Basketball edition looking back on the 2018 season

The 2018 basketball season would start off really well for the UCLA Bruins. They had one of the top recruiting classes that included Moses Brown and Jules Bernard. Coupled with Cody Riley and Jalen Hill. The Bruins had a great set of freshmen to add with Jaylen Hands and Kris Wilkes, who were expected to grow their games. The Bruins would roll out of the gates 4-0 and up to No. 17 in the nation. Unfortunately, it would all go downhill from there. As they would go on their first four game losing streak in many years and falling apart.

After going 3-6 over their nine games after their 4-0 start. They would relieve Steve Alford of his head coach duties. Turning the reigns over to Murry Bartow for the rest of the season. The offense became so stagnant, even with the talent that they had. The defense also looked helpless at times. Even with a top recruiting class it was looking like a season that was doomed. They had one of the worst defenses in the nation that gave up close to 78 points per game.

Wilkes had a good season averaging 17.4 points per game. He was flanked by Hands who averaged 14.2 points per game. They were the only two players on the team that averaged in double digits for the year. Brown had a good freshman season averaging 9.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Leaving for the NBA following the season although he would go undrafted. The Bruins finished the season 17-16 on the season and missed the March tournament.

In a season where there weren’t too many positives. The one thing that came from this team is Bernard, Riley and David Singleton were big parts of the Bruins future. Each of those players were a part of the First Four to Final Four run in 2021. Even in a season of negatives and a rough Alford tenure. He was responsible for those recruits that helped the next era soar.