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UCLA moves into first-place tie in the Pac-12, upends Arizona

Arizona v UCLA

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 02: Kyle Anderson #5 of the UCLA Bruins shoots against the Arizona Wildcats at Pauley Pavilion on March 2, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. UCLA won 74-69. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

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After everything that UCLA has been through this season -- the transfers, the head-scratching upsets, the talk of Ben Howland’s job security, the NCAA investigations -- the Bruins now sit just two games away from a share of the Pac-12’s regular season title.

Thanks to a 74-69 win over No. 11 Arizona that wasn’t as close as the final score would indicate, UCLA has pulled into a tie with No. 24 Oregon for first place in the conference with just two games left. The Bruins will visit the two Washington school, while the Ducks have to go on the road to take on Colorado and Utah.

Think about that.

There were people that were wondering whether or not Howland would make it past the turn of the calendar after the Bruins lost to Cal Poly at home, blowing an 18 point lead. Unless Howland leaves on his own, I find it hard to believe that he won’t be coaching at UCLA next season.

It helps that the Bruins seem to be peaking at the right time.

After an ugly stretch where UCLA lost three out of four, the Bruins have won six of their last seven games, including their last four. That includes wins at Stanford and streaking USC, as well as this week’s homestand against the Arizona schools.

UCLA still has flaws, with the most obvious being their lack of attention to detail on the defensive end of the floor. But they’ve gotten better at getting stops, which is part of the reason they’re streaking.

Larry Drew II has morphed into one of the best point guards in the country. Shabazz Muhammad and Jordan Adams are taking turns as UCLA’s go-to scorer. Kyle Anderson has morphed into a glue-guy, an all-around contributor that cleans the glass and provides Howland with a second-playmaker. Throw in the mid-range jump-shooting of the Wear twins, and the Bruins have the makeup of a team with no middle-ground.

They have the talent to make a run to the second weekend, maybe farther.

But there wouldn’t be a soul that’s surprised if they get upended in the first round.

You can find Rob on twitter @RobDauster.