Little people and no-notes in this NCAA tournament are not just unexpected stories that have been defined by Upset.
Sometimes, blue blood can make their elbows dirty and surprised, too.
sometimes rich March Madness can make good stories.
Yes, even a UCLA program featuring a preposterous postson pedigree featuring 50 NCAA tournament appearances, 11 national titles, the final four, and 18 visits to the Sweet 16.
A week ago, UCLA was one of the last teams to join NCAAS, playing in “First Four” to make it to the big section of the Final 64. “
After a 67-47 win over number-seed Abilene Christian in the East Region second round in Indianapolis on Monday night, UCLA is going on to the Sweet 16, the school’s 35th trip, and most likely not.
The Bruins became only the fifth team to advance from the “First Four” to the Sweet 16.
20-9 For UCLA, its next opponent to win the Elite 8 will be the winner of the game late Monday between Maryland and Alabama.
It has, of course, been a strange year for all, with the COVID-19 protocol and restrictions. For UCLA basketball, this is particularly strange.
Consider the fact that Bruce lost his last three games of the regular season and was bounced from the Pac-12 tournament in the first round.
UCLA has now won three games in five nights, including a “first four ‘” win over Michigan State.
UCLA coach Mick Cronin said the team returned at 3 a.m. following Thursday’s win over Michigan State and Saturday’s first-round Saturday victory over BYU.
“Our people have been doing a lot for the last few weeks and it has brought them together,” Cronin said.
“‘First Four'” is usually occupied by lesser-known, smaller school teams such as Appalachian State, Norfolk State and Texas Southern. Not UCLA and Michigan State, which combined for 28 Final Four appearances between them.
UCLA crossed the deficit 11–80 points against Michigan State, winning 86–80 and entering 64. Then two days later, as the No. 11 seed, Brins defeated BY No. 5 to seed BYU, winning rather 73–62. First round.
This he got against an Abilene Christian team on Monday night that upset No. 3 Texas in the first round.
Monday’s game was a dangerous one for UCLA, having spent the better part of the past decade disappointing its fan base that still dreams of achieving the high standards imposed by John Wooden all those years.
But UCLA did not turn against Abilene Christian.
“Crogens will beat you,” Cronin warned his players before the game.
The players heeded the advice of their coach.
He scored a 12–12 lead in the first half with a 26–12 lead to 18–0 that turned the game upside down for Abilene Christian, who would never recover. UCLA scored the first eight points of the second half and led the Sweet 16 from there, leading 31–21 in the half.
Abilene Christian is known for her chaotic defense, one of the best teams in the nation for turnovers at 21 per game. UCLA rolled the ball only eight times on Monday night.
“Obviously, their focus was ours,” Cronin said. “We did not take them lightly, the key to this game. Our people were amazing. For us to have only eight turnovers was a tremendous task by our people. ”
UCLA forward Cody Riley said this five-night run “reflects the group’s resilience, our solidarity, how we never broke up or broke up.”
One key for UCLA was the feeling that the four games it lost at the end of the season came against four teams – Colorado, Oregon, USC and Oregon State – that not only made the NCAA tournament, but all by the end Survived Bruce’s victory Monday night.
“Even though the stretch where we lost those four matches was tough, it inspired us to come here and prove that we are a better team than that.” “We are not finished. ‘
Music to Cronin’s ears.
Since his Michigan State game, “his message to me was: wood I didn’t come to Westwood [California] To win one or two games. Remember who you play for, ” Cronin said. “I am trying to believe him – especially the way he has finished the season. I came to Westwood for a reason. We’ve got games to win. ”
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