After a one-year hiatus, the UCLA Bruins are back in the NCAA Tournament. Led by coach Ben Howland and a cast of freshmen, the Bruins are seeded No. 6 in the South Region.
So what do you need to know about UCLA?
1. UCLA enters the NCAA Tournament without second leading scorer Jordan Adams. Adams suffered a broken bone in his right foot during the semifinals of the Pac-12 Conference Tournament. Adams was averaging 15.3 points and 2.2 steals at the time of his injury.
2. The Bruins love to push the pace and get out into the open floor. They rank fourth in the nation in terms of field goals attempted and rely heavily upon their ability to get into the paint and pick up points. Fortunately, UCLA has an elite facilitator to enable them to do so.
3. Perhaps the most underrated point guard in the nation is UCLA facilitator Larry Drew II. Drew is currently averaging 7.6 points, 7.4 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals on 45.3 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Even still, he’s gone relatively unnoticed on a national stage.
4-5. If you’re looking for a dynamic duo to build your bracket around, Shabazz Muhammad and Kyle Anderson might be it. Muhammad is top NBA draft pick material, as the electric athlete plays with as much power and tenacity as anyone in the nation. Anderson, meanwhile, overcomes below-average quickness by thinking three plays ahead of everyone else on the floor. These two freshmen could be the stars of the 2013 tournament.
Sign up for the SheridanHoops/Sportsbook Bracket Challenge. $100,000 first prize.