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UCLA Basketball: The 10 best games of the Steve Alford era

By Mike Regalado

MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 24: Head coach Steve Alford of the UCLA Bruins looks on in the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats during the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament South Regional at FedExForum on March 24, 2017 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 24: Head coach Steve Alford of the UCLA Bruins looks on in the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats during the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament South Regional at FedExForum on March 24, 2017 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 03: Prince Ali #5 of the UCLA Bruins dunks over Alex Poythress #22 of the Kentucky Wildcats during an 87-77 UCLA win at Pauley Pavilion on December 3, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 03: Prince Ali #5 of the UCLA Bruins dunks over Alex Poythress #22 of the Kentucky Wildcats during an 87-77 UCLA win at Pauley Pavilion on December 3, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

3. December 3, 2016 vs #1 Kentucky 87-77

There was definitely not a lot to write home about during this season where the Bruins went 15-17, except maybe for one game. UCLA’s shocking victory over the number one ranked Kentucky Wildcats at Pauley Pavilion.

On this Thursday night in Southern California, Bruin fans were just hoping that their team would put up a fight. UCLA was not exactly lighting the world on fire in their previous non-conference games, so not a lot was expected in this first of a home-and-home.

Fortunately for those Bruin fans that made the effort to Pauley for the “Gold Out” and those that actually managed to watch at home, they were treated to a show that injected a little bit of life back into the basketball program.

Thomas Welsh was on fire in this game as he put up 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, but he was not alone as every starter scored in double digits. There was also a little bit of defense being played as the Bruins held UK to 32.0% shooting on the night.

Also, there was this little bit of magic from Prince Ali…

https://twitter.com/Purple32Gold/status/752220927123918848

The Bruins had just taken down the number one team in the nation. Nobody saw that coming. It was the first game out of three that the Bruins would take from the Wildcats over a four-year span, making it known that, as odd as it sounds, Steve Alford owns John Calipari.