The UCLA Bruins are the team that has won the men’s college basketball championship more than anyone else, however, they have spent more than 19 years without being able to do so. It is too early to think about next season, but the Arizona Wildcats go in the odds as the favorites to take the title with 6 /1, while the Bruins are 50/1, according to MyTopSportsbook.com.
The last time UCLA won the national title was in 1995, when they defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks by 89-78 in the final at the Seattle Kingdome. Ed O’Bannon was the best player on the Bruins with 30 points and 17 rebounds. The team had the opportunity to get their twelfth championship 11 years later, but they lost the final to the Florida Gators 73-57 at the RCA Dome at Indianapolis. It was the first title in the history of Florida, which was led by Joakim Noah, who was selected as the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
This season the Gators were responsible for ending the hopes of the Bruins, after eliminating them 79-68 in the Sweet 16 round. During the meeting UCLA ‘s best player was Jordan Adams with 17 points and four rebounds, but couldn’t help to avoid Florida winning their 29th game in a row.
It was the first time since 2008 that UCLA was in a regional semifinal. Head Coach Steve Alford did a great job in his first year with a 28-9 mark and placed the school as one of the best offenses in the nation averaging 81.8 points and 17.2 assists per game.
The challenge for Alford will be bigger in his second year because Kyle Anderson will go to the NBA. He finished the season averaging 14.6 points and 8.8 rebounds. For his part, Adams is also likely to leave school and may be in the Draft, but has not announced his future.
Despite the arrival of Kevon Looney, the Bruins seems to be going 20 years without a title, but will still remain for a while as the school with more championships, as their closest pursuer has three less (Kentucky 8).