Between 1977 and 2005, the most decorated college basketball program on the planet, the school of Wooden, Walton and Alcindor, made exactly two Final Four appearances. They summited the college basketball mountain only once, in 1995, when Ed O’Bannon was player of the year and Tyus Edney went the distance against Missouri.
Three decades post-Wooden, the Bruins have returned to their rightful place as a perennial powerhouse in college hoops. Yet that role is starkly different than the banner-raising festival that characterized UCLA basketball under the Wizard of Westwood.
These teams ““ coach Ben Howland’s 21st-century version of UCLA basketball ““ have yet to win it all.
Today, Wooden’s style can only be found on the court in the form of DNA; his great-grandson Tyler Trapani is a freshman walk-on. (Ironically, freshmen couldn’t play on the varsity team for most of Wooden’s coaching tenure.)
And for the second consecutive year, UCLA’s season rests on the shoulders of a freshman, although Jrue Holiday’s aren’t quite as broad as Kevin Love’s.
Holiday, this season’s rookie sensation, is an unassuming 6 feet 3 inches. He is only 18 years old. He is also the difference between the first round and the final round.
The pollsters have ranked UCLA No. 4 this preseason. Top four doesn’t cut it around here ““ only championship banners accepted, thank you very much.
After losing in three consecutive Final Fours, the Bruins boast an eerily similar track record to that of the 1980’s Duke Blue Devils. (Please reserve all Buffalo Bills comparisons until the team loses four consecutive championship games.)
Way back in 1988, before iPhones, the Internet and Jrue Holiday were born, Duke began a streak of three consecutive Final Four seasons without capturing a championship, reaching the title game once. Sound familiar?
Despite the success, coach Mike Krzyzewski didn’t win a title until Duke’s fourth straight Final Four trip in 1991.
So, is the fourth time the charm?
UCLA sure hopes so.
After Kevin Love’s cup of coffee in Westwood last year, the Bruins have reloaded with five (fabulous?) freshmen. The highly touted recruiting class, headlined by Holiday, will join returning players Darren Collison, Josh Shipp, Alfred Aboya, James Keefe and Michael Roll from last year’s Final Four team.
Collison is the leader of the pack. The senior passed up a shot at the NBA to return for a final opportunity to win a championship. He is looking to play in his fourth Final Four, something no one has done in 16 years, when Duke’s seniors did it.
The question then stands, for the third consecutive year: Is this the season for banner No. 12?
Probably not.
Between the inexperience and lack of interior presence, the Bruins will be hard-pressed to return to the Final Four. After all, teams that lose two top-five picks to the NBA ““ Love and Russell Westbrook – should not be expected to improve.
Then again, every few years the NCAA Tournament is a crapshoot, where anything can happen and brackets are generally shredded after Week One. This occurs when there is a paucity of elite teams built for Tournament runs. Think 2003, when Syracuse capitalized on a wide-open field to win the championship behind a group of freshmen, stingy defense and key senior contributions.
Although this UCLA team has no Carmelo Anthony, college basketball is not top-heavy this year as it was a season ago, and the Tournament is ripe for any team to make a deep run. Even the favorite, North Carolina, led by senior Tyler Hansborough, is susceptible to the Roy Williams March upset.
The Bruins were hoping J’mison “Bobo” Morgan would develop into the difference-maker in the post. Unfortunately, Morgan looks way too unpolished and unconditioned to fulfill that role. Other freshmen Malcolm Lee and Drew Gordon will contribute with their length and athleticism, but the team’s potential hinges on Holiday.
Granted, a lot can change in four months. For now, what we do know is that Holiday will be an all-conference player this year.
But for UCLA to match Duke’s run nearly two decades ago and reach Detroit, Holiday needs to be an All-American.
If you think UCLA will win it all this year, e-mail Taylor at [email protected].