I just took a brief look at UCLA's history in NCAA. So it fell quite a bit with the previous coach with UCLA bowing out sometimes in the first round of 64 or no shows, which ultimately led to firing the coach.
Last year UCLA was also a no-show, but did make it to the round of 16 with its current coach twice in three years.
You have a reputation at a campus in a warm state in a pleasant neighborhood close to Santa Monica and a history of repeated appearances in NCAA.
Recruiting couldn't have been difficult, so I don't agree with your assessment.
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From my limited understanding of basketball through Princeton Offense, all I know is teams who are disadvantaged will run the shot clock down on every possession close to zero and slow down the game to a lull in order to catch the team off guard and make a quick shot somewhere either through a backdoor cut or for an open three.
Game plan is to keep the game slow and low scoring.
Yes, some people say, "You live and die by the three."