In 1968, UCLA was into its legendary run of national championships. With Lew Alcindor, now known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the Bruins were a devastating force. There was no answer to Alcindor anywhere in the college game and the rest of the team was very good too. John Wooden also had Lucius Allen, Mike Warren, Mike Lynn and Lynn Shackleford, among others.
At Houston, Guy Lewis had Don Chaney and, most of all, Elvin Hayes, who was a tremendous player for the Cougars.
Lewis wanted to see how his team would do agains the best, so he scheduled the Bruins.