UCLA
Utah State
Men's Basketball Prepares to Face Utah State in NCAA Tournament
March 17, 2025 | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES โ The No. 7-seed UCLA men's basketball team will face No. 10-seed Utah State this Thursday evening at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky. The Bruins (22-10) secured the No. 7 seed in the Midwest Region of the 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament on Sunday. UCLA has won 11 of its last 15 games and will be facing Utah State for the first time since the 2001 NCAA Tournament, later this week.
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Team Records: UCLA (22-10), Utah State (26-7)
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THURSDAY'S GAME INFORMATION
Venue: Rupp Arena
Venue Capacity: 20,500
Projected Game Time: 6:25 p.m. PT (9:25 p.m. ET)
Television: TNT
TV Talent: Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Jim Jackson (analyst), Allie LaForce (sideline)
Radio (UCLA Audio Network): AM 570
Radio Talent: Josh Lewin (play-by-play), Tracy Murray (analyst)
SIRIUS XM: Channel 208 or 201, and available on the SXM App
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HEADED TO THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
โ The Bruins have advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 53rd time in school history, facing Utah State on Thursday.
โ UCLA has secured a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
โ The Bruins have advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in the last five seasons.
โ UCLA heads to the state of Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the opening two rounds in 2015.
โ The Bruins have gone 8-5 all-time against Utah State, last facing the Aggies in the 2001 NCAA Tournament.
โ Most recently, UCLA went to the Final Four in 2021 and to consecutive Sweet 16 appearances in 2022 and 2023.
โ UCLA last played at Rupp Arena on Dec. 3, 2016, winning at No. 1-ranked Kentucky, 97-92.
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CATCHING UP ON THE BRUINS
โ UCLA has won 11 of its last 15 games, having compiled a 22-10 overall record in 2024-25.
โ Most recently, the Bruins lost to Wisconsin in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis last Friday.
โ UCLA has gone 8-3 this season in games decided by five points or fewer.
โ UCLA leads all Big Ten teams in scoring defense, having limited the opposition to 65.7 points per game.
โ The Bruins rank first in the Big Ten in steals per game (8.1) and rank No. 49, nationally, in that category.
โ This marks the 106th basketball season at UCLA and the sixth year with head coach Mick Cronin at the helm.
โ UCLA head coach Mick Cronin secured career coaching win No. 500 in a win over Ohio State on Sunday, Feb. 23.
โ The Bruins have gone 61-3 since the start of the 2019-20 season when holding the opposition to fewer than 60 points.
โ This season, UCLA has tallied a 14-1 record when limiting the opposition to 65 or fewer points.
โ Junior Tyler Bilodeau has averaged 13.6 points and 4.5 rebounds in 31 games, shooting 49.7 percent from the field.
โ Through Sunday, March 16, UCLA ranked No. 16 in the nation in turnovers forced per game (15.2).
โ Through Sunday, March 16, the Bruins were No. 7, nationally, in turnover margin (+4.6).
โ UCLA has limited the opposition to 65 points or fewer in 15 of 32 games this season.
โ Kobe Johnson (53 steals, 1.66 spg) ranked sixth in the Big Ten in steals per game through Sunday, March 16.
โ As head coach, Mick Cronin has led UCLA to an 137-63 record, now in his sixth season with the Bruins.
NOTES ON THE SEASON
โ The Bruins rank No. 2 in the Big Ten in assist-turnover ratio (1.54) and No. 3 in assists per game (16.3), through games played on Sunday, March 16. UCLA recorded a season-high 28 assists in a 90-63 win over USC on Saturday, March 8.
โ UCLA has shot 44.9 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from 3-point range in the last 10 games (going 6-4 over that stretch). Through the past 10 contests, Eric Dailey Jr. has shot a team-best 41.4 percent from 3-point distance.
โ Now sporting a 22-10 record, the Bruins have reached the 20-win plateau in a single season for the 47th time in 59 years (span includes 1966-67 through 2024-25). Coach Cronin has guided UCLA to 20 or more wins in four of the last five years.
โ UCLA has committed fewer turnovers than the opposition in 26 of 32 games this season. The Bruins had a season-low three turnovers in back-to-back contests early in February (versus Michigan State and Penn State, both games at home).
โ UCLA's 27-point win over USC on Saturday, March 8, marked the Bruins' largest victory margin in any conference game since a 35-point victory at home against California on Feb. 18, 2023 (UCLA won against California, 78-43).
