How many of the best college basketball teams hail from UCLA? The Bruins have the most NCAA championships of any program with 11 so it makes plenty of sense that UCLA will have had some of the top college teams ever created.
Things are a lot different now than they were when John Wooden was winning title after title but those UCLA Bruin teams’ greatness stands the test of time. The Sporting News put together a list of the 15 best men’s college basketball teams from a panel of U.S. Basketball Writers Hall of Fame of nine members.
The list is dominated by Bruin teams. In total, five UCLA teams made the cut. There was only one other school that had multiple teams selected, with both the 2012 and 1996 Kentucky Wildcats making the list.
Record: 29-1
Besides a loss to a very good Houston team, it was an all-time dominant season for the Bruins. UCLA wrapped up the NCAA title with a 78-55 blowout win over North Carolina in the championship game.
Finish: NCAA championship
No. 4: 1972 UCLA Bruins
Record: 30-0
Finish: NCAA championship
Sophomore Bill Walton led the way for UCLA, leading the undefeated Bruins while winning the National Player of the Year award.
No. 7: 1973 UCLA Bruins
Record: 30-0
Finish: NCAA championship
Bill Walton scored 44 points in the NCAA championship game over Memphis State. The Bruins had six future NBA players on the roster in the second of two-straight undefeated seasons for UCLA.
No. 10: 1969 UCLA Bruins
Record: 29-1
Aside from a loss to USC, it was smooth sailing for the 1969 Bruins. Lew Alcindor had an amazing 37 points and 20 rebounds in the championship game over Purdue.
Finish: NCAA championship
No. 11: 1967 UCLA Bruins
Record: 30-0
Finish: NCAA championship
Another perfect season to round out UCLA’s time on the list. Sophomore Lew Alcindor took over the college basketball world, averaging 29.0 points per game for the Bruins.
