The Utah State men’s basketball team hopes to get back in the win column and extend its season for a few more days when it faces UCLA tonight in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Aggies (26-7, 15-5 MWC) looked like they were going to run away with the Mountain West’s regular-season title early this year. Utah State won 17 of its first 18 games and notched at least 26 wins for the fifth time in the past seven seasons. The Aggies came back down to earth late in the season, losing four of their final eight games, including an 83-72 loss to Colorado State in the semifinals of the Mountain West Tournament.
Utah State enters the NCAA Tournament as a No. 10 seed and will travel to Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, to face No. 7 UCLA at 9:25 p.m. ET.
UCLA (22-10, 13-7 Big Ten) has also lost four of its past eight games, including an 86-70 setback against Wisconsin in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament.
The Bruins average 74.8 points a game, which ranks No. 14 in the 18-team Big Ten, but they’re giving up the fewest points in the conference with just 65.7 a game. UCLA ranks No. 14 in the conference with 32.7 rebounds a game.
Utah State finished the regular season in third place in the Mountain West. The Aggies rank No. 2 in the league with 80.9 points a game, and they lead the conference with a .490 team field goal percentage.
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Utah State vs. UCLA Odds
UCLA is a 5.5-point college basketball betting odds favorite on BetMGM against Utah State, and the Over/Under is at 144.5 points.
The Moneyline is at -235 for UCLA and +190 for Utah State.
Utah State vs. UCLA Channel
The first-round NCAA Tournament game featuring Utah State and UCLA will be televised on TNT.
Tip-off is scheduled for 9:25 p.m. ET.
Utah State vs. UCLA Prediction
I predict UCLA wins, 69-62.
Utah State’s success early this season was the result of a combination of factors: the leadership of veteran guards Mason Falslev and Ian Martinez, the Aggies’ collective ability to shoot, and a somewhat soft schedule.
Inconsistencies protecting the ball and the lack of a playmaker in the post caught up with them down the stretch, but this is still a dangerous team. Every member of the starting lineup can score and rebound, and they’re all willing to pass. If Martinez and Falslev are hitting shots, the Aggies can beat almost anyone.
The difference between Utah State and UCLA will be obvious in the post. USC transfer Kobe Johnson is going to push the Aggies around, and he has a chance to have a big day. The 6-foot-6 senior is averaging 8.1 points and a team-high 5.9 rebounds a game.
He’ll get some help from leading scorer Tyler Bilodeau, who is averaging 13.6 points and 4.5 rebounds a night, and Eric Dailey Jr., who is adding 11.6 points and 4.1 rebounds a game. Seven-foot-3 sophomore Aday Mara has come off the bench to average 3.9 rebounds a game and post a team-high 45 blocked shots.
If Utah State can find a way to match UCLA’s physicality, this could be a close game, but that’s going to be a tall task.