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THE LAST TIME OUT
Wisconsin's John Tonje scored a team-leading 26 points, shooting a perfect 6-for-6 from 3-point range, as the Bruins lost (86-70) in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament last Friday in Indianapolis. Sebastian Mack scored a team-leading 18 points off the bench for the Bruins. Wisconsin tied the record for most threes made against any UCLA opponent, sinking 19 of 32 attempts from 3-point distance (59.4%). UCLA trailed by 19 points at halftime (48-29), the largest halftime deficit for any UCLA team since the Bruins had trailed Gonzaga, 45-25, in a non-conference game in Las Vegas on Nov. 23, 2021.
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UCLA'S HOME FINALE
The Bruins registered an emphatic 90-63 win in its regular-season finale against crosstown rival USC on Saturday, March 8, in front of 12,018 fans at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. Sophomore Eric Dailey Jr. totaled a career-high 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting to lead UCLA past its crosstown foe. Skyy Clark added a season-high 17 points, while Aday Mara finished with 14, Tyler Bilodeau scored 12, and Sebastian Mack registered 10 points. The Bruins' second-half cushion never fell to any fewer than nine points. UCLA shot 61.7 percent from the field, making 37 of 60 field goal attempts.
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UCLA'S NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The Bruins' program is making its 53rd appearance at the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. UCLA has won 11 NCAA championships (most recently in 1995) and has advanced to 19 Final Fours (most recently in 2021). The Bruins have totaled 23 appearances at the Elite Eight (Regional Finals) and 38 trips to the Sweet 16 (Regional Semifinals). UCLA has compiled an all-time tournament record of 115-45. The Bruins have posted a 55-28 record and have secured 17 trips to the tournament's Sweet 16 since the field expanded to include 64 teams in 1985.
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THE OPENING WEEKEND
Since the NCAA Tournament expanded to include at least 64 teams in 1985, the Bruins have played 50 games during the opening week/weekend (first and second round contests). UCLA has gone 40-10 in those 50 contests, advancing to the Sweet 16 in 17 tournaments. The Bruins have posted a record of 22-6 in the first round (this does not include any First Four contests). The Bruins lost in the First Four in 2018 and won a First Four matchup in 2021. Most recently, UCLA advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 in 2023 with wins over (15-seed) UNC Asheville and (7-seed) Northwestern.
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COACH CRONIN, MARCH MADNESS
In six seasons as UCLA's head coach, Mick Cronin has guided the Bruins to four NCAA Tournaments. At the conclusion of his first season (2019-20), the NCAA Tournament was canceled as UCLA had compiled a 19-12 record heading into the Pac-12 Tournament as the No. 2-seeded team. Coach Cronin's teams have gone 9-3 in three prior NCAA Tournament appearances at UCLA, with one Final Four appearance (2021) and three Sweet 16 berths (2021, 2022 and 2023). The Bruins missed the NCAA Tournament last season with a 16-17 overall record and 10-10 mark in the Pac-12. UCLA's NCAA Tournament run in 2021 took place in Indianapolis, with the Bruins advancing from the First Four to the Final Four.
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THE 2024-25 BRUINS
UCLA's 17-man roster includes four players who have competed at the NCAA Tournament in previous seasons, with only Dylan Andrews having played in an NCAA Tournament contest for UCLA. Andrews competed as a freshman for the Bruins in 2022-23, when UCLA went 18-2 in Pac-12 play to win the regular-season title before advancing to the Sweet 16. The other three players all competed at the NCAA Tournament for their prior programs โ Dominick Harris (Loyola Marymount) in 2021 and 2023, Kobe Johnson (USC) in 2022 and 2023, and William Kyle III (South Dakota State) 2024.
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AGAINST THE TOURNAMENT FIELD
The Bruins have compiled a 6-7 record against 11 teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Looking at the breakdown of teams within the Big Ten Conference, UCLA went 2-5 โ that includes Illinois (0-1), Maryland (0-1), Michigan (0-1), Michigan State (1-0), Purdue (0-1) and Wisconsin (1-1). Non-conference opponents headed to the Big Dance, who UCLA faced, include Arizona (1-0), Gonzaga (1-0), New Mexico (0-1), North Carolina (0-1) and Oregon (2-0). Of the teams that UCLA faced, Michigan State (27-6) received the highest seed in this year's NCAA Tournament (No. 2, South Regional).
