The UCLA Basketball team switches to tournament mode after their win over Washington State in their regular season finale.
The UCLA Basketball team is 28-3 to end the regular season. The last time the Bruins only had three loses in a season was the 1994-95 season, the season the Bruins won their 11th National Championship. It was the last banner the UCLA Basketball team raised in Pauley Pavilion.
Of course, these Bruins are not there yet as we still have some basketball to play. It is nice to marvel at that record, but right now, it is time to turn to tournament mode.
The Bruins beat Washington State last night, 77-68. It was their ninth win in a row to top off an impressive streak which began after back-to-back loses to Arizona and USC (which the Bruins have avenged with wins of their own).
Though it was sloppy against Wazzu, the Bruins were able to run away with the game late to get to 15-3 in conference. A difference from going 6-12 in the Pac-12 last season.
UCLA finishes third in the conference, a game out of first place and though the Bruins miss out on a regular season championship, there are still a few attainable goals they can meet.
Next week UCLA starts the Pac-12 Tournament as a #3 seed. They have a first round bye and will play either #6 USC or #11 Washington at 8:30 p.m. PT on Thursday night. Winning this tournament is going to prove a lot for UCLA and get them ready for the road that lies ahead the week after… The start of the Big Dance.
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If UCLA wins the Pac-12 Tournament, with wins over Oregon and Arizona, there is no doubt that they should be a #1-seed in the tourney, no matter what certain facts tell us. Go Bruins!