Go Joe Bruin
Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
Jan 1, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Steve Alford watches from the sidelines during the first half against the Washington Huskies at Alaska Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Steve Alford watches from the sidelines during the first half against the Washington Huskies at Alaska Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /

Coaching

Now this is $10.4 million question… can Alford and his staff improve on coaching this team? The easy answer is, “yes”. I just pointed out several ways for Alford to do that, but I doubt he jumps out of bed each morning to check his email for the latest editions of Go Joe Bruin (now available for subscription!).

Either way, Alford has to have marked improvement over last year and break the downward trend he is taking UCLA Basketball on.

Next year the Bruins are bringing in four stellar recruits, Lonzo Ball, T.J. Leaf, Ike Anigbogu and Kobe Parras. Ball and Leaf alone have the ability to increase the talent value of this team, but Alford cannot rely on a few freshmen to save his job.

Alford has to known the strengths and weaknesses of every one of his players. He has to limit the playing time of EVERY Bruins. He has to affix roles, have his players stick to them and hold them accountable when they do not adhere to the parameter of those roles. Now these are things he should already know when it comes to his players, but when it comes to games, Alford still has a lot of work to do.

Alford has made adjustments in a few games, but not enough to make a huge dent. When he recognized that Welsh and Parker on the floor at the same time was not working, he inserted Jonah Bolden into one of those spots.

Related Story: UCLA AD Dan Guerrero's Presser - What He Said Vs. What He Meant

Alford has to have the Bruins prepared for each game and not send the same game plan out for every opponent. “Score more than them” is not as effective as it appears. Alford needs to focus on match-ups and have his players keyed into how they will defeat one opponent to the next. On top of that, he needs to make adjustments in-game. What happens in the first part of the game will change in the second part.

So yes, there is a lot that Alford needs to change if he plans on making UCLA Basketball a contender again and earning that extension back. Alford needs to draw up a plan, set the foundation, put it into action (with practices) and execute, because if he does not, he will not earn that extension, and worse, he will not earn an invite to return as the coach of the Bruins for the 2017-18 season.

Next: Can It Happen?