John Wooden’s incredible run at UCLA, with 10 national championships between 1964 and 1975, is most associated with his two greatest players, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton. However, the dynasty started with two of Wooden’s smallest teams, and with how he turned the lack of size into a strength.
In 1964, UCLA’s tallest starter was 6-5. That team wasn’t going to grind inside against anyone. Instead, Wooden and his staff installed a full-court press and it led to an undefeated season. In 1964, no
one was used to that sort of pressure.
Behind a super-quick backcourt of Gail Goodrich and Walt Hazzard, the Bruins smoked bigger teams all season, including Duke, with 6-11 Jay Buckley, and 6-10 Hack Tyson in the championship game.
The Bruins didn’t qualify for the tournament in 1966, but Jabbar (then known as Lew Alcindor) was a freshman, and everyone knew what was coming when he would be eligible as a sophomore.
UCLA won every championship between 1967 and 1973, before losing to NC State in the 1974 tournament. Wooden won again in 1975, then retired.
Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions || Drop us a line
