Go Joe Bruin
Fansided

UCLA Basketball: ESPN doesn’t trust Steve Alford in the Top 25

By Mike Regalado

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 09: Head coach Steve Alford of the UCLA Bruins yells to his players during a semifinal game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament against the Arizona Wildcats at T-Mobile Arena on March 9, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wildcats won 78-67 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 09: Head coach Steve Alford of the UCLA Bruins yells to his players during a semifinal game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament against the Arizona Wildcats at T-Mobile Arena on March 9, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wildcats won 78-67 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

ESPN came out with an article that looked at teams on the outside of their way-too-early Top 25, which listed the UCLA basketball team, but it was the harsh criticism of head coach Steve Alford that stood out more than anything, regardless of how true their statements were.

The truth has spread to the masses. UCLA basketball head coach Steve Alford is not trustworthy enough to win hardware for his program. Outside of one Pac-12 Tournament Championship (in his first year), he has not been able to win anything significant in his six years in Westwood.

RELATED: The 10 Best Games of the Alford Era

Bruin fans are well aware of this, but now, so is the national media.

On Monday, ESPN’s Myron Medcalf came out with an article that looked at six undeserving programs in his article, Teams on the outside looking in at Way-Too-Early Top 25, and the Bruins made his list and the explanation was harsh, but truthful.

The header for UCLA said it all: No reason to trust Steve Alford.

More from Go Joe Bruin

Right out of the gate, Medcalf tells it like it is with Alford in charge at UCLA. He starts by praising Alford for his recruiting and producing seven first round draft picks during his tenure, but that tone quickly changes when he states, “UCLA has never won a Pac-12 regular-season title or advanced past the Sweet 16. That’s why we’re hesitant to include UCLA in our early top-25.”

That is the hard truth with Alford at UCLA. He has so much talent, but can never do anything with it. In his most successful season (2016), UCLA managed to go 31-5, yet came in 3rd in the Pac-12 and lost to Kentucky (a team they beat in Lexington a few months prior) in the Sweet 16.

The coming 2018-19 season could be very fruitful as the Bruins bring in a Top 5 recruiting class. Yet they also lose two vital components to last season’s team, PG Aaron Holiday and C Thomas Welsh. UCLA will also be short on experience as they only have two upperclassmen returning, SG Prince Ali and PF Alex Olesinski.

The ten freshmen and sophomores are very talented, but it will be a lot to ask of them to win a championship or go deep in the NCAA Tournament.

It has also been said that Alford has an ultimatum for next season… get to the Final Four, or its his job.

Next: UCLA Basketball: The 10 best men’s basketball players since 2000

Clearly, Alford has a lot to focus on this season, which is supported by Medcalf’s claims.  He finishes by stating, “Considering UCLA’s recent history of falling short of expectations, it’s unclear how it has matured into a squad that warrants inclusion.” Harsh, but true.