Introduction
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is one of the most storied basketball programs in the NCAA. From their legendary championship teams of the 1960s to their recent success in the NCAA Tournament, the Bruins have been a perennial powerhouse in college basketball. But with the NCAA Tournament now expanded to 68 teams and the top four seeds receiving a bye into the second round, the question remains: Can UCLA get a 1 seed?
The Case for a 1 Seed
UCLA has been one of the most successful teams in the NCAA over the past few years. The Bruins have won three consecutive Pac-12 titles, and have made four consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament. In those four appearances, UCLA has advanced to the Sweet Sixteen or beyond three times, including a trip to the Final Four in 2017.
The Bruins have also had a great deal of success against top-tier opponents. UCLA has beaten four different 1 seeds in the past four NCAA Tournaments, including a win over top-ranked Kansas in 2017. The Bruins have also beaten top-10 teams such as Kentucky, Gonzaga, and Arizona in the past few years.
The Bruins have also been consistently ranked in the top 25 for the past few years. They have been ranked in the top 10 for the majority of the season, and currently sit at number 11 in the AP Poll. UCLA has also been ranked in the top 25 in the NCAA’s NET Rankings, which is used to determine seeding for the NCAA Tournament.
The Case Against a 1 Seed
While UCLA has been successful in recent years, there are some factors that could prevent them from earning a 1 seed. For one, the Pac-12 is not considered one of the top conferences in the nation. The conference is usually ranked in the middle of the pack in terms of strength, and the Bruins have not faced a particularly difficult schedule this season.
The Bruins have also struggled against some of the top teams in the nation. UCLA lost to both Duke and Michigan, two of the top teams in the country. They also lost to an unranked USC team, and were blown out by Oregon in the Pac-12 Tournament. These losses could be seen as a sign that UCLA is not quite ready to compete with the best teams in the country.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the answer to whether or not UCLA can get a 1 seed is a complicated one. On the one hand, the Bruins have had a great deal of success in recent years, and have beaten some of the top teams in the country. On the other hand, their schedule has not been particularly difficult, and they have struggled against some of the top teams in the nation. It will be interesting to see how the selection committee evaluates the Bruins, and whether or not UCLA can get a 1 seed.
