UCLA Basketball: Can Steve Alford Improve the Defense?

UCLA Basketball Head Coach Steve Alford needs to improve his team’s defense and return to his coaching ways from his time at New Mexico.

“Over the course of my career, teams that I’ve led have owned, on average, a defensive rank in the top 50. This year we ranked outside the top 100. This can never happen again. We must return to the basics and instill defensive fundamentals in our young men from day one of permissible workouts.”

This excerpt comes from the letter UCLA Basketball Head Coach Steve Alford wrote to Bruin fans in an email back on March 20.

There were several things Alford addressed in his letter — including returning his contract extension — but one of the biggest issues was the glaring problems on defense.

Related Story: What Does Steve Alford Have To Do To Keep His Job?

In the Pac-12, the Bruins were 10th in scoring defense, allowing 76.7 points per game. One word for it is “atrocious”. Another word can be “non-existent”.

By simply watching the Bruins, one could tell that defense was not a priority and often seemed like they were not playing any defense at all. Alford reiterated this when he recently talked with Jon Rothstein on his podcast stating that he did a “poor job” of preparing this team to play defense, among other things.

But that was the past and the focus is now on the future. So can Alford actually improve the defense?

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Yes.

Surprisingly, Alford had some good defensive teams before he came to UCLA. Part of why he was hired, per UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero, was because of his take on defense.

In his last season at New Mexico, Alford’s team only allowed 60.6 ppg (35th in the NCAA) and held opponents to 39.1% shooting (26th).

That is in stark contrast to this last season in Westwood. Aside from allowing 76.7 ppg (285th), the Bruins could only hold opponents to .431 field goal percentage (142nd).

Under Alford, the UCLA Basketball team has shifted their focus to offense and seemingly abandoned defense, which seems to have been his downfall.

If Alford wants to “return to the basics and instill defensive fundamentals” and is truly dedicated to it, then this can only benefit the Bruins.

Next: UCLA Basketball Head Coach Steve Alford Talks With Jon Rothstein

UCLA will have a lot of offensive weapons next year, especially with potential superstar Lonzo Ball coming in as a distributor, so any improvement on defense will make a difference, but how much is yet to be seen.