If you ever watch UCLA sports, you know their claim to fame, the one they boast about so often. Their 99 team championships are the most in Division-1 sports history. And if Arron Afflalo continues his ridiculous play, the Bruins may just get to #100. UCLA reached their 17th Final Four, another NCAA record, with last night’s 68-55 win over Kansas.

I don’t know if you’d consider yesterday’s sloppiness a result of bad offense, great defense, or a little of both. This thing resembled more of a summer pick-up game than an NCAA Regional Final. UCLA turned the ball over 24 times, while Kansas had 21 screw-ups of their own. The two teams combined for 32 steals, a simply ridiculous number. UCLA got four steals apiece from Josh Shipp and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute; their little point guard Darren Collison got five. On the opposite side, Kansas’ Mario Chalmers led all thieves with six steals, while his teammates Russell Robinson (five) and Julian Wright (four) got into the act.

A couple of things gave the Bruins a decisive edge yesterday. One was Ben Howland, who outcoached Bill Self through much of the game. For all the talent Kansas had, they looked lost. They didn’t have any success in the transition game and whenever they were confined to the half court offense, they were eaten alive by UCLA’s defense. Self failed to adjust to a UCLA defense that resembled a Southern Illinois defense from their Sweet 16 matchup. Good coaches make those adjustments and I don’t think Self is one of the better ones.

Another reason UCLA won? They have Arron Afflalo. The junior scored 24 points and brought the most individual intensity I’ve seen all tournament. He simply wasn’t going to let UCLA lose. Whenever they needed a basket, he delivered. Then he’d pound his chest, pumping up his teammates and the raucous UCLA supporters in San Jose. Kansas may have been the #1 seed but they sure didn’t have the home support the Bruins had. Even Bill Walton was there (with his freakishly short wife), cheering on UCLA towards #100.