UCLA Bruins face Southern Jaguars in NCAA Tournament opener

The UCLA Bruins will face the Southern Jaguars in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night. The game is set to begin at 10 p.m. EDT in Los Angeles. UCLA, the top seed in the Big Ten, has an impressive record of 30 wins and only 2 losses. They perform well in both conference and non-conference games, with an 18-2 record against Big Ten teams. The Bruins dominate in scoring, especially in the paint, averaging 40.8 points there per game. Lauren Betts leads the team with 19.6 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. Southern, with a record of 21 wins and 14 losses, has excelled in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), holding an 18-3 record. They struggle a bit with rebounds, averaging 30.9 per game, with Aniya Gourdine contributing 4.8 boards per game. The Jaguars are known for their defense, allowing fewer three-pointers compared to their average made shots. In their last ten games, UCLA has been strong, winning 8 of 10 and averaging 72.4 points per game. Conversely, Southern has also been performing well, winning 9 of their last 10 and averaging 62.5 points per game. This matchup promises to be an exciting start to the tournament for both teams.