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BIG TEN CONFERENCE PROGRAMS
UCLA was among eight programs from the 18-team Big Ten Conference to advance to the NCAA Tournament. Joining the No. 7-seed Bruins in that group includes No. 2-seed Michigan State (27-6), No. 3-seed Wisconsin (26-9), No. 4-seed Purdue (22-11), No. 4-seed Maryland (25-8), No. 5-seed Michigan (25-9), No. 5-seed Oregon (24-9) and No. 6-seed Illinois (21-12). The Bruins are joined in the 68-team bracket's South Region by No. 4-seed Purdue and No. 6-seed Illinois. Should UCLA advance, the earliest in which the Bruins could face a Big Ten team would be in the Sweet 16 (Illinois).
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NOTES ON UCLA VERSUS UTAH STATE
โ The Bruins last faced Utah State in a second-round matchup at the 2001 NCAA Tournament, tallying a 75-50 win to advance to the Sweet 16 for the second straight year. That game took place in Greensboro, N.C. (on March 17, 2001).
โ Dan Gadzuric totaled 16 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks in UCLA's 75-50 win against Utah State in 2001.
โ UCLA has compiled an 8-5 all-time record against Utah State, winning each of the last five contests.
โ UCLA's series with Utah State began with three matchups during the 1931-32 basketball season.
โ Three of UCLA's 13 all-time meetings versus Utah State have taken place in the NCAA Tournament (1962, 1970, 2001).
โ UCLA defeated Utah State, 101-79, in the NCAA West Regional Final in the 1970 NCAA Tournament in Seattle.
โ The Bruins outlasted Utah State, 73-62, in a first-round regional matchup in the 1962 NCAA Tournament in Provo, Utah.
โ Prior to the March 2001 matchup, UCLA had not faced Utah State since a game in Pauley Pavilion on Dec. 29, 1976.
โ UCLA last faced a team from the Mountain West Conference earlier this season โ the Bruins lost to New Mexico in the second game of the season for both programs (New Mexico won, 72-64, in a neutral-site game in Henderson, Nev.).
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ALL-BIG TEN SELECTION
Junior Tyler Bilodeau earned third-team All-Big Ten honors, as announced by the league office on March 11 (as voted on by the coaches). He became UCLA's first player to have made seven (or more) threes in any game since late last season when he was 7-for-12 from long-range at Illinois on Tuesday, Feb. 11. Last year, Dylan Andrews shot 7-for-9 from 3-point distance in a win over Oregon State at the Pac-12 Tournament (March 13, 2024). Bilodeau leads UCLA in scoring 13.6 ppg) and in 3-point shooting percentage (40.2%, 35-for-87). He has scored in double figures in 23 of 31 games this year.
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MILESTONE UNLOCKED
Bruins' head coach Mick Cronin secured career coaching win No. 500 on Sunday, Feb. 23, as UCLA defeated Ohio State, 69-61. Cronin has posted a 502-234 record as a head coach (22nd season). He secured his 400th win in UCLA's home victory over Arizona State on Feb. 20, 2021. Cronin is one of 18 active head coaches to have secured at least 500 career NCAA Division I victories. He is currently the youngest college basketball head coach (53) with at least 500 career wins. He spent his first three seasons as a head coach at Murray State before taking over as Cincinnati's head coach for the 2006-07 season. After a 13-year run as Cincinnati's head coach (through 2018-19), he became UCLA's head coach in April of 2019.
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TAKING CARE OF THE BALL
Nine of UCLA's 10 rotation players have totaled more assists than turnovers, through 31 games. Skyy Clark (87 assists, 35 turnovers) has recorded a team-best 2.5 assist-turnover ratio. Including Clark, the Bruins have three guards with an assist-turnover ratio better than 2.0-to-1 (Dylan Andrews and Kobe Johnson). Guards Lazar Stefanovic and Trent Perry, and forwards Eric Dailey Jr. and Tyler Bilodeau have registered more assists than turnovers. Center Aday Mara has 27 assists to 25 turnovers, while William Kyle III has recorded as many assists (14) as turnovers.
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HANG TEN
UCLA went 13-7 in Big Ten play, collecting at least 10 conference games for the sixth straight season. Previously as members of the Pac-12, and now competing in the Big Ten, UCLA has won 10 or more league games in 18 of the last 21 seasons (including this year). Two years ago, UCLA went 18-2 en route to securing the Pac-12 regular-season title. The Bruins picked up the No. 4 seed in this season's Big Ten Tournament, closing the regular season with wins at Northwestern and at home versus USC. UCLA, Purdue and Wisconsin all finished in a three-way tie for fourth place in the standings.
