Photos: Bare naked gym in UCLA-Texas game
by Scott M Gleeson, USA TODAY Sports
There was no lift-off in Houston on Saturday night.
High-profile teams Texas and UCLA agreed to play a game at Reliant Stadium as part of a doubleheader billed as the MD Anderson Proton Therapy Showcase.
When the game was scheduled, it seemed like a good idea. It’d be nationally televised and feature a Big 12 favorite and potential top 10 team bumping heads.
Only problem was, an embarrassing 2,797 fans showed up at the 43,000-seat Reliant Stadium in a meaningless 65-63 UCLA win.
That awkward moment when no one shows up to watch a college basketball game between two well-known teams. Even mid-majors draw bigger crowds than that.
It sort of makes sense, though. Neither team has given its fanbase a reason to travel.
The Shabazz Muhammad era hasn’t gotten off to a pretty start for UCLA and back-on-the-hot-seat coach Ben Howland. The Bruins lost three winnable non-conference games, including an eye-popping loss to Cal Poly at home.
Likewise, Texas isn’t having any type of a decent season either with one glaring loss to Division II Chaminade highlighting a dreadful start to a season.
Regardless of sluggish starts and failing to meet preseason expectations, when UCLA and Texas play each other in college basketball, it’s still supposed to mean something.
Former Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl summed the attendance issue up nicely on Twitter:
“Can’t believe I’m watching UCLA and Texas @ESPNCBB knowing the loser is 5-4! More fans in attendence at a good High School game!”
Contributing: The Associated Press
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