UCLA Basketball: Why Bruins are being overvalued for 2021-22 season

Last season, UCLA Basketball became just the 6th school in college basketball history to make the final four as a double-digit seed. The Bruins were led by rising star Johnny Juzang, who took his game to the next level when it mattered most. UCLA finished just 17-9 in the regular season and ended the season on a four-game losing streak. Leaving college hoops fans to wonder, is this team for real? Or did they just catch fire? Oddly enough I think it’s a little of both.

Some major writers in the college basketball world have the Bruins ranked in top 5 or even number one in their preseason top 25s. Yes, they do bring back virtually everyone from a final four team but is that really worthy of a top 5 spot? To me no. It is hard to deny the level of competition that stood Infront of them on their way to Indy.

In the opening round, Michigan State was up 44-33 at halftime and even held a six-point lead with under 4 to play. UCLA clawed their way back to gut out an 86-80 victory in overtime to advance to the next round. BYU was the next task, a team that was on everyone’s radar as a potential upset team.

They were then gifted with a matchup versus a 14 seed, Abilene Christian in the second round. Yes, in the Sweet 16 they knocked off a 2 seed but it was Alabama. A team that had their best player pick up two fouls in the first two minutes and shot 25% from distance. Something that was really their bread and butter. Elite 8 was a dog fight against Michigan, who I will say was without arguably their best player maker Isiah Livers. And we all know about the painful loss versus Gonzaga where Jalen Suggs banks in a near half-court shot at the buzzer.

I know I am coming off as a hater but at the end of the day, banners fly forever. This Final Four run will be remembered for decades. But that was just a six-game stretch. There is a scenario where the UCLA team that had to go into triple overtime just to beat Pepperdine shows back up. The same UCLA team that finished 4-6 to end the regular season. I just think placing a team as your pre-season number one because of a six-game stretch is a little farfetched.

So here is what I think. UCLA is going to finish 2nd in the PAC 12 right behind Oregon. Oregon has guys in my opinion with more upside who will take leaps in their second season. Along with Nate Bittle, a five-star recruit who is 6’11 who I really like to make a big impact in his first year on campus.

I see a lot of early Bracketology having UCLA as a one seed where I think I think if anyone from the PAC 12 gets it, it is Oregon. UCLA will still be one of the best ten to twelve teams in the country next season. I just think we need to pump the brakes just a smidge before we anoint UCLA our next national champion.