University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
No. 2 UCLA Undefeated Through Non-Conference Play
December 22, 2016 | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – For the first time since the 1994-95 season, the UCLA men's basketball team has gone undefeated through the non-conference portion of its regular-season schedule.
Currently ranked No. 2 in both major national polls, UCLA (13-0) capped its non-conference schedule with an 82-68 win over Western Michigan on Wednesday evening in Pauley Pavilion to extend its season-opening win streak to 13 games.
Not only has UCLA registered a perfect start and unblemished record in non-league play, but the Bruins have also compiled their longest win streak to open a season since 2006-07. That year's team went 14-0 before advancing to the Final Four for the second straight year.
UCLA's 1994-95 squad went 9-0 in non-conference play, including six straight non-league victories to open the season before beginning its Pac-10 schedule. That team went 6-0 in the NCAA Tournament to win the program's 11th NCAA championship.
"It's been two decades since a team here has gone undefeated in non-conference play, so it isn't easy," UCLA head coach Steve Alford said after Wednesday's win. "I'm really proud of our guys to be able to do that. I couldn't ask more from them in the non-conference season. They did a tremendous job."
With Pac-12 play set to begin for UCLA with a trip to face Oregon (Dec. 28) and Oregon State (Dec. 30), the Bruins find themselves as one of just six remaining undefeated teams in the country, along with Baylor, Creighton, Gonzaga, USC and Villanova (through games played Dec. 21).
Atop the national leaderboard in win percentage, UCLA also has performed well enough to lead the country in overall field goal percentage (55.0%), assists per game (23.6) and total assists (307). Through games played Dec. 21, UCLA also ranked second in the nation in points per game (95.8) and assist-turnover ratio (1.91), fourth in three-point field goal percentage (42.8%) and scoring margin (21.8 ppg) and sixth in three-pointers made per game (10.8).
"Anytime you do something that hasn't been done for a while at a university like this, with a basketball program like this, it's very special," senior Bryce Alford said following Wednesday night's win. "We are going to cherish it. We have a couple days to take off and spend time with family. It's very pleasing to know we ended on a high note and can come back with a fresh start."
That fresh start for UCLA will begin in earnest the night of Sunday, Dec. 25, when the players and coaches will return to campus for an evening practice, less than 48 hours before flying to the Pacific Northwest. UCLA will depart for Eugene, Ore., on Tuesday, Dec. 27 to play at No. 20 Oregon (11-2) on Wednesday evening. Game time at Matthew Knight Arena is 6 p.m. (TV: ESPN2).
The Bruins will be seeking their 14th consecutive victory when they take the court at Oregon, looking to equal their best start to any season since 2006-07. In fact, UCLA's program has opened the season with at least 13 consecutive wins 12 times, as nine of those campaigns ended with the Bruins winning the NCAA title – and four of those nine championship teams finished the season with perfect records (1964, 1967, 1972 and 1973).
Since head coach John Wooden retired at the conclusion of the 1974-75 season, UCLA has posted win streaks of 10 games or better 14 times (including this team's current streak). Of those 13 previous win streaks, just six of them have lasted at least 14 consecutive games or more.
Regardless of the 13-0 start for this team's players, the mindset remains consistent night in and night out.
"Personally, I don't think about it to be honest," sophomore Aaron Holiday told reporters after Wednesday's victory. "As a team, I feel like we are staying away from thinking we are the best just because we are 13-0. It's just going to come down to keep playing hard."
Following the Bruins' two-game swing in Oregon, closing out the 2016 calendar, UCLA will return home to face California (Thursday, Jan. 5) and Stanford (Sunday, Jan. 8) in a pair of nationally-televised games in Pauley Pavilion.
