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UCLA Basketball: How The Bruins Can Improve in 2016-17

By Mike Regalado

Jan 30, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins center Thomas Welsh (40) gets a high five from head coach Steve Alford as he leaves the game in the second half against the Washington State Cougars Pauley Pavilion. UCLA won 83-50. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 30, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins center Thomas Welsh (40) gets a high five from head coach Steve Alford as he leaves the game in the second half against the Washington State Cougars Pauley Pavilion. UCLA won 83-50. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Effort, Aggressiveness and Leadership

“UCLA, Fight, FIght, Fight!”

Well lately it has just been, “UCLA”. There has been very little fight with the Bruins and that has to do with motivation and leadership. This all comes back to Alford. If he wants to improve this team, he has to up the ante with not just the physical game, but the mental game.

The team as a whole seemed to lack effort toward the end of the season. Whether the players could foresee a lost season or if it was more internal issues that led to the lack of effort, the point is that players were not giving their all.

January 7, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Bryce Alford (20) is congratulated after shooting a three point basket to win against Arizona Wildcats during the second half at Pauley Pavilion. UCLA defeats Arizona 87-84. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
January 7, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Bryce Alford (20) is congratulated after shooting a three point basket to win against Arizona Wildcats during the second half at Pauley Pavilion. UCLA defeats Arizona 87-84. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

When this happens, Alford has to make every player accountable, even his own son Bryce Alford. Bryce does too much on the offensive end and when it ends in a turnover or consecutive missed contested shots, he is never disciplined or simply told “don’t do that”.

It is a similar result when he is on defense. Bryce plays five feet off the ball (without putting his hands up) and constantly allows the opposition to blow past him. And if Bryce is caught as the solo defender in a 2-on-1 fast break situation, well, we all know it is essentially a 2-on-0 situation at that point.

Even if Bryce puts effort into a defensive play and it resulted in a foul, I think many Bruin fans would applaud him, not just for attempting defense, but for being aggressive.

And that leads to aggressiveness as a whole. The blame here does not solely rest on Bryce because the rest of the team needs to be held to that standard. If players give up, that is an individual issue, but at the same time, it seems these players have not been taught (or to express) aggressiveness.

I remember very few players taking a charge, there were no hard fouls given (not flagrant, just done with effort), the rebounding game was weak, UCLA was not proficient in stealing (5.5 per game, 6th in the Pac-12) and generally had a lackadaisical approach to the game, especially of they were losing. To improve on aggressiveness, Steve Alford needs to find a way to light a fire under this team and have it stay lit.

If Alford could somehow transfer some of the flames from the hot seat he is sitting on to his players, then maybe we could see some change next season.

Next: Coaching