With UCLA basketball’s season coming to an end, we take a look back at different parts of the team as we grade the 2014-15 season. There were definitely some highs mixed with a unfortunate amount of lows, but once again, the Bruins end in the Sweet Sixteen. Heck, at least they aren’t USC.
UCLA Bruins
Record: 22-14 Overall, 11-7 Pac-12
Pac-12 Finish: 4th
Pac-12 Tourney Finish: Semifinals
NCAA Finish: Sweet 16
Season Averages
(NCAA ranking in parentheses)
Points: 71.9 (60th)
Rebounds: 38.0 (28th)
Assists: 13.8 (85th)
Field Goal %: 44.3 (114th)
Opponent Field Goal %: 41.6 (108th)
Points Allowed: 68.1 (218th)
UCLA Basketball Report Card
Offense: B+
They were not very fluid much of the season, inconsistent for the most part and had a habit of going going cold at the most inopportune times, but when this team was on, they were really on. Tony Parker could dominate the paint, Bryce Alford could make it rain from three point land and Norman Powell built a portfolio full of spectacular dunks this season.
Feb 21, 2015; Tucson, AZ, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Norman Powell (4) celebrates after dunking against the Arizona Wildcats during the first half at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Defense: C
This should really be a C- (or lower), but that fact of the matter is the Bruins showed very good defense from time to time, but not enough. Personally, I wish they did more, but you cannot blame them for something that is not their primary focus. If the Bruins could have just worked a little bit harder in this area, many other areas would have improved as well.
Front court: A-
Jan 14, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins forward Kevon Looney (5) dunks the ball against the Southern California Trojans at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
This grade was much lower at the beginning of the season, but as it progressed, so did the front court. Tony Parker started to become a real threat after he was out in January with back spasms. Since then, he has had several games that have destroyed opponents. Kevon Looney has been a force all year. He end he season with 15 double-doubles and was the closest Bruin to average that per game.
Back court: B-
Despite the fact that UCLA has no true point guard, Bryce Alford and Isaac Hamilton did a respectable job handling the offense. Both were inconsistent and had off nights but also proved to effect weapons when they got hot. The grade would have been lower if not for the efforts of senior “human highlights reel”, Norman Powell.
Bench: C+
The fact that the Bruins had very little help from their bench is concerning. Is it development? Is it talent? What ever it was did not help the Bruins when others were not able to get things going. Though Gyorgy Goloman and (especially) Thomas Welsh improved as the season went on, they were not in a position to make substantial contributions.
Dec 28, 2014; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide guard Levi Randolph (20) shoots around UCLA Bruins center Thomas Welsh (40) during the first half at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelly Lambert-USA TODAY Sports
Coaching: B-
There were times when Steve Alford was a basketball genius and others were he was completely out of his league. You have to give it to Alford getting UCLA to the Sweet Sixteen for the second year in a row, but seeing how he managed the team in certain games this season shows lapses in his coaching. Sure UCLA went up by 10 against the favored SMU in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, but then the Bruins were on the wrong end of a 19-0 run that nearly cost them. It is stuff like that which has to change to be able to take UCLA to the next level.
Extra Credit: Getting to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament
Final Grade: B-
Your comments are welcomed below.
Go Bruins!