The 1968 Championship Team

The drama of UCLA's 1967-68 regular season rests not on their 25 victories, but on their one defeat. In the 1967 NCAA Tournament, Elvin Hayes of Houston thought the Bruins were overrated, and claimed that Houston would have beat them if his teammates hadn't let him down. The rematch was at the Houston Astrodome on January 20th, 1968. The unbeaten #2 Cougars beat the unbeaten #1 Bruins, and they switched places in the poll.

There were extenuating circumstances surrounding the victory. Eight days before the game, Lew Alcindor had injured his eye, after which he spent 3 days in the hospital. He played, but he was a shadow of himself, shooting 4 for 18 for the game. Houston won by 2 points.

Houston and UCLA remained ranked 1 & 2, respectively, through the rest of the season and both bulldozed their way to a rematch in the Final Four at the LA Sports Arena. UCLA played a diamond-and-one defense, with Alcindor under the basket and Lynn Shackelford shadowing Hayes. It worked spectacularly. UCLA held Hayes to 10 points and blew out Houston by 32 points with their opponent for the final (North Carolina) watching from the stands. The next day they dismantled the intimidated Tarheels in equally impressive fashion. Alcindor, Shakelford, Lucius Allen, and Mike Warren all made the All Tournament team, with Alcindor winning the Most Outstanding Player.

March 15: NCAA West Regional semi-final at Albequerque, New Mexico:

March 16: NCAA West Regional final at Albequerque, New Mexico:

March 22: NCAA Championship semi-final at Los Angeles Sports Arena:

March 23: NCAA Championship final at Los Angeles Sports Arena: