No. 2 Seed UCLA Hosts Cal Baptist in NCAA First Round Friday

First Game in NCAA Tournament Since 2019

No. 2 seed UCLA will host Cal Baptist in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 17 at 4 p.m. PT at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom.

The Bruins are making their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2019. They earned an at-large bid after finishing the regular season with a 25-7 record and winning the Pac-12 Tournament championship.

Cal Baptist is making its NCAA Tournament debut. The Lancers won the Western Athletic Conference Tournament championship to earn an automatic bid.

Tickets on Sale Now

Tickets for the game are on sale now. Fans can purchase tickets online at uclabruins.com/tickets or by calling the UCLA Ticket Office at (310) 825-2101.

UCLA Preview

UCLA is led by All-American guard Jaime Jaquez Jr., who is averaging 16.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. The Bruins also have a strong supporting cast, including Tyger Campbell, Jaylen Clark and Adem Bona.

UCLA is a veteran team with a lot of experience. They are well-coached by Mick Cronin, who has led the Bruins to two NCAA Tournament appearances in his four seasons at the helm.

Cal Baptist Preview

Cal Baptist is a young team with a lot of potential. They are led by freshman guard Daniel Akinyemi, who is averaging 14.5 points per game.

The Lancers are a well-balanced team that can score from inside and outside. They are also a good rebounding team.

Matchup to Watch

The matchup to watch in this game will be between Jaquez and Akinyemi. Jaquez is one of the best players in the country, but Akinyemi is a rising star.

This will be a great opportunity for Akinyemi to show what he can do against one of the best players in the country.

Prediction

UCLA is a heavy favorite in this game. They are a more experienced team with more talent.

However, Cal Baptist is a dangerous team that can pull off an upset if they play their best game.

I predict that UCLA will win the game, but Cal Baptist will keep it close.