UCLA Basketball News Roundup: The End of an Era (Read: Error) for the Bruins

Marky tried to end his recap last night on a positive note. I think, I will take a cue from Matt Joye at Bruin Report Online in a story I have not read because it is behind firewall but the headline and first sentence sums up UCLA Bruins “coach” Steve Alford:

Have We Reached a New Low Point in the Steve Alford Era? If there was ever a low point in the Steve Alford era at UCLA, Wednesday night at Cincinnati had to be it.

Here is the thing: that is a very debatable point. There have been so many low points. So. in honor of another kind of reporter, political reporters, let’s do a poll.

Briefly on each game. The Kentucky team was one of the best not to win a National Championship, but, still, to be virtually shut out for a half is embarrassing.

The Washington State team was one of the worst in the history of Pac-8/10/12 and went 1-17 in the Pac-12. In other words, they only beat UCLA. I say this with no hyperbole but I am confident I could have picked the five best players out of the Wooden Center on a weekend and beaten WSU.

From banners to flailing in a “first four” game in the loss to St. Bonaventure. It was not just that UCLA lost, but they melted down at the end.

Oh and, then, there was last night. I guess I should let the reporters tell some of the story. The LA Times’ Ben Bolch writes:

In what might have been its most listless showing of the season, UCLA doubled down on disappointment during a 93-64 loss to Cincinnati on Wednesday night at a rollicking Fifth Third Arena.

The Bruins followed one bad showing with another, getting hammered by the Bearcats only four days after losing at home to Belmont.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press leads with this:

UCLA hadn’t been beaten so soundly in nearly four years.

Really there is no point in going on. This is ugly. The scary thing is it should not be this way. ESPN reported last night there were a number of NBA scouts there to watch the Bruins, not the Cincinnati players. Yet, Cincinnati proved to be an infinitely better team.

If Dan Guerrero were alive today, Alford would be fired. All four losses this season have been embarrassing. We were manhandled by Michigan State in the first half of that loss, dismantled by North Carolina in the second half of that loss, beaten at home by a Belmont team that does not have one UCLA-level recruit and destroyed on every level last night.

I can’t say “Go Bruins” any more with a “coach” bringing down the team so much.


Fire Alford!