UCLA now knows their first opponent in the Big Ten Tournament. The Washington Huskies handled the USC Trojans in the second round of the tournament Thursday morning, with Washington getting a 76-64 win to advance to the quarterfinals against the Bruins.
UCLA can’t knock the Trojans out this year
It’s too bad that UCLA didn’t get to bounce USC from the tournament personally, but the Bruins will face another Pac-12 opponent on Friday, with a 9:00a.m. tip-off against the Huskies. UCLA could potentially see the Trojans in the NCAA tournament, with USC set to enter the tournament having lost four-straight games.
The Bruins recently beat Washington
UCLA beat Washington 82-67 at Pauley Pavilion last month, with the Huskies playing the Bruins tough. Washington forced 14 Bruin turnovers and held UCLA to 27% shooting from three. Even though Washinhton played UCLA tough in the regular season, the Bruins are still heavily favored to advance to the semifinals.
UCLA has the rest advantage
Washington will be playing a back-to-back, with UCLA having not played since their win over USC on Sunday. UCLA’s game against Washington was the only one of the Bruins past five games that was decided by less than 20 points.
Washington hasn’t beaten UCLA in six years
The Bruins held the Huskies’ top scorer, Sayvia Sellers, to 14 points on 5-13 shooting from the field but Avery Howell scored 17 points, hitting three threes and two steals. UCLA hasn’t only had success against Washington this year, the Bruins have won nine-straight against the Huskies dating back to 2020.
Can the Bruins go back-to-back?
For UCLA to win a second-straight Big Ten title, the Bruins will have to win three-straight games in three-straight days. The journey will begin with a familiar foe.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA to face Washington in Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
