Bill Walton would’ve been very happy if anybody from the Pac-12 — “the Conference of Champions!” — made the Final Four (and he predicted five Pac-12 teams to make it, even), but UCLA doing so has the Bruins legend especially thrilled.
Walton – a two-time national champion and three-time Naismith Award winner at UCLA — delivered a message to the Bruins on Friday night ahead of Saturday’s Final Four game against Gonzaga. And he did so in front of an extremely Bill Walton backdrop.
Bill Walton… one of a kind đ
The legendary @BillWalton delivers a message for @UCLAMBB. #FinalFour pic.twitter.com/to0J52zMOG
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 2, 2021
“Yeaaah! UCLA Bruins, here we go! Way to go, guys! You’re doing great! We’re so excited, inspired, proud, and happy… FOR YOU! It’s wonderful to witness what you’re doing, as a team, with your coach, for UCLA, for the sport, and the world! This is simply awesome! We’re with ya, guys. This is your time, and moment. Good luck! Good everything! Today, and forevermore! Do your best. That’ll be enough. You’re already champions! You are, UCLA! Here we go, Bruins! Here we go!”
UCLA has put together a remarkable run from the First Four to the Final Four as a No. 11 seed, with particularly impressive upset victories over No. 2 seed Alabama in the Sweet 16 and No. 1 seed Michigan in the Elite Eight. They will have a much more difficult challenge against Gonzaga, who looks a level above everybody else so far. But perhaps the motivation and positive vibes from Walton can help lead the Bruins to a stunning victory.
