# 2014–15 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team

The 2014–15 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team represented the University of California, Los Angeles during the 2014–15 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bruins were led by second-year head coach Steve Alford and played their home games at Pauley Pavilion as members in the Pac-12 Conference. The team featured two All-Pac-12 performers in Norman Powell and Kevon Looney. Although the freshman Looney was seen as a potential NBA lottery pick, the senior Powell became the Bruins' most consistent performer. After numerous non-conference losses to start the season, UCLA finished in fourth place (11–7) in the Pac-12. They earned a No. 11 seed in the NCAA tournament, and advanced to the Sweet 16, becoming the lowest-seed UCLA team to ever reach the regional semifinals. The program produced its 49th 20-win season.
The Bruins began the season 4–0 and ranked No. 22 before losing two of three games at the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament. According to some pundits, the Bruins had the toughest non-conference schedule in the Pac-12. However, it did not net any signature wins, losing to ranked North Carolina, Gonzaga, and Kentucky. Beginning with their December loss at home to Gonzaga, the Bruins lost five consecutive games, their longest streak since 2009–10. Losses included a 39-point defeat to No. 1 Kentucky—they fell behind 24–0 and trailed 41–7 at halftime—and by 32 points against Utah. After Gonzaga, UCLA went 25 days without a home game, the longest in the school's history since 1972–73. They recovered to win eight of their next 11. After getting swept in a road trip to Arizona, UCLA closed out the regular season with three straight home wins to finish undefeated (9–0) at home in the conference for the first time since 2006–07. However, UCLA had few wins against notable teams during the season, and experts widely predicted that they needed a strong performance in the Pac-12 tournament to qualify for the NCAA tournament. The Bruins went 1–1, and were eliminated by Arizona. Although they were 0–2 for the season against the Wildcats, both games were competitive until the end.
Proving most major projections wrong, UCLA received an invite to the NCAA tournament, earning a No. 11 seed. Selection committee chairman Scott Barnes cited the Bruins' strength of schedule and improved play, even in their tournament loss to Arizona, as factors in their inclusion. In the Bruins' opener, Bryce Alford was credited with the game-winning three-point field goal after a goaltending call with 13 seconds remaining in a 60–59 win over sixth-seeded SMU. He finished with a game-high 27 points and made 9 of 11 three-point attempts. They advanced to the Sweet 16, where they lost again to Gonzaga, 74–62.

## Previous season

The UCLA Bruins finished the season with a record of 28–9 after advancing to the 2014 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. At the Pac-12 Conference tournament, the Bruins defeated the Arizona Wildcats 75–71 for the tournament championship. Kyle Anderson was voted the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after scoring 21 points and grabbing 15 rebounds in the championship game. The Bruins advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2014 NCAA tournament—their first regional semifinal appearance since 2008—before falling to Florida, who improved to 4–0 all-time against UCLA in the NCAA tournament.

## Offseason
### Departures

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Notes |
| David Wear | 12 | F | 6'10" | 230 | RS Senior | Huntington Beach, California | Graduated |
| Travis Wear | 24 | F | 6'10" | 230 | RS Senior | Huntington Beach, California | Graduated |
| Sooren Derboghosian | 10 | C | 6'10" | 240 | Senior | Tehran, Iran | Walk-on; Transferred to Drexel. |
| Aubrey Williams | 30 | PG | 5'8" | 175 | Senior | Palmdale, California | Walk-on; Graduated |
| Jordan Adams | 3 | SG | 6'5" | 220 | Sophomore | Lawrenceville, Georgia | Declared for 2014 NBA draft. |
| Kyle Anderson | 5 | G/F | 6'9" | 230 | Sophomore | Fairview, New Jersey | Declared for 2014 NBA Draft. |
| Zach LaVine | 14 | G | 6'5" | 180 | Freshman | Bothell, Washington | Declared for 2014 NBA Draft. |

