Just under a year ago, the UCLA basketball team had lost to St. Bonaventure in the NCAA Tournament play-in game. It was another embarassing end to another underwhelming season.
It was an end to a season that was shrouded in controversy to start as three members of the team were arrested in China for shoplifting. The three players were suspended for the year, though one, LiAngelo Ball, left the program. Cody Riley and Jalen Hill, two of the Bruins’ big men, had stayed to take their punishment though they would be sidelined, leaving the frontcourt with limited depth.