UCLA's basketball team has been a force to reckon with this season, boasting a 134.8 adjusted offensive efficiency and a 102.1 adjusted defensive efficiency. Their Barthag sits at .9606, placing them ninth in the nation. Despite these impressive stats, the tournament committee slotted them as a seventh seed in the East.
Over their last eight games, including matchups against Illinois, USC (twice), Minnesota, Nebraska, Rutgers, Michigan State, and Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament, UCLA has been on a roll. They're scoring 1.14 points per possession with a 56.8% effective field goal percentage, while holding opponents to just 0.936 points per possession.
This stretch of play puts them in elite company alongside teams like Duke, St. John's, and Ohio State, who are also performing at high levels.
Key players have been stepping up for UCLA. Tyler Bilodeau is averaging 17.6 points and 5.6 rebounds, while Donovan Dent is orchestrating the offense with 13.5 points and 7.6 assists per game.
Trent Perry is a sharpshooter, hitting 41.2% from beyond the arc. Eric Dailey Jr. is contributing 11.3 points on a remarkable 57% shooting.
Skyy Clark is adding 11.7 points, and Xavier Booker has been efficient, scoring 1.26 points per possession over the last eight games.
In their recent game against Purdue, with both Bilodeau and Dent sidelined, Brandon Williams, Eric Freeny, and Steven Jamerson rose to the occasion, showcasing the depth of the roster.
Coach Mick Cronin is making his 16th NCAA Tournament appearance, and this might just be the best offensive squad he's coached. While the seventh seed reflects their full season's performance, their recent form suggests they're playing at an even higher level as they head into the tournament.