It’s March, and for college basketball fans, that can only mean March Madness. In most years for UCLA, the madness doesn’t begin until mid-March in the NCAA Tournament. This year, though, the madness begins today.
UCLA will play USC at 2:40 p.m. in the Pac-12 Tournament’s first round, the first in a four-game journey that the Bruins must be perfect in if they want to avoid missing out on the Big Dance for the second time in three years. The objective is simple: Win four games in four days and their ticket is punched; one slip-up and their hopes are dashed.
Running the table this week at Staples Center is the difference between an improbable automatic bid to the tournament that UCLA has won 11 times and a bid to the far less prestigious National Invitation Tournament or no postseason at all.
UCLA coach Ben Howland hasn’t kept it a secret that the task ahead of his team is a tall one.
“If you just look at the percentages, the likelihood that someone is going to win four games in four days is very, very difficult,” said Howland, when the Bruins still had a chance at a first-round bye and a chance at playing just three games.
If UCLA (18-13, 11-7 Pac-12) can get past USC (6-25, 1-17) for the third time this season, Arizona awaits in the second round. The Bruins split a pair of games with the Wildcats this season, most recently a heartbreaking 65-63 loss on the road.
Since that loss, UCLA rattled off two wins in a row, toppling Washington State by 32 points and inching out regular season conference champion Washington on Saturday. Despite a Sports Illustrated expose that belittled the program last week, the Bruins may well be playing their best basketball of the season.
A two-game win streak coupled with UCLA playing close to home has many pundits tabbing the Bruins as the Pac-12 Tournament’s sleeper team.
“I think we played very well last Thursday, and we played good Saturday,” Howland said. “That gives us momentum going into the conference tournament, and I think our guys feel confident about their ability to perform.”
“I know I wouldn’t want to play us,” senior guard Jerime Anderson added.
Anderson also said having played on the road all season at the Los Angeles Sports Arena because of Pauley Pavilion’s construction will help his team at Staples, just a few miles away from UCLA’s primary “Road Show” home.
“That’s the way we look at it now,” Anderson said. “We’ve been playing over here already, just at a different arena. We’re used to it now so we’re going to bring that (comfort) to the game.”
Traditionally, this tournament provides a chance for UCLA to cement itself in the NCAA Tournament selection committee’s eyes.
This year, the Bruins aren’t on anyone’s NCAA Tournament radar, but that may be the way they like it.
“I really like our chances right now,” redshirt sophomore forward Travis Wear said. “Everyone’s attitude is so positive right now, so eager and we’re all on the same page. We’re playing our best basketball right now.”