Interesting:
NCAA SUCCESS Lavin has been particularly successful in the NCAA Tournament as the Bruin head coach. Lavin is one of just two coaches in the nation who have led their schools to five "Sweet 16s" in the last six years (along with Duke’s Krzyzewski). Since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, Lavin (1998 and 1997) is one of only two coaches (along with Gonzaga’s Mark Few, 2001 and 2000) to have advanced to the "Sweet 16" in each of their first two seasons as a Div. I head coach. He has led UCLA to six straight tournament bids and an 11-6 (64.7) NCAA record. Among UCLA mentors who have coached in the NCAA Tournament, Lavin’s record of 11-6 is the best of any Bruin coach after 17 NCAA contests (Wooden was 8-9 and Harrick 10-7). Lavin has been to 13 consecutive NCAA Tournaments (11 straight at UCLA and two, 1991 and ‘90, while on the staff at Purdue under Gene Keady).
Since the NCAA Tournament field was expanded in 1985, he is the first Bruin head coach to lead UCLA to five NCAA "Sweet 16" appearances in a six-year stretch. In 2002, in the West Region at Pittsburgh, PA, No. 8 seed UCLA defeated No. 9 seed Mississippi 80-58, and in one of the most exciting games in NCAA Tournament history, the Bruins in the second round defeated No. 1 seed Cincinnati 105-101 in double overtime, to advance to the "Sweet 16" for the fifth time in the last six years (at San Jose, the Bruins lost to No. 12 seed Missouri 82-73). In 2001, in the East Region at Greensboro, NC, the No. 4 seed Bruins defeated No. 13 seed Hofstra 61-48 in the first round and No. 12 seed Utah State 75-50 in the second round, advancing to the "Sweet 16" in Philadelphia vs. No. 1 ranked Duke (UCLA lost to the eventual National Champion Blue Devils, 76-63). In 2000, UCLA, the No. 6 seed in the NCAA Midwest Region, advanced to the "Sweet 16" for the third time in four years, beating No. 11 seed Ball State (65-57) and No. 3 seed Maryland (105-70), before losing to No. 2 seed Iowa State (80-56). In 1999, the Bruins were a No. 5 seed in the NCAA South Region. In 1998, the No. 6 seed Bruins advanced to the NCAA South Region "Sweet 16", by beating No. 11 seed Miami (FL) 65-62 and No. 3 seed Michigan 85-82 in the first and second rounds, before losing to No. 2 seed and eventual National Champion Kentucky, 94-68. In 1997, Lavin’s first season as head coach, the Bruins were one game away from the Final Four – in the first two rounds of the Midwest Regional at Auburn Hills, MI, No. 2 seed UCLA defeated No. 15 seed Charleston Southern 109-75 and No. 7 seed Xavier 96-83 and in San Antonio, TX, the Bruins beat No. 6 seed Iowa State 74-73 in overtime before losing the Midwest Region final to No. 1 seed Minnesota, 80-72.
Lavin is the first Bruin head mentor since Wooden in 1971 (four wins and an NCAA title), 1972 (four wins and an NCAA title), 1973 (four wins and an NCAA title) 1974 (three wins) and 1975 (five wins, his 10th NCAA crown) to win multiple tournament games five times in six years. In 1998, UCLA reached the NCAA "Sweet 16" for the second consecutive year and for the first time since the 1979 and ’80 seasons. The Bruins were one of just six schools to reach the "Sweet 16" in both 1997 and ’98 (Arizona, Kentucky, North Carolina, Stanford and Utah).
OVERTIME VICTORIES Along with his NCAA success, Lavin during his Bruin career has an outstanding winning record in overtime contests.
In his six years as the Bruin head coach, UCLA’s record in overtime is 10-2, winning nine consecutive overtime games dating back to 1997, including the 2002 NCAA second round double overtime victory over No. 1 West Region seed Cincinnati. UCLA has been unbeaten in extra-period contests the last five years, including a 3-0 record in 2000-01 (beat No. 12 Kentucky 97-92OT for third-place in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, defeated No. 8 Arizona 79-77OT in Pauley Pavilion and won at Oregon State 68-65OT).
http://uclabruins.collegesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/lavin_steve00.html
