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UCLA Basketball: The Talent is There, But What About the Coaching from Steve Alford?

By Mike Regalado

Feb 18, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Steve Alford on the sidelines against the Utah Utes during the first half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 18, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Steve Alford on the sidelines against the Utah Utes during the first half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
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UCLA Basketball has a lot of expectations going into the 2016-17 season, mostly because of the amount of talent on the team, but coaching is a question mark. Will Head Coach Steve Alford help the Bruins reach their potential or will the Bruins have a mediocre year?

There is a lot of hope and expectations for the UCLA Basketball team going into this new season, but the reality of the situation is unknown. That reality has to do with Head Coach Steve Alford and how he will perform as a coach this season.

Alford was not a popular man at the end of last season with the majority of the Bruin fan base calling for his termination.

Part of this has to do with UCLA’s regression since Alford’s first season. Their win totals in the last three years are 28, 22 and 15.

Related Story: UCLA Basketball is Overrated According to ESPN

So when Alford lost his last five games of the 2015-16 season, including a 95-71 defeat to USC in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament (which was the third time they lost to the Trojans that season), that did not sit well with Bruin fans. Knowing the situation, Alford responded in a letter to the Bruin fan base in which he apologized for his performance, gave back the bonus he received after his first year on the job and stated that changes will be made.

This may have had a too-little-too-late vibe to it, but it shows that Alford recognizes a problem. He is not going to let it go unnoticed and wants to be active in turning this program around. While that is good motivation for the season, it does not mean that Alford will actually change.

The problems from last season were in his approach. Roster management, defense, development and game planning had all led to the downward spiral the Bruins faced at the end of last season.

So changes have to be made.