Monday, June 15, 1998
Championship remains memorable
RESULTS: 1995 NCAA title still No. 1 sports moment for UCLA
fans, students
by Evan Lovett
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
In a landslide victory, the 1994-1995 men’s NCAA basketball
championship was chosen as the most memorable sports moment of the
last four years by UCLA students.
Led by seven future NBA players, the ’94-’95 Bruins could be
considered one of the deepest teams ever fielded by UCLA. Coach Jim
Harrick was able to find the perfect combination of youth and
experience in molding this team into a champion.
NCAA player of the year Ed O’Bannon, inspirational leader Tyus
Edney and the always consistent George Zidek were all graduating
seniors bound for the NBA. J.R. Henderson, Toby Bailey and Kris
Johnson were the heart of a highly touted freshman class. Charles
O’Bannon and Cameron Dollar were valuable role players just
becoming comfortable within the system. This star-studded team had
the tools to win it all.
The talented Bruins took the heavy expectations on to their
shoulders and never looked back. They stormed through the Pac-10
and ended regular season play with a 25-2 record, a No. 1 ranking
overall and a No. 1 seed in the West bracket of the NCAA
tournament.
The first round shellacking of Florida International was
followed by the game that provided the one moment that propelled
UCLA to the title. With 4.8 seconds to go and down by one against
Missouri, Tyus Edney made a mad full-court dash and drained a six
footer over three Missouri defenders.
The improbable shot gave the Bruins the momentum necessary to
sweep through the rest of the tournament, defeating Mississippi
State, University of Connecticut and Oklahoma State before matching
up with Arkansas in the finals.
The Corliss Williamson-led Razorbacks were a team to fear,
especially with the heart and soul of the Bruins, Tyus Edney,
questionable due to a sprained right wrist. Edney started the game
with a cast but was forced to leave the game after three
ineffective minutes. Not to fear, Cameron Dollar stepped in and
played the game of his life. His career-high 36 minutes and 8
assists allowed freshman sensation Toby Bailey and John Wooden
award winner O’Bannon to flourish. UCLA maintained control of the
game throughout and won their first title since 1975, 89-78.
With the national title in hand, the Bruins reestablished their
proud tradition as the elite team in college basketball.