On January 17, 1967:On the team bus taking UCLA to Chicago Stadium for its game against Iowa, Tommy Curtis says, “These guys (Iowa) should stay at the hotel because they’re going to get a whippin’.” He’s right, even if UCLA looks like it’s going through the motions. In a warm-up for No. 2 Notre Dame in two days, the top-ranked Bruins extend their NCAA record-winning streak to 88 with a 68-44 victory. Coach John Wooden uses words like “lackadaisical” and “atrocious” in describing UCLA’s performance. With the leader of the Walton Gang injured — Bill Walton misses his third straight game after suffering an injury to his lower back in victory No. 85 — 7-foot-1 sophomore Ralph Drollinger replaces Walton at center and responds with a team-high 13 points and 17 rebounds. “Ralph’s a good player,” Wooden says, “but he’s no Walton. Bill is a superstar.” Besides Drollinger, the Bruins have four other players score in double figures against the outclassed Hawkeyes.
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