Sayonara, Coach Alford.

dec 31, 2018 | UCLA MEN'S BASKETBALL PAGE | POST LINK

UCLA Head Coach Steve Alford Relieved of Duties

LOS ANGELES — University of California, Los Angeles Director of Athletics Dan Guerrero announced today that the Michael Price Family UCLA Head Men's Basketball Coach Steve Alford has been relieved of his duties, effective immediately. Assistant Coach Murry Bartow, who has served as a head coach at previous institutions, will serve as Interim Head Coach through the end of the basketball season.

"Throughout my career as an athletic director, I have maintained a belief that making a head coaching change during a season is rarely in the best interests of our student-athletes or program," said Guerrero. "In this case, however, it is now clear to me that what is best for our current students and for the overall good of the program, is to make this change now. While Steve led us to three Sweet 16 appearances, we simply have not been performing at a consistent level and our struggles up to this point in the season do not bode well for the future. On behalf of UCLA Athletics, I want to thank Steve, Tanya and the entire Alford family for their commitment to UCLA and wish them all of the best in the future."

The terms of Alford's contract will be honored by UCLA Athletics, exclusively using department-generated funds.

The 2018-19 season marks Alford's sixth at the helm of the Bruins. During his time at UCLA, Alford compiled a 124-63 record, leading the Bruins to four NCAA Tournaments and three Sweet 16 appearances (2014, 2015 and 2017). Through five seasons at UCLA, Alford produced 11 NBA Draft selections, including seven first-round picks.

A comprehensive, national search for a new head coach will begin immediately. Guerrero will be assisted in the search by Senior Associate Athletic Director Josh Rebholz, Associate Athletic Director Chris Carlson and Bruin basketball alumnus and Golden State Warriors President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Bob Myers. Myers was a four-year basketball letterwinner at UCLA who was part of the 1995 NCAA championship team.

There is no set timeline to make a hire, and there will be no comment on the search or the candidates until a hire is announced.

Statement from Steve Alford

"I'm extremely appreciative to everybody at UCLA for what has been a tremendous run and the chance to work with such special student-athletes and coaches. While I wish we could have had more success, my family and I are so grateful for our time in Westwood. We wish this program nothing but the best. I sincerely hope that the UCLA community will rally around this team, its players and the coaching staff as Pac-12 play begins."

Dec 29 - UCLA loses to Liberty at home 73-58.

From the Pac12 Networks. Thanks.

Dec 22 - Bleeding continues. UCLA loses to Ohio State 80-66. Now 7-5.

Thanks to the Pac12 Networks for You Tube video

Dec 19 - UCLA keeps losing. This time to Cincinnati 93-64. Bruins now 7-4.

Thanks to poster on You Tube for video

Dec 15 - Ouch!!! UCLA loses to Belmont at home 74-72. Bruins now 7-3.

Kudos to the Pac12 Networks for the video

UCLA out-Lucky Charms the Irish with crampin Wilkes' 3 at the buzz. UCLA now 7-2.

Dec 8 -- UCLA improved to 7-0 at home this season after defeating Notre Dame, 65-62, on a game-winning three-pointer from Kris Wilkes with 0.9 seconds to play. Jaylen Hands also finished with 12 points and 11 assists for his second-straight game with a point-assist double-double (from UCLA Athletics)UCLA improved to 7-0 at home this season after defeating Notre Dame, 65-62, on a game-winning three-pointer from Kris Wilkes with 0.9 seconds to play. Jaylen Hands also finished with 12 points and 11 assists for his second-straight game with a point-assist double-double.

Full game

Game Highlights

Thanks to all the original posters on You Tube! You Rock! And Go, Bruins!!!

Bruins tame previously perfect Lions 82-58. UCLA now 6-2.

Dec 2 -- Pac-12 Networks' Anne Marie Anderson and Bill Walton recap UCLA's 82-58 win over previously unbeaten Loyola Marymount. The Bruins held the Lions to 29 percent shooting from the floor, while offensively they were led by Jaylen Hands (17 points, 10 assists) and Moses Brown's (12 points, 10 rebounds) double-doubles and Kris Wilkes' 17 (from Pac-12 Network).

