UCLA’s early resume for making the NCAA tournament is one that might get stuck deep inside a filing cabinet, only to be pulled out if scores of other candidates fall through.
The Bruins’ best win has come against Notre Dame, a power-conference school in the midst of a mediocre season. They have lost their only two games against nationally ranked teams. They are coming off a defeat against Belmont, out of the Ohio Valley Conference, on their home court.
That makes what happens over the next four days perhaps just as important as anything over the two months to follow.