UCLA had been poor all season, mainly from laziness, partly from little injuries to Walton, partly from the brand new rule that freshmen could play varsity.
I remember that right before the game, Wooden announced that because Notre Dame was starting a freshman at guard, the Bruins would start freshman Marques Johnson at guard. I ignored the name, figuring I'd never hear it again. In the NBA, both he and Adrian Dantley played forward. Johnson was better due to height and defense.