Basketball edition looking back on the 2012 season

The 2012 season would prove to be the last of Ben Howland at UCLA. He would bring in the second-best recruit in the nation in Shabazz Muhammad. Setting up the opportunity to try and make one last March push. After so much heartbreak in the mid 2000’s that led to no titles and a lot of close encounters. Howland was nearing the end on if he could do it or if it was time for a change of coaches. The team would go 25-10 led by two future NBA players in Muhammad, Kyle Anderson and Jordan Adams. This team had good talent to make a run.

Muhammad was the prototypical one and done player. Everyone knew that he would only spend one season in college before going to the NBA. He was a very good player that could score at all three levels. Averaging 17.9 points per game on 44.3/37.7/71.1 shooting splits. He was flanked in the backcourt by Adams who averaged 15.3 points per game. Being the best freshman backcourt duo in the nation.

Anderson was another freshman that played a point forward role. Something that is so common in today’s game. It was not common back in 2012. Anderson controlled the game so well and could score, pass and rebound. He played with slow rhythm earning himself the nickname “slo-mo” still being effective in the NBA in 2026. Larry Drew who sat out 2011 as a transfer provided UCLA with a good floor general and was one of the nation’s leaders in assists.

The Bruins would go 25-10 on the season as they were the Pac-10 regular season champs. They got the No. 6 seed in the South after losing to Oregon in the Pac-10 tournament. Ultimately losing badly to No. 11 Minnesota in March Madness 83-63. The team would announce that they would let go of Ben Howland shortly after. He ended his tenure 233-107 with three Final Four Appearances. But now advancing past the round of 32 in any of his last five seasons at the school.