Ah, but you win MORE than you would have otherwise. Swen Nater was drafted first round, 16th overall, after sitting on the bench, behind Walton, and getting to play in garbage time. He never started a game at ucla, but was ABA rookie of the year and led tne NBA and ABA in rebounding. He could have been a star and started for any other team. What kept him at ucla? Answer $$$$$$$$$$$$. Research!
Now that may be the case but not in those days. Can you imagine players the caliber of a Wicks, Alcindor or Walton remaining in college 4 years today? It would never happen, and to think back then freshmen were ineligible to play varsity!
What USC and UCLA are doing to the final year of PAC-12 basketball is unacceptable and changes need to be made for both teams moving forward in the B1G. Unwatchable basketball, plain and simple.
Not as bad as ucla men's loss to the same school - 44 - 90. You even lost to CSUN. But if you must distract yourselves from those losses, go right ahead.
Actually, look at Wooden AT ucla before Sam. Wooden said, "Oh, I don't know what to do about Sam." Bullshit, he knew what was going on. If Sam wasn't pulling strings, Wooden, you know, the Head Coach, would have known what to do.
Wooden made three Final Fours and won two NCAA titles (with Hazzard and Goodrich) before Gilbert ever stepped foot on campus. Pauley Pavilion was also built before anyone even knew who Gilbert was, and Alcindor arrived on campus before Gilbert was on the scene as well. The back-to-back titles, Pauley, and then Alcindor were game-changers, and because Gilbert was a jocksniffer (he was also a bigtime supporter of USC football) it was natural he'd try to become an "influencer."
I do think Sam probably kept Allen and Alcindor from transferring, which was huge, so there is that. But anyone who says that UCLA wasn't on an upward trajectory and didn't do shit until Gilbert (i.e. Sam Gilbert changed everything) isn't doing their research and is just going on automatic. For those who wonder what Wooden was doing between '48 and '62, he was winning -- but Cal was winning a lot more and were the class of the Pac. And if you didn't win the conference in those days, no tournament. Ask USC about that (and UCLA in football, WRT bowl games).
Bottom line is you don't win 10 titles in 12 years because of one lousy bagman. Every program had them. Kentucky took the cake.
Ah, but you win MORE than you would have otherwise. Swen Nater was drafted first round, 16th overall, after sitting on the bench, behind Walton, and getting to play in garbage time. He never started a game at ucla, but was ABA rookie of the year and led tne NBA and ABA in rebounding. He could have been a star and started for any other team. What kept him at ucla? Answer $$$$$$$$$$$$. Research!
What USC and UCLA are doing to the final year of PAC-12 basketball is unacceptable and changes need to be made for both teams moving forward in the B1G. Unwatchable basketball, plain and simple.
Are all Bruins like this? 🤷♂️
Not as bad as ucla men's loss to the same school - 44 - 90. You even lost to CSUN. But if you must distract yourselves from those losses, go right ahead.
Yes! Love it.