The 1971–72 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team won the National Collegiate Championship on March 25, 1972, in the Los Angeles Sports Arena with an 81–76 victory over Florida State.

[3] The 1971–72 Bruins had an undefeated record of 30–0, winning by an average margin of over thirty points.

They won all 26 games in the regular season (fourteen in Pac-8 play), then four in the NCAA tournament.

Greg Lee and Henry Bibby formed a solid back court, and forwards Keith Wilkes and Larry Farmer were double-digit scorers.

Walton's backup, Swen Nater, could have been a star at other schools and went on to a lengthy pro career.