The Shadow
John Wooden earned the nickname, “Wizard of Westwood,” because of the magic of his UCLA Bruins which won 88 consecutive NCAA games, including 38 straight victories in the NCAA tournament.
In fact, Wooden’s Bruins won seven national championships in a row from 1967 to 1973.
To put it in perspective, only the University of Kentucky has won more national championships than seven. Kentucky has won eight to trail UCLA that leads all NCAA Division 1 colleges with 11 men’s basketball championships.
From 1964 to 1973, UCLA compiled a 281-15 record while winning the national championship in 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, and 1973. Four of the seven championship basketball teams were undefeated.
The Bruins have added two more to those nine by winning in 1975, the last Bruin team Wooden coached before retiring, and again in1995.
However, the University of North Carolina ended the Bruins’ quest for a 12th championship by eliminating UCLA in the Sweet 16 by a 73-66 score.
The University of North Carolina, a No. 8 seed, will attempt to end the Duke Blue Devil’s tournament run in its bid to win the national title. Duke is a No. 2 seed.
During the past 42 basketball seasons, Krzyzewski’s Blue Devils have won five national championships compared to the 10 national championships the Bruins won during the 27 seasons Wooden coached UCLA.
