The UCLA Bruins are the first team in NCAA men's basketball tournament history to reach the Final Four after entering the tourney on a four-game losing streak, according to Elias Sports Bureau research. After dropping their last three games of the regular season, the Bruins lost to Oregon State in their first game of the Pac-12 tournament. No team has lost its conference tournament opener and gone on to win the NCAA tournament.
Yet here are the Bruins, set to take on undefeated Gonzaga in the national semifinals Saturday night after needing overtime to beat Michigan State in the First Four, then knocking off BYU, Abilene Christian, Alabama and Michigan.