If John Wooden’s teams were defined by competitive greatness — being at their best when their best was needed — then the trademark of Steve Alford’s teams at UCLA were defined as not being at their best when their best was needed.
For that reason, last night, the UCLA Bruins men’s basketball team proved that, while Murry Bartow might actually be drawing the X’s and O’s, this year’s Bruins are definitely a Steve Alford team.
All the Bruins had to do was win two games on the road to finish in the top four in the Pac-12 standings so that UCLA could claim a first round bye in the Pac-12 Tournament next week.