The only thing a garbage UCLA Bruins team adds to this NCAA tournament is the opportunity for cameramen to shoot gratuitous close-up shots of the dance team. The CBS/Turner cameras will do just that. Early and often; hence we joined in with the pictures in this post.
Seriously though, this UCLA at large selection is the worst at-large berth since Air Force in 2006. What’s even more offensive is that the NCAA didn’t even put them in the play-in game. The Bruins are safely into the actual first round, not the first-round-name-only.
Including the UCLA Bruins just confirms everything we know about the corrupt cartel that is the NCAA.
The NCAA values name brand programs first, lesser name but still power five conference teams second, mid-majors third, low-majors fourth. UCLA has won good win, over Utah, and one solid win, over Oregon. This season was a total joke. You know the NCAA is full of total b.s. in numerous ways on numerous levels (thank you John Oliver for expressing that again in a hilariously detailed manner).
The UCLA Bruins getting into the big dance shows you that the “eye test” doesn’t exist. This group was down 41-7 at halftime versus Kentucky. Yes, it was one half of basketball, in one game, versus the most dominant college basketball team that we’ve seen in a very long time, but still it’s 41-7!!!!!!!!
Any team that looks and plays that awful shouldn’t be in any postseason tournament, let alone the championship bracket. 41-7 means the UCLA Bruins shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near this thing.
The UCLA Bruins selection was the most egregious offense of Selection Sunday, as now you’re letting basketball Jimbo Fisher in to the big dance. Wait, no that’s not fair.
Alford is a much bigger scumbag than Jimbo Fisher. Obviously, character counts as much as the supposed eye test. The NCAA was up to it’s usual tricks though in giving Duke a #1 seed, the easiest region possible, and of course a prime time tip on the only non-cable channel. This is exactly like last year when the NCAA had to give mid-major Wichita St. a #1 seed, but they through Kentucky into their region, and gave the Shockers the hardest region possible.
The NCAA, and their broadcast partners, claim that they love the Cinderellas, but that’s only if no one seems them coming on paper. The NCAA, or more importantly, CBS and Turner HATE mid-majors in the Final Four because it’s always terrible for ratings. They certainly don’t want a mid-major getting a #1 seed and getting through.
Back to the UCLA Bruins though. Pundits agree their selection was a total joke. This idea of including them is just as awful as attendance at Pauley Pavilion. The team is terrible, the program is pathetic and Alford is a horrible human being.
Jay Bilas: “I think Miami might be looking at UCLA in the field and saying, ‘what, excuse me?’”
Seth Greenberg: “I’m shocked about UCLA. I know they have a Utah win and an Oregon win, but I’m shocked about UCLA. If I’m Temple, and I understand I lost in my conference tournament, but you have a quality win against Kansas. More importantly, your record with Jesse Morgan who got eligible mid-year, is a NCAA tournament type of record.”
Even an alum, and former UCLA Bruins hero, Reggie Miller thought it suspicious.
“I kind of did a double take when the brackets were coming out listening to Clark and the gang. I’m not going to lie, UCLA struggled this year, especially against the competition in this tournament and the power 50,” Miller said.
“But I think they had, if there ever is such a thing, some good bad losses.”
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports Digital. You can read Banks’ feature stories and op-eds in the Chicago Tribune RedEye newspaper and hear his regular guest spots on numerous sports talk radio stations all across the country.
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