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UCLA Basketball: Bruins brutalized by Bearcats, “Fire Alford” chants increase

By Mike Regalado

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 15: Head Coach Steve Alford of UCLA Men's Baskeball speaks to the media during a press conference at Pauley Pavilion on November 15, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. Team members LiAngelo Ball, Cody Riley and Jalen Hill have been suspended from the team after allegedly shoplifting while on a school trip to China. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 15: Head Coach Steve Alford of UCLA Men's Baskeball speaks to the media during a press conference at Pauley Pavilion on November 15, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. Team members LiAngelo Ball, Cody Riley and Jalen Hill have been suspended from the team after allegedly shoplifting while on a school trip to China. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images) /
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On Wednesday night, the UCLA basketball team continued to underwhelm with Steve Alford as head coach and showed why he needs to go after getting blown out at Cincinnati.

The UCLA basketball team suffered their third largest defeat in the Steve Alford era on Wednesday as they fall for a second time against Cincinnati, as they lose by 29 points in a 92-63 massacre.

RELATED: UCLA Needs to Move Past Alford

UCLA had one of their worst performances of the year as they had their lowest point total (64), second most points allowed (93), lowest rebounding total (25), and allowed their highest field goal percentage on the year (52.4%).

I would like to celebrate Cody Riley’s 11 point, 10 rebound double-double or Jaylen Hand’s 12 assists or Kris Wilkes’ 21 points or Moses Brown’s 3 blocks, but I cannot. The end result is another disastrous loss.

This should not be happening to a program whose coach is in his sixth year. With all of their resources and top 10 recruiting classes, this team is showing no signs of improving. Actually, they are getting worse.

That has been the thing with Alford. His teams don’t get better. They stay the same or digress. That is exactly what we are seeing right now.

In their first three games, UCLA scored over 90 points. They have not done that since. In their last three games they are averaging 67.0 PPG. In their first three games, they averaged 47.3 rebounds, only to see that fall to 40.3 in the last three (with only 25 against Cincinnati). As for field goals, they started with a 53.7% average in the first three games, only to hit new lows and average 39.1% in the last three.

PODCAST: What’s Bruin Show – Mike Laments UCLA Basketball’s Existence

And then there are the points, rebounds and field goal percentages allowed. Long story short, that is getting worse for the Bruins.

The pattern is being set for this season, just as it had in the five previous under Alford and we all know what’s going to happen. He might get a few big wins over less opponents, especially in Pac-12 play, but he will not win the big games and he will certainly not go far in the NCAA Tournament, if he even makes it in.

Next. UCLA Basketball: The 25 Greatest Bruins of all time. dark

Everyone knows this and that is why the chants for firing Alford are growing. If you would like to hear more of my rantings in greater detail, click the above link to the What’s Bruin Show podcast.