UCLA Men's Basketball March Madness, NCAA Tournament Predictions
March Madness is here, and millions of brackets are bound to be busted.
UCLA men's basketball enters the NCAA tournament as a No. 2 seed – their highest since 2008 – and they are the betting favorite to win the West Region, per DraftKings Sportsbook. Of course, the Bruins have only made it to the Final Four once in the last 14 years, and they haven't won a national championship since 1995.
The All Bruins staff made their predictions for UCLA's path through this year's tournament, as well as where their road will meet its end.
Sam Connon, Publisher/Managing Editor
UCLA eliminated in Final Four by No. 1 seed Houston
Even without Jaylen Clark, the Bruins' defense is still among the best in the country.
UCLA came into the tournament ranked No. 1 in the country in adjusted points allowed per 100 possessions, up from the No. 2 ranking they held when Clark went down in the regular season finale. The Bruins closed out Arizona without him, and they finished strong in the Pac-12 tournament against Colorado and Oregon as well.
The conference tournament didn't end in a title for UCLA, however, since big man Adem Bona was also out for the finals against Arizona with a shoulder injury. To go deep in NCAAs, the Bruins will need Bona holding things down on the post – especially on defense.
Coach Mick Cronin may elect to rest Bona against No. 15 seed UNC Asheville on Thursday, and that shouldn't hold UCLA back much. As long as Bona is available to play a few minutes here and there in the second round against either No. 7 seed Northwestern or No. 10 seed Boise State, the Bruins should be fine there as well.
A much-anticipated rematch with No. 3 seed Gonzaga in the Sweet 16 is where UCLA will need the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year back, considering the impact Drew Timme will be making for the Bulldogs. Bona should be closer to his full self by then, and the Bruins should get their revenge as a result.
No. 1 seed Kansas, No. 4 seed UConn or No. 5 seed Saint Mary's would all be formidable foes in the Elite Eight, but all of those teams have lost games they shouldn't have this year. UCLA has showed up every single contest this year, and they surely would against any of those teams.
Facing another defense-oriented team in No. 1 seed Houston in the Final Four would likely be too much for UCLA to handle without Clark on the court. The Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year gifted the Bruins so many free points by stealing the ball and tipping passes, and they would need every last one of those to keep pace with the Cougars in Houston.
A second Final Four berth in three years would be quite the accomplishment regardless, and if that marks the end of the first era of Mick Cronin basketball in Westwood, fans should only have higher hopes for the future.
Benjamin Royer, contributing writer
UCLA eliminated in Elite Eight by No. 1 seed Kansas
If we have learned anything from UCLA during coach Mick Cronin’s run in charge, it is that the Bruins have a “next man up” mentality.
When Jaylen Clark injured his Achilles in the final regular season contest of the season, fans and analysts alike were quick to count UCLA out of the national championship hunt.
In the Pac-12 Tournament semifinal, fuel was added to the anti-Bruins fire when Adem Bona left with a shoulder injury. The Pac-12 Freshman of the Year has yet to see the floor since, but could start in the first round Thursday night.
Even with injuries and question marks on who will step up, the blue and gold are set up well for a big run.
UNC Asheville may be an underdog darling, and Northwestern or Boise State are possible competitive opponents in the second round, but neither match the firepower the Bruins show on defense.
UCLA will advance to the Elite Eight and play it close with No. 1 seed Kansas, but as the final buzzer sounds in Las Vegas, Cronin and the Bruins start to pack their bags to head home, they will have nothing to hang their heads low about.
Bruins basketball will have officially made it back to national relevance, though, and the spirit of a short-handed squad – along with Tyger Campbell and Jaime Jaquez Jr. – will live on in Westwood for years to come.
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