What’s Bruin: Should UCLA Basketball Be Number One?

UCLA Men's Basketball

The UCLA basketball team came out of the weekend with a #3 ranking in both the AP and the Coaches poll, while receiving a bit of first place love in both.

Clay Fowler of the LA Daily News explains why he cast his number 1 vote for the Bruins:

At this point, I think the Bruins have earned it. I was just one of three voters to rank them No. 1, likely because Villanova (2) and Kansas (4) each have a much higher RPI than UCLA (17). But it’s not UCLA’s fault that Michigan, Ohio State and Texas A&M aren’t any better this season.

What UCLA does best – run and shoot 3-pointers – it does better than anyone in the country. I’m not sure that Kansas and Villanova can say that. I don’t think either of those two teams can say they have the best player in the country, either. Lonzo Ball has made a legitimate case for that honor.

UCLA Football

Jon Wilner of The Mercury News reacted to the firing of UCLA OL coach Adrian Klemm in his College Hotline column:

Like recruiting, the ability to hire assistant coaches and coordinators is a skill.

Some head coaches do it better than others. Some do it well on the side of the ball that correlates to their own background. Some do it well on both sides.

Yes, it pays to pay: The more money available for your staff pool, the more likely you are to find a top-notch coach.

But there are plenty of good young, affordable-for-anybody coaches. The trick is having the industry connections to ID options and then having the evaluations skills to pick the right one.

Jim Mora’s tenure as the UCLA head football coach hinges on his overhaul of the offensive staff.

UCLA Men's Volleyball

Micah Ma'a was named the Sports Imports/AVCA Men's Volleyball National Player of the Week for his performances last week against UC Irvine and UC San Diego. Ma'a had a career-high .800 hitting percentage with 17 assists, seven digs and three service aces against the Anteaters.

GO BRUINS.