Phil Jackson, John Lithgow headline stars at Arizona - UCLA game

In year one of the Steve Alford era, Pauley Pavilion is attracting stars. Not Showtime at Staples Center level celebrities, but recognizable figures that are attracted to the Bruins new offensive philosophy and visiting competition from the country's best team.

[Related: Highlights: No. 1 Arizona men's basketball holds off UCLA]

Thursday's game between undefeated and top-ranked Arizona was the first Pac-12 marquee match-up for UCLA. Amongst the Westwood crowd were a handful of Wildcats and Bruins basketball alumni, returning quarterback Brett Hundley and many more.

But the most intriuging and perhaps least expected fans were the duo of former NBA head coach Phil Jackson and actor John Lithgow.

The obvious question: why is one of the NBA's greatest coaches – the Zen Master – taking in a college basketball game with an accomplished and respected actor who doesn't have any real connection to to University of Arizona or UCLA?

[Related: 2013-14 UCLA men's basketball schedule]

Besides the fact that they seem to share a tailor and hair stylist, the two spend a considerable amount of time and live near each other in Northwest Montana. The pair could have also crossed paths when Jackson was the toast of Hollywood, winning championships with the Lakers.

Take a look at the video above. When you see the amount of Bruins and Wildcats alumni in the crowd, it begs the idea of an alumni game, with the two sharp-looking sixty-somethings manning the sidelines.

---

UPDATE: A few of our friends on Twitter have told us that Lithgow's wife is a professor at UCLA.