Bruins Close Against Ducks; Postseason Play Uncertain

What will UCLA’s Bruins be playing for tonight at 7:30 when they end their regular season at Oregon’s McArthur Court?

An NCAA bid? If the Bruins win, they’ll be 16-12, 12-6 in the conference, which will leave them no worse than tied for third.

An NIT bid? UCLA turned one of those down last season, but there is reason to believe that Athletic Director Peter Dalis is trying to negotiate an acceptance this season, should the Bruins be invited.

Dalis met Friday with the faculty committee on athletics, “to seek guidance,” he said.

Dalis said it has been the school’s practice not to schedule games during final examination periods, with an exception made for NCAA participation.

But the coaching staff is said to be worried that another NIT refusal would be used against UCLA in recruiting, and the athletic department administration is said to be loath to again face the criticism it experienced last season for turning down the bid.

Oregon lost in double overtime to the Bruins in an earlier meeting this season. The Ducks were picked to finish among the top four in the conference but started the season by squandering a number of sizable leads, including one of 17-2 against the Bruins.

Oregon is 15-15, though the Ducks are 8-4 at The Pit. They beat UCLA there last season by 11 points.

The Bruins are 3-8 on the road.