1951 NCAA Basketball Preview: UCLA Bruins and the Pacific Coast Conference
The 1951 article discusses the competitive landscape of Pacific Coast Conference basketball, emphasizing the unpredictability of the upcoming season. Coach Johnny Wooden’s UCLA Bruins are highlighted as the defending champions, having won the Southern Division and then the overall championship in 1950. However, the Bruins face challenges as they will be without key players from the previous season, including Stanich, Sawyer, Kraushaar, and Joeckel, relying mainly on returning regular, Eddie Sheldrake. The California Bears are presented as strong contenders, improving their roster with significant sophomore talent, notably Nibs Price. The article mentions the departure of Sam Barry, a long-standing USC coach, and the sudden passing of his all-American forward Bill Sharman, adding to the uncertainty in Southern California. Meanwhile, Stanford’s prospects seem dim, with the loss of high-scorer George Yardley and a reliance on up-and-coming players to maintain competitiveness against strong rivals like UCLA and California. Washington State is also mentioned, aiming to repeat previous successes.