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UCLA Basketball: A look back before analyzing the 2023-24 season

By Ryan Kay

Dec 20, 2011; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of seat cushions at the the Sports Arena with the words: UCLA Basketball 2011-2013 Road Show before the game against the UC Irvine Anteaters. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2011; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of seat cushions at the the Sports Arena with the words: UCLA Basketball 2011-2013 Road Show before the game against the UC Irvine Anteaters. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 16, 2023; Sacramento, CA, USA; The UCLA Bruins bench celebrates in the second half against the UNC Asheville Bulldogs at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2023; Sacramento, CA, USA; The UCLA Bruins bench celebrates in the second half against the UNC Asheville Bulldogs at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

In order to be optimistic about success on the hardwood at Pauley Pavilion for the 2023-24 season, let’s take a look at the Bruins’ season over the past decade.

Now let’s look back at the past 11 UCLA basketball teams from the past 11 seasons including the Covid season where the Pac-12 Tournament and NCAA tournament were not played. To illiterate no matter who comes and goes rather it via the NBA draft or transfer portal or due to graduation and have no more eligibility, the Bruins more than not have been consistent year in and year out.

2022-23: This season’s team was led by and they went 31-6 overall and 16-2 in the Pac-12. In non-conference play they defeated then No. 20 ranked Maryland on the road as well as No. 13 Kentucky. In conference play, UCLA swept Washington State, Washington, Utah, and Stanford, and defeated Oregon and Colorado three times. The Bruins made it to the Sweet Sixteen, where they lost to North Carolina by only seven points.

2021-22: This season’s team was led by and they went 27-8 overall and 15-5 in the Pac-12. In non-conference play then defeated the No. 4 ranked Villanova and beat both Marquette and UNLV on the road. After two games were canceled and four games were postponed, UCLA in conference play beat Cal, Washington, Oregon State, and Washington State twice. The Bruins came in second place in the Pac-12 regular season standing and they made it to the Sweet Sixteen, where they lost to Gonzaga by only three points.

2020-21: This season’s team was led by Johnny Juzang and Jaime Jaquez Jr and even though their season was a roller coaster and it was a shortened season due to Covid protocols, they were 22-10 overall and 13-6 in the Pac-12. After losing their final four games of the regular season they went on a magical run in the NCAA Tournament.  UCLA defeated Michigan State in overtime in the First Four game and then they defeated No. 6 seed BYU by double digits. In the second round, the Bruins beat Abilene Christian by 20 points and then pulled off another upset by defeating No. 2 seed Alabama in overtime. In the Elite Eight, UCLA beat No. 1 seed Michigan to advance to the Final Four. In the Final Four, they lost to Gonzaga by three in overtime ending the magical tournament run.

2019-20: This team went 19-12 overall and 12-6 in the Pac-12. They finished the season strong after having an up-and-down season by winning nine of their last eleven games. During that stretch, they defeated ranked Colorado twice and beat No. 23 Arizona on the road as well.  The season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so the Bruins did not have a chance to defend their Final Four appearance as the Pac-12 and NCAA tournament were canceled.

2018-19: This was the most recent disappointing season for UCLA basketball as the team finished 17-16 and 9-9 in Pac-12 play. This was the final season for head men’s basketball coach Steve Alford as the head coach of the Bruins after Alford had a four-game losing streak that put UCLA at 7-6 to start the season. This season was an outlier in recent Bruin basketball history and the 2023-24 will not end as it did at the conclusion of the 2018-19 season.