University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Men's Basketball Secures No. 7 Seed in NCAA Tournament
March 15, 2026 | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – The UCLA men's basketball team has earned a No. 7 seed in the 68-team NCAA Tournament field, as announced on Sunday when the complete 68-team bracket was revealed on CBS.
The Bruins (23-11) will take on No. 10-seed UCF (21-11) in a first-round contest on Friday, March 20, at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. The winner of Friday's first-round matchup will advance to the second round and could face either No. 2-seed UConn (29-5) or No. 15-seed Furman (22-12).
This marks the second season in which UCLA has earned a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins last played in Philadelphia during the 2023-24 season, facing Villanova. UCLA also played in Philadelphia in the Sweet 16 of the 2022 NCAA Tournament, taking on North Carolina.
UCLA's game on Friday will begin at approximately 4:25 p.m. PT (7:25 p.m. ET) at Xfinity Mobile Arena. The Bruins' contest will be nationally televised on TBS, and the radio broadcast will be available in the Los Angeles area on AM 790 (KABC).
The Bruins will return to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in the last six seasons. Most recently, UCLA advanced to the second round of last season's NCAA Tournament with a win over No. 10-seed Utah State before losing to No. 2-seed Tennessee in Lexington, Ky.
This year's UCLA team has won six of its last eight games, posting a 23-11 overall record and a 13-7 record in Big Ten Conference play. UCLA defeated Rutgers and Michigan State on back-to-back nights, last Thursday and Friday, to advance to the semifinal round of the Big Ten Tournament. The Bruins dropped a 73-66 decision to Purdue on Saturday in the semifinals in Chicago.
This marks the fifth season in which head coach Mick Cronin has led the Bruins to the NCAA Tournament. Cronin, in his seventh year as The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach, has now guided his teams to 16 total NCAA Tournaments, including his three seasons at Murray State and his previous 13 years at Cincinnati.
The Bruins were one of nine teams from the Big Ten Conference to secure an NCAA Tournament berth. Through the 2025-26 season, UCLA compiled a record of against 4-8 teams that have advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
IN THIS HISTORY BOOKS: UCLA's program is making its 54th appearance at the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. UCLA has won 11 NCAA championships (most recently in 1995) and has advanced to 19 Final Four (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 116-46. The Bruins have posted a 55-28 record and have registered 17 trips to the Sweet 16 since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985. The NCAA Tournament expanded from 64 teams to 68 teams with the "First Four" addition in 2011.
THE OPENING WEEKEND: Since the NCAA Tournament expanded to include at least 64 teams in 1985, the Bruins have played 85 total tournament games and 52 during the opening week/weekend (first and second round contests). UCLA has gone 41-11 in those 52 games, advancing to the Sweet 16 in 17 tournaments. Since 1985, The Bruins have posted a record of 23-6 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.
