UCLA to Honor Bill Walton at Men’s Basketball Home Game on Feb. 23
October 16, 2024 | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – The UCLA men's basketball program will honor the late Bill Walton during the Bruins' home contest against Ohio State on the afternoon of Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025.
Walton, one of the university's most decorated student-athletes, helped lead UCLA to back-to-back NCAA championships in 1972 and 1973, culminating in a string of seven consecutive NCAA titles won by the Bruins from 1967-73. He was a three-time Academic All-America selection in each of his three seasons on UCLA's varsity team. Walton died at the age of 71 after a battle with cancer on May 27, 2024.
"It's a difficult reality to know we're getting ready to start a basketball season in Westwood without Bill's presence," said Mick Cronin. "He will forever be an icon in our great game, and his memory will forever live on at UCLA. For our program, especially over the past 12 seasons, he's been a fixture while working as a broadcaster. On gamedays, he routinely chatted with our players, he shared advice with me, and he meant so much to everyone around our program. We want to honor Bill this season, and we're grateful to have the support of his family. After conversations with his former teammates and with the blessing of his family, we wanted to select a game when we're at home on the weekend, playing before a national television audience."
UCLA's game against Ohio State on Sunday, Feb. 23, will be nationally televised by CBS. Game time is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. (PT). That contest will mark the Bruins' second-to-last home game of the upcoming season.
Walton, who grew up in San Diego and attended Helix High School, played for legendary UCLA head coach John Wooden as the Bruins' starting center for three seasons (1972-74). Playing at UCLA before first-year student-athletes could compete as varsity players, Walton starred on the freshman team in 1970-71. Walton played on UCLA's only varsity teams to record back-to-back perfect 30-0 seasons in 1972 and 1973, helping the Bruins compile an 86-4 overall record in three years.
Walton's varsity teams won their first 73 games at UCLA, as the Bruins had extended their winning streak to 88 consecutive games (the NCAA men's basketball record). During Walton's three varsity seasons, the Bruins went 49-0 in Pauley Pavilion, as part of a 98-game home winning streak that spanned the 1970-71 through 1975-76 basketball seasons.
UCLA will honor Walton during a halftime ceremony that afternoon and throughout the game itself. Fans at the contest against Ohio State will receive an exclusive, commemorative poster that celebrates Walton's life and legacy. In addition, UCLA students will receive a custom tie-dyed t-shirt to celebrate Walton's larger-than-life personality.
Season-tickets for UCLA's 2024-25 campaign are available by calling (310) 206-5991 or emailing tickets@athletics.ucla.edu.