Thanks to the original posters on You Tube. You rock! Go, Bruins!!!

UCLA leis it on Hawai'i 80-61

Nov 28 -- The Bruins cruised past Hawai'i, 80-61, on Wednesday evening in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. Prince Ali had a career-best 23 points (including five three-pointers). Jaylen Hands registered a career-high 11 assists in the Bruins' win (from UCLA Athletics)

No. 7 North Carolina scorches No. 17 UCLA 94-78. Bruins on 2-game losing streak.

Nov 23 -- It looked like No. 17 UCLA had a chance after the 1st half, but No. 7 North Carolina dominated the 2nd half and pulled away (from Fox Sports).

No. 11 Michigan State thumps No. 17 UCLA 87-67 in Vegas

Nov 22 -- No. 11 Michigan State dominates No. 17 UCLA to advance to Championship game against Texas in the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational (from Fox Sports)

some Michigan State fodder (Pre-Season profile, current Stats)

from Athlon Sports College Hoops Pre-Season Mag 2018-19

Current Stats from ESPN.com

Tom Izzo and No. 11 Michigan State prepare to face No. 17 UCLA

Tom Izzo and No. 11 Michigan State basketball will face No. 17 UCLA on Thursday in the first game of the Las Vegas Invitational. Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press (link) 

Are you ready for some Bruin Basketball?!? Hell, Yeah!!! No. 17 UCLA Faces No. 11 Michigan State Today in Viva Las Vegas!!!

nov 20, 2018 | UCLA MEN'S BASKETBALL PAGE | POST LINK

LAS VEGAS – No. 17 UCLA (4-0) will face No. 11 Michigan State (3-1) on Thursday evening in a nationally-televised contest at Orleans Arena in the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational. Game time is 7 p.m. (PT). The Bruins' game will be televised by FS1 and will be available on the radio in the Los Angeles area on AM 570 (KLAC).
 
GAME INFORMATION
Venue: Orleans Arena
Game Time: 7 p.m. (PT)
Television: FS1
TV Talent: Tim Brando (play-by-play), Bill Raftery (analyst), Andy Katz (sideline)
Radio (UCLA Sports Network): AM 570
Radio Talent: Josh Lewin (play-by-play), Tracy Murray (analyst)
SIRIUS/XM Radio Channels: Ch. 138 / Ch. 197
SIRIUS App Channel: Ch. 959
 
THURSDAY NIGHT'S GAME
The Bruins will enter Thursday's showdown against No. 11 Michigan State having won their first four games. UCLA has four players who have averaged at least 10.0 points per game. Sophomore Kris Wilkes has averaged a team-leading 17.5 points per game, while freshman Moses Brown has registered 17.3 points and a team-leading 12.0 rebounds per game. Brown, who had eight blocks in a win over Saint Francis U on Friday, Nov. 16, has averaged 3.3 blocks per game. UCLA will face either No. 6 North Carolina or Texas on Friday afternoon at Orleans Arena, at either 1:00 or 3:30 p.m. (PT).
 
THE LAST TIME OUT
Jaylen Hands scored 19 points and Jalen Hill tallied a season-high 20 rebounds to pace UCLA past Presbyterian, 80-65, in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom on Monday, Nov. 19. UCLA led 41-19 at halftime before Presbyterian reduced the Bruins' advantage to just three points (61-58) with 7:40 to play in the second half. Hill became the first Bruin to grab at least 20 rebounds in a game since Kevin Love had 21 rebounds at Oregon State on Jan. 26, 2008.
 
HISTORIC DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Moses Brown became UCLA's first freshman to record double-doubles in each of his first three games. Brown, a 7-foot-1 center from Queens, N.Y., had a season-high 23 points, 14 rebounds and eight blocks in the win against Saint Francis U on Friday, Nov. 19. He became UCLA's first player with at least 20 points and five blocks in a game since Jerome Moiso had 22 points and five blocks in the Bruins' 83-77 win at home against Arizona State on Jan. 22, 2000.
 
