Busting Brackets
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Pac-12 Basketball: Each team’s worst performance of the last decade

By Joey Loose

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 09: Head coach Steve Alford of the UCLA Bruins yells to his players during a semifinal game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament against the Arizona Wildcats at T-Mobile Arena on March 9, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wildcats won 78-67 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 09: Head coach Steve Alford of the UCLA Bruins yells to his players during a semifinal game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament against the Arizona Wildcats at T-Mobile Arena on March 9, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wildcats won 78-67 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL- DECEMBER 20: Kentucky Wildcats center Dakari Johnson (44) is defended by UCLA Bruins forward Kevon Looney (5) and UCLA Bruins forward Tony Parker (23) during the first half of the CBS Sports Classic on December 20, 2014 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL- DECEMBER 20: Kentucky Wildcats center Dakari Johnson (44) is defended by UCLA Bruins forward Kevon Looney (5) and UCLA Bruins forward Tony Parker (23) during the first half of the CBS Sports Classic on December 20, 2014 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images) /

UCLA

December 20, 2014 (Kentucky 83, UCLA 44) (GS: 2)

The once potent Bruins dynasty hasn’t exactly been pumping out potential champions lately. It’s true that this team made three straight Final Fours under Ben Howland, but that was over a decade ago and we’re focused on everything since then. First we consider the rough 2009-10 season, which held a double overtime home loss to Cal State Fullerton and a 27-point loss to Portland, but neither of those have the pizzazz. Howland’s final game was an upset loss to an 11-seed Minnesota in the 2013 NCAA Tournament, but we can do better than a 20-point loss.

How about a 39-point loss at the United Center to Kentucky? It is 100 percent true that this was an extremely talented Kentucky team and they were expected to win this game. Kentucky played very well in this game, made nearly half of their 3’s, blocked 13 shots, and controlled the game. For the Bruins, however, the same could not be said.

It’s hard to fathom this performance until you start looking at some of the facts. This game was 41-7 at halftime! Heck, Kentucky scored the game’s first 24 points. UCLA trailed by as many as 42 and the game was finished before it ever really started. Isaac Hamilton (14 points) and Bryce Alford (13 points) both shot decently, but Norman Powell (1-13 shooting) and Tony Parker (1-10 shooting) were abysmal. Kentucky’s powerful lineup chewed them up and spit them out.

This Kentucky game seemed to break UCLA, as they only scored 50 (at Alabama), 56 (at Colorado), and 39 (at Utah) over the next two weeks. Most Bruins fans are disappointed with Steve Alford, bringing this program no farther than the Sweet Sixteen in his first five years, including a First Four loss last season. If he survives this season (which is no guarantee), there could be a bright future ahead, or there could be another 39-point loss to a fellow Blue Blood.

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