UCLA Basketball: Is Sweet-16 the New Standard for Dan Guerrero’s Program?

If you read the Trojan Los Angeles Times it appears that the giddy reporters from that outlet are ready to declare Steve Alford's first season a success. Chris Foster is ready to declare our upcoming appearance in the Sweet-16 as a "watershed moment" for UCLA basketball:

Another victory would be a watershed moment for the Bruins, who have not advanced beyond the tournament's first weekend since reaching the Final Four in 2008.

His colleague Bill Plaschke is breathlessly comparing Steve 2.0's tournament team to Steve 1.0:

They actually played like a Steve Lavin tournament team, only with sound fundamentals and relentless defense.

Well, if Plaschke needs a reminder on what a team grounded in defense and fundamentals looks like, here we are:

These guys also played pretty good "D" too:

Those were the days.

Here is the post-game presser after last night's win:

Bruins will get a chance to make a statement when they take on Gators next week. Tomorrow's game should be nothing more than a formality for the Bruins. The Steve-16 appearance will be business as usual for UCLA but certainly a "watershed moment" for Alford as it will only be in his second appearance in second weekend of NCAA tournament in his 23 year+ mediocre coaching career.

GO BRUINS.