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UCLA Basketball: Which Bruin Team Will Show Up in the NCAA Tournament?

By Mike Regalado

March 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Steve Alford watches game action against the Washington Huskies during the first half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
March 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Steve Alford watches game action against the Washington Huskies during the first half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Will UCLA Basketball’s high-octane offense help them race through the NCAA tournament or will they run out of gas on the side of the road to the Final Four?

The UCLA Basketball team has their itinerary set for the NCAA Tournament. They start this Friday against Kent State in Sacramento in  the first round in the South Region.

Though many should expect UCLA to run through the Golden Flashes and whoever their next opponent may be, it is also likely that the Bruins could struggle getting into the Sweet 16.

There is a reason UCLA is the top scoring and field-goal percentage team in the nation. They have an offense that is led by the supremely talented freshman point guard Lonzo Ball and is supported by a deep team that can score.

Related Story: UCLA Basketball's Path Through the Big Dance

The only thing is, when UCLA doesn’t score and their shots are not falling, and if by chance they forget to play defense, the could mean huge trouble for the Bruins.

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UCLA did not lose a single game in February as they were one of the hottest teams in the nation. An array of baskets and some effective defense helped them to get all the way up to the #3 spot in the AP poll.

Unfortunately, as we saw in January and in the Pac-12 tournament, UCLA’s high-octane machine can sputter along when kept unchecked. Hopefully this is not a sign of them running out of gas.

With all of that in mind, the Bruins have not exactly been getting any respect for major pundits, so we should expect a fully-charged Bruins team to come out attacking in the NCAA Tournament.

The Bruins should be able to get through this first weekend unscathed and if they continue their dominating ways, there is a good chance that they can defeat both Kentucky and North Carolina, if both teams make it that far, in the Sweet 16 and Elite 8.

Next: GJB Predicts UCLA in the NCAA Tournament

If UCLA takes these games for granted and assumes that they are going to win just because of the four letters on their chest, then they could easily drop out of the first weekend. Stay focused, Bruins.