jules bernard

Headed by the No. 2 Wildcats, the Pac-12 will send three teams to the NCAA tournament on the road to the Final Four in New Orleans.

Cal was just a few plays away from earning a victory on the national stage over a ranked UCLA team — a team that routed the Bears earlier this season.

Considering how UCLA’s talent has seldom translated into postseason success of late, head coach Steve Alford is on the hot seat, and the pressure is on to churn out a contender.