### 2014 recruiting class

College recruiting information :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| György Golomán C | Weston, FL | The Sagemont School | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | Oct 28, 2013 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ||||||
| Kevon Looney PF | Milwaukee, WI | Hamilton High School | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | Oct 31, 2013 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ||||||
| Thomas Welsh C | Los Angeles, CA | Loyola High School | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) | 240 lb (110 kg) | Nov 19, 2013 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ||||||
| Jonah Bolden F | Sydney, AUS | Brewster Academy | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | Dec 9, 2013 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 7 Rivals: 17 ESPN: 11 ||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "UCLA Commit List for 2014". Rivals.com. "2014 UCLA Basketball Commits". Scout.com. "ESPN". ESPN.com. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. "2014 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. ||||||

## Schedule

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Exhibition |||||||||
| 10/31/2014* 7:30 pm | | Azusa Pacific | W 80–53 | | 21 – Norman Powell | 12 – Kevon Looney | 6 – Isaac Hamilton | Pauley Pavilion (5,655) Los Angeles, CA |
| Non-conference regular season |||||||||
| 11/14/2014* 9:00 pm, P12N | | Montana State | W 113–78 | 1–0 | 25 – Norman Powell | 9 – Kevon Looney | 12 – Bryce Alford | Pauley Pavilion (6,523) Los Angeles, CA |
| 11/16/2014* 7:00 pm, P12N | | Coastal Carolina | W 84–71 | 2–0 | 17 – B. Alford/K. Looney | 14 – Kevon Looney | 7 – Bryce Alford | Pauley Pavilion (5,389) Los Angeles, CA |
| 11/20/2014* 8:00 pm, P12N | | Nicholls State | W 107–74 | 3–0 | 28 – Bryce Alford | 14 – Kevon Looney | 13 – Bryce Alford | Pauley Pavilion (5,231) Los Angeles, CA |
| 11/23/2014* 7:00 pm, P12N | | Long Beach State | W 77–63 | 4–0 | 24 – Norman Powell | 11 – Kevon Looney | 7 – Bryce Alford | Pauley Pavilion (8,639) Los Angeles, CA |
| 11/26/2014* 11:30 am, ESPN2 | No. 22 | vs. Oklahoma Battle 4 Atlantis First Round | L 65–75 | 4–1 | 19 – Bryce Alford | 15 – Kevon Looney | 4 – Norman Powell | Imperial Arena (2,174) Nassau, BHS |
| 11/27/2014* 4:00 pm, AXS TV | No. 22 | vs. No. 5 North Carolina Battle 4 Atlantis Consolation 2nd Round | L 56–78 | 4–2 | 15 – Norman Powell | 8 – Thomas Welsh | 3 – Bryce Alford | Imperial Arena (2,940) Nassau, BHS |
| 11/28/2014* 7:30 pm, AXS TV | No. 22 | vs. UAB Battle 4 Atlantis 7th place game | W 88–76 | 5–2 | 21 – Issac Hamilton | 8 – K. Looney/T. Parker | 6 – Bryce Alford | Imperial Arena (517) Nassau, BHS |
| 12/03/2014* 9:00 pm, P12N | | Cal State Fullerton | W 73–45 | 6–2 | 18 – Norman Powell | 13 – Kevon Looney | 7 – Bryce Alford | Pauley Pavilion (4,897) Los Angeles, CA |
| 12/07/2014* 4:00 pm, P12N | | San Diego | W 75–68 | 7–2 | 22 – Bryce Alford | 11 – Kevon Looney | 6 – Bryce Alford | Pauley Pavilion (6,389) Los Angeles, CA |
| 12/10/2014* 8:00 pm, P12N | | UC Riverside | W 77–66 | 8–2 | 20 – Norman Powell | 16 – Tony Parker | 8 – Bryce Alford | Pauley Pavilion (5,450) Los Angeles, CA |
| 12/13/2014* 7:00 pm, ESPN2 | | No. 9 Gonzaga | L 74–87 | 8–3 | 23 – Bryce Alford | 9 – Tony Parker | 3 – Bryce Alford | Pauley Pavilion (10,006) Los Angeles, CA |
| 12/20/2014* 12:30 pm, CBS | | vs. No. 1 Kentucky CBS Sports Classic | L 44–83 | 8–4 | 14 – Isaac Hamilton | 9 – Kevon Looney | 3 – I. Hamilton/N. Powell | United Center (19,726) Chicago, IL |
| 12/28/2014* 3:30 pm, ESPNU | | at Alabama | L 50–56 | 8–5 | 16 – Bryce Alford | 6 – 3 tied | 4 – Bryce Alford | Coleman Coliseum (13,472) Tuscaloosa, AL |
| Pac-12 regular season |||||||||
| 01/02/2015 7:00 pm, FS1 | | at Colorado | L 56–62 | 8–6 (0–1) | 22 – Norman Powell | 9 – Thomas Welsh | 4 – Bryce Alford | Coors Events Center (10,191) Boulder, CO |
