UCLA Basketball and The Future

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Feb 27, 2016; Stanford, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Isaac Hamilton (10) and guard Bryce Alford (20) talk during the game against the Stanford Cardinal in the 2nd half at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /

Elite or Bust

With Alford on the hot seat, every game next season will be under a microscope by fans, boosters, the UCLA AD, writers and national college basketball critics, at the very least (oh, the things Bill Walton is going to ramble on about). To say Alford has to improve is an understatement, but what will he need to do to save his job?

The focus for Alford at this point, seems to be “surviving”. That is far removed from the goal of playing for National Championships.

It is obvious Dan Guerrero does not want to be known as the athletic director that made (another) hiring mistake, so it is also in his best interest for the Bruins to improve or he will have to fire Alford and that will not be good for him despite the fact that he is retiring in a few years.

With that, UCLA needs to win the Pac-12 regular season championship and/or Pac-12 Tournament to show that there is improvement, but unfortunately, there will moments where they stumble and make UCLA look bad once again (I fear the UCLA game at Kentucky).

The sad thing is, UCLA making it to the Sweet Sixteen could be enough to extend Alford’s time in Westwood, despite how the team performs in the regular season (isn’t the goal at UCLA to win National Championships?). Adding in the fact that Ball and Leaf could jump to the NBA after next season does not help the program the following year.

The Bruins look to have a solid recruiting class coming in with PG Jaylen Hands, SG Liangelo Ball and PF Jalen Hill coming to Westwood, but Bruin fans fear the team will be in an unbreakable cycle of not being good enough to hang another banner while teams like Duke, Kentucky, Kansas and North Carolina continue to thrive on a yearly basis.

Unfortunately, at UCLA, that seems to not be the focus. The focus for Alford at this point, seems to be “surviving”. That is far removed from the goal of playing for National Championships.

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UCLA Basketball will never have another John Wooden, but it should not have to settle for Steve Alford. Until the UCLA Atheltic Department realizes that, it will be a long time before the Bruins get to hang a banner in Pauley Pavilion.