THAT'S ELITE
Moses Brown became UCLA's first player to record at least 19 points and 17 rebounds in his collegiate debut since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor) registered a then-school-record 56 points and totaled 21 rebounds in UCLA's 105-90 win over USC on Dec. 3, 1966. Abdul-Jabbar made 23 of 32 shots from the field in that game.
 
RECORD TERRITORY
Moses Brown had eight blocks against Saint Francis U (Nov. 19). Since UCLA began officially recording blocks in 1978-79, only three other players have recorded at least eight blocks. Jelani McCoy set the school record with 11 blocks in his seventh game of his freshman season (vs. Maryland, Nov. 9, 1995).
 
GO-TO GUY OFF THE BENCH
Sophomore Chris Smith had 15 points, four rebounds and three assists in the Bruins' 95-58 victory last Friday against Saint Francis U, equaling his career high in points (set last year against South Carolina State, Nov. 17, 2017). Through four games during his sophomore season, Smith has averaged 12.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists. The 6-foot-9 guard averaged 3.9 points and 1.9 rebounds per game last season, when he appeared in all 33 games off the bench.
 
KEY NOTES ABOUT UCLA
The Bruins have returned five of eight rotation players from last season's team, a squad that went 21-12 overall en route to the NCAA Tournament's "First Four" in Dayton, Ohio. Redshirt juniors Prince Ali and Alex Olesinski, along with sophomores Kris Wilkes and Chris Smith, played in all 33 games last season. Sophomore Jaylen Hands played in 31 of 33 games. This year's team brings in eight freshmen – six true freshmen and a pair of redshirt freshmen (Jalen Hill and Cody Riley).
 
Steve Alford has started his sixth season as The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach. Hired as the Bruins' head coach in March 2013, he has guided the program to an overall record of 121-57. UCLA has made four trips to the NCAA Tournament, including three Sweet 16 appearances (2014, 2015, 2017) under Coach Alford. In addition, the Bruins have produced 11 NBA Draft selections during Coach Alford's five years as UCLA's head coach.
 
FROM LONG DISTANCE
In each of the past two seasons, UCLA has shot the No. 1 percentage from 3-point territory of any Pac-12 team. With Lonzo Ball and Bryce Alford in 2016-17, the Bruins shot 40.6 percent from 3-point range. In 2017-18, after losing Ball and Alford (along with Isaac Hamilton and TJ Leaf), the Bruins shot 38.1 percent from 3-point distance, a mark that still ranked No. 1 in the conference. As a junior, Aaron Holiday led the Bruins last season by shooting 42.9 percent from 3-point territory.
 
IN THE RECORD BOOKS
UCLA established its program record for most attempted 3-pointers (872) and made 3-pointers (354) in 2016-17. Last season, the Bruins came close. UCLA made its second-most 3-pointers in program history (310) and recorded its second-highest total of 3-point attempts (813).
 
THE STREAK CONTINUES
UCLA has made at least one three-pointer in its last 626 games. That streak began after the Bruins went 0-for-14 from three-point range in a 78-63 loss at No. 2 Stanford on Feb. 3, 2000. The Bruins have made at least three 3-pointers in 173 of 178 games under sixth-year head coach Steve Alford.
 
LOOKING AT THE TOURNAMENT FIELD
The Bruins return to Las Vegas for the 2018 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational exactly five years after having previously played in the tournament. UCLA won back-to-back games in Las Vegas on Nov. 28-29, 2013, averaging 100.0 points in victories against Nevada (W, 105-84) and Northwestern (W, 95-79). As a freshman, Zach LaVine averaged 19.5 points, having shot 77.8 percent from the field (14-of-18) and 72.7 percent from beyond the three-point arc (8-for-11). As a sophomore, Jordan Adams averaged 19.5 points in each game and was a perfect 14-for-14 from the free throw line.
 
VERSUS MICHIGAN STATE
The Spartans enter this week's tournament wtih a 3-1 overall record, currently ranked No. 11 in the Associated Press (AP) and USA Today Coaches polls. UCLA has compiled a 6-2 all-time record against Michigan State. These two teams last met in the 2011 NCAA Tournament (Tampa, Fla.), as the Bruins secured a 78-76 victory in the first round. Michigan State was UCLA's opponent on the day that the Bruins' program dedicated its Pauley Pavilion court in honor of Nell and John Wooden (Dec. 20, 2003). UCLA won that game, 64-58.
 