| 01/04/2015 1:00 pm, P12N | | at No. 10 Utah | L 39–71 | 8–7 (0–2) | 12 – Tony Parker | 6 – Kevon Looney | 5 – Bryce Alford | Jon M. Huntsman Center (10,566) Salt Lake City, UT |
| 01/08/2015 6:00 pm, ESPN | | Stanford | W 86–81 $^{2OT}$ | 9–7 (1–2) | 27 – Kevon Looney | 19 – Kevon Looney | 5 – Isaac Hamilton | Pauley Pavilion (7,379) Los Angeles, CA |
| 01/11/2015 4:30 pm, FS1 | | California | W 73–54 | 10–7 (2–2) | 15 – Kevon Looney | 8 – Tony Parker | 9 – Bryce Alford | Pauley Pavilion (11,093) Los Angeles, CA |
| 01/14/2015 6:00 pm, ESPN2 | | at USC Rivalry | W 83–66 | 11–7 (3–2) | 22 – Norman Powell | 10 – Kevon Looney | 4 – Norman Powell | Galen Center (6,253) Los Angeles, CA |
| 01/22/2015 6:00 pm, P12N | | at Oregon State | L 55–66 | 11–8 (3–3) | 18 – Bryce Alford | 11 – Kevon Looney | 6 – Bryce Alford | Gill Coliseum (6,024) Corvallis, OR |
| 01/24/2015 1:00 pm, CBS | | at Oregon | L 64–82 | 11–9 (3–4) | 23 – Norman Powell | 8 – Kevon Looney | 3 – Noah Allen | Matthew Knight Arena (7,301) Eugene, OR |
| 01/29/2015 7:00 pm, ESPN2 | | No. 11 Utah | W 69–59 | 12–9 (4–4) | 23 – Norman Powell | 6 – K. Looney/T. Parker | 7 – Bryce Alford | Pauley Pavilion (7,008) Los Angeles, CA |
| 01/31/2015 7:30 pm, P12N | | Colorado | W 72–59 | 13–9 (5–4) | 22 – Norman Powell | 10 – Kevon Looney | 5 – Bryce Alford | Pauley Pavilion (9,057) Los Angeles, CA |
| 02/05/2015 6:00 pm, ESPN2 | | at Stanford | W 69–67 | 14–9 (6–4) | 20 – Norman Powell | 9 – Kevon Looney | 4 – Isaac Hamilton | Maples Pavilion (5,298) Stanford, CA |
| 02/07/2015 5:00 pm, P12N | | at California | L 62–64 | 14–10 (6–5) | 20 – Tony Parker | 11 – Kevon Looney | 5 – Bryce Alford | Haas Pavilion (10,853) Berkeley, CA |
| 02/11/2015 7:00 pm, P12N | | Oregon State | W 75–59 | 15–10 (7–5) | 22 – Bryce Alford | 10 – Tony Parker | 9 – Isaac Hamilton | Pauley Pavilion (6,346) Los Angeles, CA |
| 02/14/2015 12:00 pm, FOX | | Oregon | W 72–63 | 16–10 (8–5) | 24 – Norman Powell | 11 – Kevon Looney | 7 – Isaac Hamilton | Pauley Pavilion (10,006) Los Angeles, CA |
| 02/18/2015 6:00 pm, ESPN2 | | at Arizona State | L 66–68 | 16–11 (8–6) | 16 – Norman Powell | 6 – Kevon Looney | 4 – Bryce Alford | Wells Fargo Arena (7,873) Tempe, AZ |
| 02/21/2015 6:00 pm, ESPN | | at No. 7 Arizona Rivalry and ESPN College GameDay | L 47–57 | 16–12 (8–7) | 22 – Bryce Alford | 5 – Norman Powell | 3 – Bryce Alford | McKale Center (14,655) Tucson, AZ |
| 02/25/2015 8:00 pm, ESPN2 | | Washington | W 88–66 | 17–12 (9–7) | 24 – Norman Powell | 7 – K. Looney/N. Powell | 10 – Isaac Hamilton | Pauley Pavilion (7,841) Los Angeles, CA |
| 03/01/2015 6:30 pm, FS1 | | Washington State | W 72–67 | 18–12 (10–7) | 28 – Norman Powell | 10 – Tony Parker | 6 – Isaac Hamilton | Pauley Pavilion (9,082) Los Angeles, CA |
| 03/04/2015 6:00 pm, ESPN2 | | USC Rivalry | W 85–74 | 19–12 (11–7) | 23 – Bryce Alford | 13 – Kevon Looney | 5 – Isaac Hamilton | Pauley Pavilion (10,734) Los Angeles, CA |
| Pac-12 Tournament |||||||||
| 03/12/2015 2:30 pm, P12N | | vs. USC Quarterfinals | W 96–70 | 20–12 | 36 – Isaac Hamilton | 7 – B. Alford/G. Goloman | 7 – Bryce Alford | MGM Grand Garden Arena (12,916) Paradise,NV |
| 03/13/2015 6:00 pm, P12N | | vs. No. 5 Arizona Semifinals | L 64–70 | 20–13 | 21 – Norman Powell | 4 – 5 tied | 2 – 3 tied | MGM Grand Garden Arena (12,916) Paradise, NV |
| NCAA tournament |||||||||
| 03/19/2015* 12:10 PM, truTV | No. (11 S) | vs. No. 18 (6 S) SMU Second round | W 60–59 | 21–13 | 27 – Bryce Alford | 10 – Kevon Looney | 4 – B. Alford/I. Hamilton | KFC Yum! Center (21,285) Louisville, KY |
| 03/21/2015* 9:10 AM, CBS | No. (11 S) | vs. (14 S) UAB Third round | W 92–75 | 22–13 | 28 – Tony Parker | 12 – Tony Parker | 7 – Isaac Hamilton | KFC Yum! Center (21,760) Louisville, KY |
| 03/27/2015* 4:15 PM, CBS | No. (11 S) | vs. No. 7 (2 S) Gonzaga Sweet Sixteen | L 62–74 | 22–14 | 16 – T. Parker/N. Powell | 11 – Parker | 4 – B. Alford/I. Hamilton | NRG Stadium (21,168) Houston, TX |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Pacific Time. (#) during NCAA Tournament is seed with Region S=South. |||||||||

