2012–13 UCLA Bruins men's basketball season
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| 2012–13 UCLA Bruins men's basketball season | |
|---|---|
 UCLA · Public domain · source | |
| Mode | Basketball |
| Year | 2012–13 |
| Team | UCLA Bruins |
| Conference | Pac-12 Conference |
| Short conf | Pac-12 |
| Coachrank | #23 (Final AP) |
| Aprank | #23 (Final AP) |
| Record | 25–10 |
| Conf record | 13–5 |
| Head coach | Ben Howland |
| Hc year | 10th |
| Mvp | Shabazz Muhammad |
| Arena | Pauley Pavilion |
| Champion | Pac-12 Regular Season Co-Champions |
| Tourney result | NCAA Division I tournament, Second Round |
2012–13 UCLA Bruins men's basketball season was the 94th campaign for the program and the 10th under head coach Ben Howland. The Bruins, featuring a highly touted recruiting class, won a share of the Pac-12 Conference regular-season title and returned to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. The season was marked by the debut of renovated Pauley Pavilion and the emergence of star freshman Shabazz Muhammad.
Season overview
The season began with immense anticipation due to the arrival of a top-ranked recruiting class headlined by Shabazz Muhammad and Kyle Anderson. After a preseason trip to China, the team opened the newly renovated Pauley Pavilion with a victory against Indiana State Sycamores. Non-conference play included a notable loss to Georgetown Hoyas in Brooklyn and a defeat to San Diego State Aztecs at Anaheim Convention Center. The Bruins entered Pac-12 Conference play strongly, securing key victories over rivals like the Arizona Wildcats and Missouri Tigers. A late-season surge, including a win at Washington Huskies, helped UCLA earn a share of the Pac-12 Conference regular-season championship with the Oregon Ducks.
Roster
The roster blended veteran leadership with exceptional freshman talent. Senior guard Larry Drew II led the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio, directing the offense. The frontcourt was anchored by versatile forwards Travis Wear and David Wear, both transfers from the North Carolina Tar Heels. The celebrated freshman class included Shabazz Muhammad, who became the team's leading scorer, and point-forward Kyle Anderson. Other key contributors were junior guard Jordan Adams, whose season ended prematurely due to injury, and defensive specialist Norman Powell. The team was coached by Ben Howland, with assistants including Phil Mathews.
Schedule and results
The non-conference schedule featured games against several NCAA Division I opponents. Highlights included a victory over the Missouri Tigers at Pauley Pavilion and a road loss to the California Golden Bears. During the Pac-12 Conference schedule, the Bruins completed a season sweep of the Arizona Wildcats, with a dramatic overtime win in Tucson. They also suffered a disappointing road loss to the Washington State Cougars. In the 2013 Pac-12 men's basketball tournament held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Valley, UCLA defeated the Arizona State Sun Devils before falling to the Oregon Ducks in the semifinal.
Player statistics
Shabazz Muhammad led the team in scoring, averaging 17.9 points per game and earning Pac-12 Conference Freshman of the Year honors. Larry Drew II averaged 7.3 assists per game, setting a single-season school record. Kyle Anderson was a statistical standout, nearly averaging a double-double with 9.7 points and 8.6 rebounds per contest. Forward Travis Wear provided consistent interior scoring, while Jordan Adams was a major contributor before his foot injury in the Pac-12 Conference tournament. The team ranked among national leaders in points per game and field goal percentage.
Postseason
Earning an at-large bid, UCLA was selected as a No. 6 seed in the NCAA tournament's South Region. In the second round at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas, the Bruins defeated the Minnesota Golden Gophers, coached by Tubby Smith. Their season ended in the third round with a loss to the Florida Gators, a team led by Billy Donovan that would eventually advance to the Elite Eight. The loss marked the final game for Ben Howland as head coach at UCLA.
Awards and honors
* Shabazz Muhammad: Pac-12 Conference Freshman of the Year; First-team All-Pac-12 Conference; NCAA All-Region team. * Larry Drew II: Second-team All-Pac-12 Conference; Pac-12 Conference All-Defensive Team. * Kyle Anderson: Pac-12 Conference All-Freshman Team. * Jordan Adams: Pac-12 Conference All-Freshman Team (honorable mention). * Ben Howland: Pac-12 Conference Co-Coach of the Year (shared with Dana Altman of the Oregon Ducks).
Category:UCLA Bruins men's basketball seasons Category:2012–13 NCAA Division I men's basketball season