed to get 20 wins in Head Coach Steve Alford’s first season earlier than expected.

This is the Bruin’s third time making an appearance of the AP poll’s weekly rankings this season. UCLA started out the year with a five-week run in the polls, but each time managed to exit the following week due to a loss. Call it growing pains.

After the last three games, UCLA has gotten themselves into a good position to not only climb the rankings, but gain some ground in the Pac-12. They beat USC, Colorado and Utah in games where the Bruins were playing less than stellar first halves, but managed to roar back to destroy all three teams in the second.

If the Bruins can continue their winning ways, then maybe they can break their Pac-12 2-game road trip trend. At Colorado–Utah and Oregon–Oregon State, the Bruins were able to have strong opening games, but  came out weak in the second.

It does not get easier this weekend, but UCLA has beaten both Cal and Stanford in their trips to Pauley Pavilion. If UCLA can play their game like they did in the previous match-ups, then this could be a really good sign of how UCLA is getting good enough to strengthen their bid for a solid post-season run.

#GoBruins

Mike W.R.

Twitter: @TheBigDisco