VERSUS NORTH CAROLINA
The Tar Heels enter Thursday's game against Texas with a 5-0 record (currently ranked No. 6 in the USA Today Coaches poll and No. 7 in the AP poll). UCLA has gone 3-8 in the all-time series against North Carolina. These two schools last faced each other in Brooklyn as part of the CBS Sports Classic on Dec. 19, 2015 (North Carolina defeated UCLA, 89-76). UCLA has faced North Carolina twice in head coach Steve Alford's previous five seasons in Westwood. North Carolina also secured a 75-65 victory at the Battle 4 Atlantis (Bahamas) on Nov. 27, 2014.
 
VERSUS TEXAS
The Longhorns have gone 4-0 as they enter Thursday's contest against North Carolina. UCLA has gone 3-3 against Texas, with the two schools having last faced off at NRG Stadium (then known as Reliant Stadium) in Houston on Dec. 8, 2012. UCLA outlasted Texas in that non-conference showdown, 65-63. The season prior, UCLA had hosted Texas at the Los Angeles Sports Arena (Pauley Pavilion was undergoing an 18-month renovation). Texas won that game, 69-59. The two schools also played a home-and-home series in 2006-07 and 2007-08.
 
VIVA LAS VEGAS
Under the direction of sixth-year head coach Steve Alford, UCLA has gone 9-4 in Las Vegas during the past five seasons. The Pac-12 Tournament has been played in Las Vegas since March 2013. Over the previous five seasons, UCLA has gone 6-4 at the Pac-12 Tournament and 3-0 in various neutral-site games played in Las Vegas. In Nov. 2013, UCLA secured wins over Nevada and Northwestern at the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational. In Dec. 2016, the Bruins defeated Ohio State, 86-73, at the CBS Sports Classic, which was played at T-Mobile Arena.
 
LOOKING DOWN THE ROAD
After this week's tournament in Las Vegas, the Bruins will return to Los Angeles for a four-game homestand against Hawai'i (Nov. 28), Loyola Marymount (Dec. 2), Notre Dame (Dec. 8) and Belmont (Dec. 15). The Bruins have only faced Hawai'i once before (UCLA won, 84-64, on Dec. 9, 2000). UCLA last faced LMU at the Los Angeles Sports Arena in a season-opening game. The visiting Lions won that matchup, 69-58, on Nov. 11, 2011. UCLA and Notre Dame are resuming a classic non-conference series that began in Dec. 1952. The Bruins have gone 28-20 in 48 previous meetings against Notre Dame.

UCLA Tops Presbyterian, 80-65. Bruins now 4-0.

Redshirt Freshman grabs 20 rebounds in the win. The most in a game by any UCLA player since Kevin Love netted 21 at Oregon State on Jan. 26, 2008. 

Thanks to the original posters on You Tube!

nov 19, 2018 | UCLA MEN'S BASKETBALL PAGE | POST LINK

LOS ANGELES – Jaylen Hands totaled 19 points and Jalen Hillsecured 20 rebounds to lead No. 17 UCLA past Presbyterian, 80-65, on Monday evening.
 
Hill's 20 rebounds were the most in a game by any UCLA player since Kevin Love netted 21 at Oregon State on Jan. 26, 2008.
 
The Bruins (4-0) secured their fourth straight win to open the season and will enter a nationally-televised showdown against No. 11 Michigan State on Thursday evening, as part of the 2018 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational.
 
Against Presbyterian (3-3) on Monday, UCLA cruised to a 41-19 lead by halftime. The Bruins had jumped out to a 9-0 advantage early. The visiting Blue Hose missed their first 10 shots of the game and did not get on the scoreboard until the 13:30 mark in the opening half.
 
Presbyterian cut UCLA's lead to three points in the second half, as a three-pointer by Francois Lewis trimmed the Bruins' margin to 61-58 at the 7:40 mark. UCLA responded with a 6-0 scoring run, including a pair of free throws from Hill and a layup from Chris Smith, to push the Bruins' cushion to 67-58.
 