## Rankings

Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking. :
| Poll | Pre | Wk 2 | Wk 3 | Wk 4 | Wk 5 | Wk 6 | Wk 7 | Wk 8 | Wk 9 | Wk 10 | Wk 11 | Wk 12 | Wk 13 | Wk 14 | Wk 15 | Wk 16 | Wk 17 | Wk 18 | Wk 19 | Final |
| AP | RV | RV | 22 | RV | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | N/A |
| Coaches | RV | RV | 23 | RV | RV | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | RV |

## Awards and honors

Pac-12 Conference Player of the Week
* November 24, 2014 – Norman Powell
* January 12, 2015 – Kevon Looney
* February 2, 2015 – Norman Powell
* March 2, 2015 – Norman Powell
All-Pac-12 Teams
* Norman Powell – First-team All-Pac-12, honorable mention All-Defensive Team
* Kevon Looney – Second-team All-Pac-12, Pac-12 All-Freshman Team
* Bryce Alford – Honorable mention All-Pac-12
USBWA All-District IX Team
* Norman Powell
NABC All-District 20 Team
* Norman Powell – Second-team
* Kevon Looney – Second-team
UCLA Team Awards
* Norman Powell – the Coach John R. Wooden Award as the team's Most Valuable Player
* Kevon Looney – the Gerald A. Finerman Award as the team's rebounding leader and the Seymour Armond Memorial Award as the most valuable freshman
* Bryce Alford – the UCLA Alumni Association Award as the team's leader in assists (4.9 apg)