UCLA returned to the Final Four last year for the first time since winning its record 11th national championship in 1995. Can the Bruins return to this year’s event at the Georgia Dome?
Things certainly look good early. On Wednesday, UCLA won the prestigious Maui Invitational by defeating Georgia Tech. The Bruins defeated two quality opponents on consecutive nights to win the crown. The Yellowjackets are ranked 19th and UCLA beat No. 20 Kentucky in the semifinals.
Darren Collison was named the tournament MVP after scoring 15 points and handing out seven assists in the Bruins’ 88-73 win in the championship game. Aaron Afflalo, a returning starter from last year’s squad, scored 19 points in the final.
UCLA returned to national prominence a year ago under coach Ben Howland, reaching the NCAA championship game where the Bruins fell to Florida. However, unlike UCLA’s previous championship teams, which pushed the tempo and outran opponents - a trademark of legendary coach John Wooden - last year’s squad slowed games down.
The common denominator was defense. Wooden’s teams were legendary for their full-court defensive pressure and Howland’s teams use defense to squeeze the life out of their opposition.
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