Adam Flagler finished with a team-leading 29 points for the Blue Hose. Flagler made 9 of 19 shots, including 7 of 14 from three-point distance. He was one of two players for Presbyterian to score in double figures.
 
UCLA dominated on the boards on Monday night, outrebounding Presbyterian by a 54-32 margin.
 
Four UCLA players scored in double figures. Hands had 19, while Kris Wilkes totaled 12 points, and Moses Brown and Smith each finished with 10.
 
The Bruins shot 44.4 percent from the field and limited Presbyterian to a 31.7 percent shooting percentage.
 
UCLA will face Michigan State on Thursday evening at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. Game time against the Spartans is slated for 7 p.m. (PT). UCLA's game will be nationally televised by FS1.
 
The Bruins will take on either No. 6 North Carolina or Texas on Friday afternoon, at either 1 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. (PT).

Box

Bring on the Spartans!!! 

UCLA beatifies St. Francis 95-58

We couldn't do it to St. Bonaventure last year but this time, we do it to St. Francis. 

Freshman Mo Brown goes off for 23 pts, 14 rebounds and 8 swats. AP Photo Marcio Jose Sanchez (link)

Thanks to the original posters on You Tube! 

Game highlights

Coach Steve Alford

Playas

nov 16, 2018 | UCLA MEN'S BASKETBALL PAGE | POST LINK

LOS ANGELES – The No. 20 UCLA men's basketball team used a strong second half to defeat Saint Francis U, 95-58, on Friday evening in a Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational game at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom.
 
Moses Brown finished with 23 points, 14 rebounds and eight blocks. The 7-foot-1 center from Queens, N.Y., became the first freshman in school history to have registered a double-double in each of his first three collegiate games.
 
UCLA (3-0) outscored the visiting team by a 59-29 margin after having led, 36-29, at halftime.
 
Brown was one of five UCLA players to score in double figures. Freshman Jules Bernard registered 18 points, eight rebounds and three assists off the bench. Sophomore Chris Smith tallied 15 points, while junior Prince Ali and sophomore Kris Wilkes each netted 14 points.
 
Wilkes made 6 of 13 shots overall after having been held scoreless in the first half. The sophomore guard from Indianapolis, Ind., was 2-for-5 from three-point range in UCLA's third win of the season.

"Early in the season, you want to learn some lessons and figure some things out," said Steve Alford, the Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach. "We were down 11-2, to start. You want to see how young guys can respond. I thought we did a good job, from that point, of responding. Then getting a lead before we went into halftime, and I thought the second half we came out and put it all together, both defensively and offensively."
 
UCLA (3-0) shot 80.6 percent in the second half, making 25 of 31 shot attempts. The Bruins made 5 of 7 three-point shots in the second half and out-rebounded Saint Francis U overall, 53-44.
 
The Bruins totaled 18 assists, with five players each contributing at least two assists. Sophomore Jaylen Hands had a team-high four assists.

UCLA had built a seven-point lead by halftime before pushing the advantage to 21 points – at 58-37 – with 13:16 to play in regulation. Back-to-back dunks from Hands, followed by a slam from Wilkes, pushed UCLA's cushion to 25 points (62-37) with 12:50 remaining.
 
The Bruins led by as many as 40 points late in the second half.
 
UCLA trailed several times in the opening half. Saint Francis U led, 18-11, with 11:29 to play before halftime before Smith and Bernard helped to ignite a 6-0 scoring run.
 
After a three-pointer by Saint Francis U's Myles Thompson, the Bruins answered with a tip-in from Brown at the 9:23 mark before a jump shot from Smith with 8:57 to play.
 
Saint Francis U regained the lead, 29-28, with 2:03 to play in the first half. A three-pointer from Ali gave UCLA a 31-29 cushion. From that point, the Bruins never trailed.
 
The Bruins will return to action against Presbyterian on Monday, Nov. 19. Game time in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom is 8 p.m. (PT). UCLA's game will be televised by the Pac-12 Network.

The Box