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Flat 4
Joined: 1/13/14 Posts: 3,922
1980 17-9 4th in Pac
Posted Fri, Mar 12 11:29 am
Kiki may not be walking through that door but anything can happen in March. I know we are wounded but if you get the right breaks and matchups this team could make a run.
UCLArt
Joined: 2/04/15 Posts: 91
That 1980 Team
Posted Fri, Mar 12 11:47 am
In response to 1980 17-9 4th in Pac (Flat 4)
Unsure if our 2021 team is as loaded with talent as the 1980 Bruins. In addition to Kiki, that team also had future NBA-ers Rod Foster, Mike Saunders, Darren Daye, and Michael Holton.

Chris Lippert was the greatest 12th man, as well.
70sDude
Joined: 11/04/08 Posts: 15,123
whoa daddy
Posted Fri, Mar 12 12:02 pm
In response to 1980 17-9 4th in Pac (Flat 4)
Strength of schedule and finishing form for the '80 Bruins is revealing of a potency concealed in that 4th place finish. Went into the postseason finishing 2-1 in last three regular season games, including a pair of road wins:

25th SOS of 260

Ours ?

52nd SOS of 347 (0-3 to finish the season, 1st round loss in conference tournament.)
Westlake Bruin
Joined: 7/25/12 Posts: 4,287
SOS doesnt really mean much this year
Posted Fri, Mar 12 1:49 pm
In response to whoa daddy (70sDude)
nm
70sDude
Joined: 11/04/08 Posts: 15,123
that sounds rather dismissive ...
Posted Fri, Mar 12 2:37 pm
In response to SOS doesnt really mean much this year (Westlake Bruin)
... without some type explanation. Not buying it yet, but am open to hearing the thinking supporting the POV.

Go Bruins
Flat 4
Joined: 1/13/14 Posts: 3,922
Teams are very comparable
Posted Fri, Mar 12 3:21 pm
In response to whoa daddy (70sDude)
I am not trying to say that this team will be playing on Monday night in a few weeks, simply pointing out that in our illustrious history another 17 win 4th place team made it to the title game. In my opinion there isn’t much difference in SoS. 1980 was in the top 10% of SOS while this year’s team in the top 15% of SOS. The only real difference is this team has lost 4 in a row in which they blew early leads while the 80 team won 3 of 4 heading into tourney. Plenty of teams have gone into the tourney on down turns only to catch fire and make a run. Will it happen, I don’t know. To discount that it could happen is ignoring history of this great sporting event. That 1980 was fortunate to make the tourney, they got hot and almost won the whole damn thing. They were an ok team that year in the regular season. Very similar to this year.
Newport Bruin
Joined: 9/28/05 Posts: 1,448
My favorite game in that 1980 run
Posted Fri, Mar 12 3:35 pm
In response to 1980 17-9 4th in Pac (Flat 4)
Was against Purdue in the final four. Biggest moment was Kiki driving the baseline and dunking over 7ft Joe Barry Carrol. Four points away from a National Championship ironically losing to a Denny Crum coached team. Louisville had the doctor of dunk Darryl Griffith and that was the difference. I could be wrong about this but I think the Bruins were the last team invited to the tournament on selection day.
UCLArt
Joined: 2/04/15 Posts: 91
I cried into my bowl of ice cream
Posted Fri, Mar 12 4:05 pm
In response to My favorite game in that 1980 run (Newport Bruin)
I was in grade school that year, and my parents (both UCLA alums) allowed me to stay up past bedtime to watch the game. I remember at some point crying into my bowl of Thrifty chocolate chip as the game got away from us in the final minute. Kiki was my first true sports hero. Rod Foster my second favorite player from that team.
tomodach
Joined: 12/27/14 Posts: 5,454
Wow, what a great run
Posted Fri, Mar 12 4:24 pm
In response to My favorite game in that 1980 run (Newport Bruin)
But Living in Victor Valley at the time. Yuk
I95Bruin
Joined: 1/21/14 Posts: 519
The difference in that game was
Posted Fri, Mar 12 5:03 pm
In response to My favorite game in that 1980 run (Newport Bruin)
Kiki missing a layup in the last minute or we would have won. I will never forgive him for that.
70sDude
Joined: 11/04/08 Posts: 15,123
can't unsee that sequence, darn it
Posted Fri, Mar 12 6:37 pm
In response to The difference in that game was (I95Bruin)
I can still see him bobble that ball off his leg at the end. A crusher way to go out, ooof. He called it his most humbling moment in the basketball, which must be agonizing. To have come so close to achieving legendary status here at UCLA, and then finish a footnote not champion, the chasm must feel both small and enormous.

Go Bruins
bruinstan22
Joined: 11/22/11 Posts: 3,012
I was at that game
Posted Fri, Mar 12 6:47 pm
In response to can't unsee that sequence, darn it (70sDude)
Gut wrenching. We should have won, but, didn’t. Damn.
ClassOf84
Joined: 2/25/18 Posts: 45
It was my freshman year...
Posted Fri, Mar 12 7:05 pm
In response to I was at that game (bruinstan22)
What a fun team that was...really progressed throughout the season (IIRC). Heartbreaking loss
uclanumber1
Joined: 3/23/15 Posts: 2,069
Can someone please explain to me what Brown did...
Posted Fri, Mar 12 9:07 pm
In response to 1980 17-9 4th in Pac (Flat 4)
to our program let alone leaving us high n dry? Oh yeah, he burned us... twice!
uclanumber1
Joined: 3/23/15 Posts: 2,069
Also... why did Cliff Pruitt (sp?) leave? Grades??
Posted Fri, Mar 12 9:12 pm
In response to Can someone please explain to me what Brown did... (uclanumber1)
Of course, Sanders, Foster, Holton were returning for us and were mainstays but I really thought Pruitt was really good for us.