by Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY Sports

UCLA escaped with a 59-57 win over Washington on Thursday night thanks to pass-first point guard Larry Drew’s buzzer-beating three-pointer.

The win, while sluggish, helped the Bruins (17-6, 7-3) remain in a three-way tie for second place in the Pac-12 behind Arizona. Barring a catastrophic setback, UCLA appears to be a virtual lock to make the NCAA tournament. Still, with a highly-touted recruiting class including Shabazz Muhammad, coach Ben Howland could be on the hot seat if the Bruins don’t make a deep March run.

Former UCLA big man Bill Walton, calling the game for ESPN, made it clear he doesn’t think Howland should be coaching the Bruins.

Walton continually made fun of the small crowd size at Pauley Pavilion and then was eventually asked by play-by-play announcer Dave Pasch if he was a fan of Howland’s. Walton wasn’t shy, replying with a harsh “No.”

Here’s the full dialogue from the exchange between Pasch and Walton:

Walton: I’m not in charge. If I were, things would be different. …They should just announce that everybody can come down closer and fill in the empty seats.”

Pasch: “You’ve criticized the attendance now five times. Give me a solution. How do you fix it?”

Walton: “Play better basketball.”

Pasch: “OK, well, that’s obvious. How do you play better basketball?”

Walton: “Better style.”

Pasch: “Alright, so, is that the coach? Is that the players?”

Walton: “It’s the coach.

Pasch: “So you’re not a Ben Howland fan?”

Walton: “No.”

Later on the ESPN broadcast, Walton took his final jab at the program.

Pasche: “What the next best option there for UCLA?

Walton: “Do they look like they’re having a good time? Are they playing great basketball? Are they selling tickets. Is this an atmosphere that you would say, ‘Yeah.’ This looks like people are getting ready to go to the dentist.”

H/T College Basketball Talk

… [For more on Bill Walton calls for UCLA coach Ben Howland's job on ESPN, click here.]