Too many NBA defections is the main reason.
Look at this list of UCLAers in the NBA (# of years @ UCLA):
Jrue Holiday (1)
Darren Collison (4)
Russell Westbrook (2)
Luc Mbah a Moute (3)
Kevin Love (1)
Arron Afflalo (3)
Ryan Hollins (4)
Jordan Farmar (2)
Trevor Ariza (1)
This season, Drew Gordon transferred; Keefe was never the same after being plagued with injury/ies.
They are a young, inexperienced team
But look what's coming in next season and beyond:
Five student-athletes signed a national letters of intent to attend UCLA.
Tyler Honeycutt, a 6-foot-8-inch, 190-pound guard/forward out of Sylmar, Calif. (Sylmar HS);
Brendan Lane, a 6-foot-10-inch, 205-pound forward from Rocklin, Calif. (Rocklin HS);
Mike Moser, a 6-foot-7-inch, 185 pound forward out of Portland, Oregon (Grant HS);
Reeves Nelson, a 6-foot-7-inch, 220-pound forward out of Modesto, Calif. (Modesto Christian HS)
Anthony Stover, a 6-foot-10-inch, 210-pound center from La Cañada, Calif. (Windward HS).
Tyler Lamb, Mater Dei's 6'4", 190-pound shooting guard and Josh Smith, a 6'10", 280-pound center from Kentwood, have signed a letter of intent to play for UCLA next season.
Chalk this year up...they're reloading. If they get these guys to stay for more than 3 years, Howland's going to lead UCLA back to the top.
And I can't believe I posted all of this because I HATE UCLA.
