UCLA starting in Dayton vs Bonnie

DAYTON, OHIO — UCLA’s storied NCAA Tournament history includes 18 Final Four appearances. A First Four? None, until now.

The Bruins open the tournament in Dayton on Tuesday at the bottom of the bracket looking up, an unexpected development for a team that started the season with an international controversy and ended it with another spot in the tournament — albeit one of the least-desirable.

UCLA (21-11) faces St. Bonaventure (25-7) in the second game Tuesday night at University of Dayton Arena. LIU Brooklyn (18-16) opens against Radford (22-12) in a matchup of No. 16 seeds that have never won an NCAA Tournament game.

The Bruins had an early and international role in college basketball’s season of scandals. Freshmen Jalen Hill and Cody Riley were suspended for the season for their admitted shoplifting during a trip to China in November. LiAngelo Ball also was suspended and withdrew from school.

The hits kept coming.

Louisville vacated its 2013 national title in response to a sex scandal that led to Rick Pitino’s ouster. The FBI also is investigating allegations that led to charges last fall against assistant coaches and agents. Arizona’s Sean Miller missed one game and three practices after ESPN reported he discussed a $100,000 payment to star Deandre Ayton, which the coach has denied.