Mar 28, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; The UCLA Bruins celebrate beating the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Doug McSchooler-USA TODAY Sports
NCAABy Matt Clapp on

The No. 11 seed UCLA Bruins barely got into the NCAA Tournament, and were even placed in the First Four. But the Bruins have certainly made the most of their opportunity, and are now just one win away from the Final Four.

UCLA upset the No. 2 seed Alabama Crimson Tide 88-78 on Sunday in the Sweet 16, despite Alabama providing an incredible March Madness moment to send the game into overtime.

With 4.2 seconds remaining and Alabama trailing 65-62, UCLA (questionably) chose not to foul, and the Crimson Tide’s Alex Reese made a long three to send the game into overtime.

But in overtime, it was all UCLA. The Bruins outscored Alabama 23-13, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. had a nasty three to beat the shot clock with under two minutes remaining in overtime to put UCLA up seven. This felt like the dagger and featured a great call from Ian Eagle:

Alabama will especially be kicking themselves over their performance at the free-throw line. The Crimson Tide went just 11-of-25 at the line. That’s 44 percent. And maybe of the misses were down the stretch.

While UCLA is a historically great college basketball program, this is their first trip to the Elite Eight since 2008.

And with UCLA and No. 12 seed Oregon State making the Elite Eight, it makes for the first time in NCAA Tournament history that two teams seeded 11th or worse reached the Elite Eight.

The Pac-12 was underrated by just about everybody but Bill Walton, and the UCLA legend is surely having a fun Sunday night.

About Matt Clapp

Matt is an editor at The Comeback. He attended Colorado State University, wishes he was Saved by the Bell's Zack Morris, and idolizes Larry David. And loves pizza and dogs because obviously.

He can be followed on Twitter at @Matt2Clapp (also @TheBlogfines for Cubs/MLB tweets and @DaBearNecess for Bears/NFL tweets), and can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.

View all posts by Matt Clapp