As UCLA piled up win after win in the season’s early going, players and coaches sounded the same refrain: The Bruins wanted to elevate themselves from a good team to a great one.
They weren’t even passable for stretches Wednesday night at Pauley Pavilion. There were bad passes, missed shot after missed shot and a handful of lengthy lulls in the second half.
Then Western Michigan learned what so many other teams have already painfully absorbed over the last six weeks. Even when UCLA isn’t at its best, it’s usually capable enough.