The Big Ten Tournament continues Thursday night with Rutgers facing UCLA in a third-round game at the United Center in Chicago. Rutgers enters this contest as the No. 14 seed after picking up a solid victory over Minnesota in the previous round, while UCLA earned the No. 6 seed following a strong regular season. The Bruins have shown the ability to score in bunches and control games with their depth, but Rutgers arrives with renewed confidence after their win on Wednesday that set up this Rutgers vs UCLA matchup.
Our Rutgers vs UCLA Pick
Pick:
Confidence: 3 out of 5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Rutgers Scarlet Knights @ UCLA Bruins
- Date & Time: Thursday, March 12, 9:00 PM ET
- Venue: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
- Broadcast: Big Ten Network
Key Storylines
Rutgers enters the third round after defeating Minnesota in the previous round behind a massive performance from guard Tariq Francis, who scored 29 points and drilled five three-pointers. That win snapped a long stretch without success in the conference tournament and gave the Scarlet Knights some life entering this game. Rutgers finished the regular season with a losing record, yet the team has shown flashes of strong defense and timely scoring over the past week.
UCLA finished the regular season with over 20 wins and enters the tournament playing solid basketball. The Bruins recently rolled past USC in convincing fashion, showing the balanced scoring and rebounding that carried them through conference play. UCLA has been especially dangerous from the perimeter and has multiple players capable of taking over a game offensively.
Another key storyline is the previous meeting between these teams earlier in the season. UCLA dominated that contest with a 98-66 victory. The Bruins shot 56% from the field and knocked down 12 three-pointers in that game, highlighting a major gap in offensive efficiency between these teams.
Key Players
UCLA Bruins
- Donovan Dent: Dent is the engine of the Bruins offense. The guard recently scored 25 points with seven assists in a rivalry win over USC and has posted high-scoring games throughout the season. His ability to control the pace and create shots makes him the most important player on the floor.
- Eric Dailey Jr.: Dailey provides scoring and rebounding from the forward position. He recently delivered 19 points and eight rebounds in a dominant win over USC and gives UCLA a consistent inside presence.
- Tyler Bilodeau: Bilodeau adds balance in the frontcourt and can stretch the floor. He scored 19 points in the previous meeting with Rutgers and remains a key contributor on offense and the glass.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
- Tariq Francis: Francis is Rutgers’ leading scorer at roughly 17 points per game and is coming off a 29-point performance in the tournament. His scoring ability and free-throw accuracy make him the main offensive weapon for the Scarlet Knights.
- Emmanuel Ogbole: Ogbole anchors the interior defense and contributes as a rebounder and shot blocker. His ability to protect the rim will be important against UCLA’s athletic frontcourt.
Stat Comparison
| Stat | Rutgers | UCLA |
|---|---|---|
| Points per game | 70.9 | 78.0 |
| Points allowed per game | 75.2 | 70.9 |
| Team Field Goal % | 42% | 47% |
| Rebounds Per Game | 33.0 | 32.5 |
| Assists Per Game | 11.9 | 16.1 |
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- Past meetings this season: UCLA defeated Rutgers 98-66 in early February.
- UCLA is 14-16-1 against the spread going into this matchup.
- Rutgers has a 16-15 record against the spread on the year.
Rutgers vs UCLA Model Projection
Score Projection:
Win Probability:
Final Thoughts
Rutgers deserves credit for reaching the third round and enters this contest with confidence after an impressive win over Minnesota. The Scarlet Knights rely heavily on Tariq Francis to generate offense, and if he gets hot again, the team could stay competitive for a good chunk of this game. Still, UCLA holds advantages in shooting efficiency, depth, and rebounding, while having more rest entering this contest. This game might not be quite as lopsided as the previous meetings between these teams this year, but I will lay the points with UCLA nonetheless.
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