#7 UCLA vs #2 Tennessee NCAAB Pick: A Marquee 2-7 Battle in Round of 32 (Mar 22)

• UCLA dominated Utah State with a 72-47 victory.
• Tennessee secured a win against Wofford in their opening round.
• These two teams last met on Jan. 30, 1977. UCLA won 103-89.

The #7 seed UCLA Bruins are set to face the #2 seed Tennessee Volunteers in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Mar. 22, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. Both teams have demonstrated strong performances this season, setting the stage for a highly anticipated matchup. The winner will advance to the Sweet 16, keeping their championship aspirations alive.

Bruins Look To Spoil The Party

The Bruins enter this matchup with a 23-10 overall record, having recently defeated Utah State 72-47 in the first round. Their defense was particularly impressive, limiting Utah State to just 47 points. Sophomore center Aday Mara stood out with 10 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 5 blocks in 20 minutes of play.

Key players include junior forward Tyler Bilodeau, who leads the team in scoring with 13.6 points per game and contributes 4.5 rebounds per game, and sophomore guard Skyy Clark, who has been averaging 1.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

To secure a win against Tennessee, UCLA will need to maintain their offensive efficiency and tighten their defense to limit the Volunteers’ high-scoring offense.

Volunteers Need To Keep Pace

The Volunteers hold a 28-7 overall record, averaging 74.7 points per game, which ranks them 149th nationally. Their defense is particularly strong, allowing just 63.0 points per game, ranking 11th nationally.

Standout players include senior guard Chaz Lanier, who leads the team in scoring with 18.0 points per game and is shooting 40.3% from beyond the arc with an average of 3.3 made 3-pointers per game.

Junior guard Zakai Zeigler also contributed 15.3 points and 7.5 assists per game over the past 10 games. Tennessee’s strategy will focus on leveraging its offensive strengths and maintaining defensive pressure to disrupt UCLA’s rhythm.

UCLA Bruins vs Tennessee Volunteers Pick

Tennessee enters the game as a 4.5-point favorite, with the over/under set at 132.5 points. While the Volunteers have a potent offense and a strong defense, the Bruins have shown resilience and the ability to compete at a high level. Given Tennessee’s scoring capabilities and defensive prowess, they have the edge in this contest.