Dayton defeated Nevada in the first round
For the last five college basketball seasons, Steve Alford has been on the Nevada men's basketball baseline.
On Thursday, the Wolf Pack played the Dayton Flyers in the opening round of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. Nevada held a considerable lead with just over seven minutes remaining in the fourth, but a late-game collapse ultimately led to the Wolf Pack's demise.
Dayton went on a 24-4 run to close out the game. The 63-60 victory earned the Flyers a spot in the second round, where they will take on the second-seeded Arizona Wildcats on March 23.
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Steve Alford of the Nevada Wolf Pack looks on against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the first half in the First Four game of the NCAA Mens Basketball Tournament at University of Dayton Arena on March 15, 2023 in Dayton, Ohio. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
The disappointing ending to Thursday's game caught the attention of one of Alford's former players, Tony Parker. The former forward played under Alford during the coach's six-year run with the UCLA Bruins.
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Parker took to X, the company formerly known as Twitter, to express his displeasure with Alford's coaching. He also took some personal jabs at Alford.
"Steve Alford been one of the worst coaches in college basketball history," Parker wrote. "he sucks and he [has had the] lame same haircut for 40 years hairspray gotta be cookin his brain."
Alford coached Parker for three years. Parker solidified himself as a key piece of the starting rotation during his final two seasons with the Bruins.
Head coach Steve Alford of the Nevada Wolf Pack reacts during the second half against the Dayton Flyers in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Delta Center on March 21, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
Parker appeared to take issue with Alford during their time together in Los Angeles. UCLA ultimately decided to part ways with Alford during the 2018-19 season. He finished his UCLA tenure with a 124–63 record.
Nevada did not qualify for the NCAA tournament during Alford's first two seasons at the helm. The Wolf Pack suffered a defeat in the First Four last season.
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Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
