UCLA’s long, strange trip takes detour to Dayton

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 didn’t expect to be making their first appearance in a First Four game. They were surprised to see their draw Sunday night, which left them with only a few hours to arrange a cross-country flight.

“We really weren’t expecting that as we’re watching the show,” coach Steve Alford said. “We were thinking we’ve got at least three days at home to practice and look at film and get ready. All of a sudden the selection show is over and we’re like, ‘We’re probably leaving in the morning.’ ”

But at least they’d made it after a challenging November and early December.

Freshmen Jalen Hill and Cody Riley were suspended for the season for shoplifting during a trip to China in November. LiAngelo Ball also was suspended and withdrew from school. UCLA had a game with Montana called off because of wildfires in early December.

“Four months ago, we’re sitting in China and not knowing what’s going on and what’s happening,” Alford said. “And now we’re in the NCAA Tournament, and that’s a very good accomplishment.”

Fresno State’s Terry takes over at UTEP

Angleton native Rodney Terry is leaving Fresno State to return to Texas to become the new coach at UTEP.

Terry spent nine seasons (2002-11) as an assistant at Texas before receiving the Fresno State job. He was 126-108 in six seasons with the Bulldogs.

Tim Floyd had been UTEP’s coach until his sudden retirement in December. Phil Johnson finished the season as interim coach.

Romar returns to Pepperdine

Arizona associate head coach Lorenzo Romar is returning to Pepperdine for a second stint as head coach.

Romar, 59, guided the Waves from 1996-99, going 42-44 in his first head coaching job before three seasons at Saint Louis and 15 at Washington.