At a glance: No. 4 UCLA vs. No. 1 Florida

NCAA Tournament, South Region
Sweet Sixteen:
No. 4 UCLA (28-8) vs. No. 1 Florida (34-2)
When: Thursday, 6:45 p.m. PT, FedEx Forum (Memphis)
TV: CBS (Kevin Harlan, Len Elmore, Reggie Miller, Rachel Nichols)
Radio: AM 570 (Chris Roberts, Tracy Murray)

FLORIDA GATORS
RPI/Pomeroy ranking: 1 / 1

Best wins: Beat second-seeded Kansas in a December home victory, allowing 26 points to Andrew Wiggins but holding every other Jayhawk to single digits in a 67-61 decision. Beat No. 8-seed Kentucky three times over a four-week span, by 10-, 19- and 1-point margins.

Worst losses: None. Lost at Wisconsin and UConn by a combined seven points. The Huskies needed a buzzer-beater from Shabazz Napier to hold on.

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Key numbers: Lots to choose from here: 18th-most efficient offense, second-most efficient defense, a 28-game winning streak that tops college basketball.

But let’s start with 240, Florida center Patric Young’s listed weight. Continue reading “At a glance: No. 4 UCLA vs. No. 1 Florida” »

With Sweet Sixteen berth, Steve Alford sheds lackluster postseason history

Someone looking to criticize UCLA coach Steve Alford doesn’t need to scroll far down that Google search.

His previously lackluster postseason record, though? That one looks a lot less valid now that the 49-year-old has guided the Bruins to their first Sweet Sixteen since 2008.

Those two tournament wins came over double-digit seeds, but the team deserves credit for steamrolling over both Tulsa and Stephen F. Austin — never looking truly at risk for an upset.

UCLA 77, Stephen F. Austin 60: Kyle Anderson

UCLA advanced past the NCAA tournament’s round of 32 for the first time since 2008, but point guard Kyle Anderson likely echoed the thoughts of many fans afterward.

“It’s cool to get here. We haven’t been here in a while,” he said following Sunday’s 77-60 win over Stephen F. Austin. “But they don’t hang Sweet Sixteen banners up in Pauley Pavilion.”

Anderson also talked about Norman Powell’s behind-the-back move down the lane, avoiding upsets, as well as Florida.