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ASSISTS ALL AROUND
UCLA has three guards who have each tallied at least 89 assists. Dylan Andrews (99) and Kobe Johnson (95) rank first and second, respectively, in assists, while Skyy Clark has tallied 89. Sebastian Mack ranks fourth on the list with 69. UCLA's 2016-17 squad was the last Bruins' team to have at least three players with 80 or more assists. That team's five leading scorers each finished with 70 or more assists. Lonzo Ball set a school single-season record in assists (274), while Aaron Holiday totaled 158. Rounding out the list of assist leaders were Isaac Hamilton (99), Bryce Alford (92) and TJ Leaf (85).
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TOP DEFENDER
Senior guard Kobe Johnson has been named a Big Ten All-Defensive Team selection (one of five), currently ranking sixth in the league in steals per game (1.66 spg, 53 steals in 31 games). Johnson, who hails from Milwaukee, Wis., earned Pac-12 All-Defensive Team honors as a sophomore in 2023 and junior in 2024 (while playing for USC). He totaled six steals in a win over Cal State Fullerton (Nov. 22, 2024), the third time in his career he has logged six in a game. Over the previous two seasons at USC (64 games), he averaged 10.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.2 steals per contest.
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SKYY'S THE LIMIT
Junior guard Skyy Clark has tallied a team-best assist-turnover ratio of 2.5 (with 89 assists, 35 turnovers). Clark joined the Bruins' program in the summer of 2024 after having averaged a team-leading 13.2 points per game as a sophomore at Louisville last season. He has logged the Bruins' third-highest assist total (89), behind Dylan Andrews (99) and Kobe Johnson (95). Clark scored a team-leading 14 points, sinking six of seven free throws, in UCLA's 63-61 win at home last month versus No. 9-ranked Michigan State. He has shot 41.3 percent from 3-point range in the Bruins' past 15 games (26-for-63) and 47.1 percent overall during that range. He has scored 10 or more points in 11 games for UCLA this season.
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STANDING TALL
Sophomore Aday Mara, who stands at 7-foot-3, averaged 12.0 points in a three-game stretch in late January, including a career-best 22-point game in an 85-83 win at home against Wisconsin (Jan. 21, 2025). Mara ranked No. 4 in the Big Ten in blocks per game (1.45) through games played Sunday, March 16. He has totaled 28 blocks in the past 14 games (2.0 bpg), dating back to his 22-point performance in a win against Wisconsin. Through the Bruins' entire season, Mara has averaged 6.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.45 blocks per game (31 contests as a sophomore).
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NATIONAL NUMBERS
Through games played on Sunday, March 16, the Bruins ranked No. 27 in the country in scoring defense (65.7 ppg), No. 16 in turnovers forced per game (15.2) and No. 7 in turnover margin (+4.6). In addition, the Bruins have ranked No. 38 in the nation in scoring margin (9.0 points per game). Looking at shooting percentages, the opposition has shot 43.1 percent against UCLA (No. 131, nationally) and 33.2 percent from 3-point range (No. 150, nationally). The latest national metrics on KenPom.com have listed UCLA at No. 17 in the nation in defensive efficiency and No. 35 in offensive efficiency.
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NOTES ON PAULEY PAVILION
The Bruins went 15-2 in Pauley Pavilion this season, UCLA's 59th campaign playing in the longtime basketball venue. The first game in Pauley took place on Dec. 3, 1965, as No. 1 UCLA defeated Ohio State, 92-66. UCLA spent 47 seasons in Pauley Pavilion before the venue was closed for an 18-month renovation (closed in March of 2011). UCLA hosted 18 home games in 2011-12 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena (14 games) near downtown L.A. and at the Honda Center in Anaheim (four games). UCLA returned home in Nov. 2012. This marks the 13th year in the arena's updated configuration.
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Last year, CSUN snapped UCLA's 29-home-game winning streak with a 76-72 win over the Bruins (Dec. 19, 2023). Prior to that game, UCLA had not lost at home since an overtime setback (84-81) to Oregon on Jan. 13, 2022. UCLA's 29-game home streak had been the longest active streak in the country. Since taking over as UCLA's head coach prior to the 2019-20 season, Mick Cronin has guided the Bruins to a 79-15 record in 93 home games (84.0% win percentage).
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BRUINS IN KENTUCKY
UCLA will be playing its first-ever NCAA Tournament contest in the city of Lexington, but the Bruins' program has played eight NCAA Tournament games in Louisville, Ky., approximately 75 miles due west of Lexington. The Bruins have gone 6-2 in postseason competition in Louisville, with victories in their last six contests (two in 1967, two in 1969 and two in 2015). UCLA last played at Kentucky's Rupp Arena during the 2016-17 season. Ranked No. 11 in the nation, the Bruins defeated No. 1-ranked Kentucky, 97-92, before a crowd of 23,976 on Dec. 3, 2016.
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