It’s win or go home tonight for the UCLA Bruins as they play in the NCAA First Four. (Photo Credit: Don Liebig/uclabruins.com)
The UCLA men’s basketball team begins play in the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament tonight when the Bruins face the Michigan State Spartans. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:57 pm PT and the game will be broadcast on TBS.
After collapsing in their last four games, UCLA will play their first game of the NCAA Tournament on the campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Of course, Purdue is where Coach Wooden played his college basketball, even if he didn’t play it inside Mackey Arena. In fact, Mackey Arena’s address is 900 John R. Wooden Drive. Despite this, UCLA has been designated as the away team tonight.
The Michigan State Spartans finished the season 9-11 in Big Ten play and 15-12 overall. That record landed the Spartans in eighth place in their conference.
The Spartans are a team which has beaten three Top Five teams over the past month. First, they beat #5 Illinois on February 23. They followed that with a win over #4 Ohio State on February 25. Then, they split a home-and-home pair of games against #2 Michigan, losing on the road before winning at home.
Meanwhile, UCLA has been in an absolute free fall, losing their last four games to each of the other Pac-12 schools which are in this year’s tournament. It certainly seems like this is a case of two teams moving in opposite directions, and that’s also part of what makes this such an interesting matchup.
It will be interesting to see if the Bruins will play better against the Spartans tonight than they did at the beginning of the Mick Cronin era.
Starting Five
The good news for the Bruins is that the two guys who scored most against UCLA last year, Cassius Winston and Xavier Tillman, are gone. This year’s Spartans are led by junior forward Aaron Henry. Henry is averaging 15.3 points per game while also leading the team in rebounds with an average of 5.7 per game. Interestingly, his 3.5 assists per game also leads the team. The only thing Henry doesn’t do well for the Spartans is shoot the three. He is only shooting 28.2% from behind the arc.
Graduate guard Joshua Langford is third on the team in points with an average of 9.6 per game. He is second on the team in minutes so fans should expect to see a lot of Langford on the floor tonight.
Sophomore guard Rocket Watts was one of three Spartans in double figures when they played UCLA last season. He scored 12 in that game. This year, he’s averaging 7.7 points per game, but he’s averaging 8.4 ppg in games where he starts.
Rounding out the starting five are sophomore forwards Malik Hall and Julius Marble. Both of these guys are light scorers. So, look for them to be more defensively-minded.
Keep an eye out for Joey Hauser and Gabe Brown off the bench. Both are guys who Tom Izzo will look to when he needs subs who can contribute.
Listen to the Game Here on TMB!
The TuneIn player won’t embed here on Substack, but you can open another tab to listen. Today’s game is on TBS with Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson and Allie LaForce calling the game. If you would prefer to listen to Josh Lewin and Tracy Murray call today’s game instead you can listen to today’s game online.
Join your fellow Bruin fans discussing today’s game below.
This is your UCLA Bruins vs. Michigan State Beavers NCAA First Four game thread.
2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament First Four
Opponent: UCLA Men’s Basketball (17-9) vs. Michigan State Spartans (15-12)
Series Record: UCLA leads, 6-4
When: 6:57 pm PT, Thursday, March 18, 2021
Where: Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, IN
TV: TBS with Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson and Allie LaForce
Radio/Audio: AM 570 in Los Angeles with Josh Lewin and Tracy Murray Satellite Radio: Sirius XM Ch. 206 (National feed) And, of course, here in The Mighty Bruin Game Thread!
Thanks again for supporting The Mighty Bruin. Your paid subscriptions make this site possible. Questions, comments, story ideas, angry missives and more can be sent to to @TheMightyBruin on Twitter.
Anybody know why the game isn’t starting and these announcers aren’t talking about it? They are filling time and not providing any guidance on purpose it seems
Usually works the other way. Big Ten teams get in the tournament and keep players on the floor because they let them play during the season and can't adjust in the tournament.
MSU shooting 67% from 3 and 60% overall. We need to tighten the D in a big way. And we need to move the ball better on offense. Better clean this up now.
U!
C!
L!
L clap clap!
A clap clap fight fight fight!
Anybody know why the game isn’t starting and these announcers aren’t talking about it? They are filling time and not providing any guidance on purpose it seems
Yeah, already tired of their useless drivel.. where's our game??
They mentioned the arena was being sanitized. I hope that’s true.
Looking now, they're still shooting around on the court
Cronin looks nervous.
Who isn't?
Go Bruins!
Hey, all! Don't forget to register for the TMB Bracket Challenge!
https://www.themightybruin.com/p/join-the-mighty-bruin-2021-bracket-challenge
Bring it Bruins!!!!
Juzang answers
two turnovers
So whatever type of comment organization I choose, it defaults to Chronological. This site frustrates me.
yup.
I have to reload the page from time to time but it works
I've reloaded twice already to no avail
Third time's a charm! :-)
I’m on an iPad maybe a couple of years old?
ugly start
New to tournament
Spartans get three steps.
Now we’re coming around
Jaime!
To me, he is the key to our success
Glad they called that
Lovin' Jaime's post game!
Jaime again, we need him!
3 turnovers
They got height advantage right now
Friggin fourth TO dammit
Damn, son, nice three!
That's what we need!
gotta love clark
Their big man runs the court well; he's sneaky!
tyger campbell gets a quick hook after he gets caught ball-watching on an offensive rebound and a subsequent TO.
coaching opportunity
Looks like Cronin’s got them ready
We've played some good first halves, but then we know...
Good defense!
I don't like this offense when Riley sets up 18 feet from the rim.
Me either.
but he usually hits that one
The shot from the elbow is fine. The last possession he sat out at the perimeter and never touched the ball.
Not "usually"
I didn't watch it, but that Drake/Wichita St. game was close! Final 53-52
I just became a huge Drake fan!!
He's a good rapper
LOLOL
jaime just denied their big!! LOLOL Awesome sauce!
time out cuz they are beating us down the floor -_-
We need to use more of our bench
They finally get Riley involved under the rim, and jack up a quick three on the next trip. Brilliant.
I'd like to see Jaime establish himself in the low post a little more; he's got a size advantage, usually
This is when having PAC-12 refs calling every foul hurts us. We look soft.
Usually works the other way. Big Ten teams get in the tournament and keep players on the floor because they let them play during the season and can't adjust in the tournament.
Big 10 has had more success in the tournament than the PAC-12.
They usually have better teams.
Campbell missed a wide open Jamie in the post
Still lovin' Riley's mid-range shot
Johnny with the dribble drive
First foul on Riley, right?
yes
Our offense is killing us
We're being out-rebounded, their 9 to our 5
Riley travels entirely too much
The first were footwork, but that one he seemed bumped
4 turnovers
So call the travel on Riley but not the foul that made him travel?
Or any of the travels on MSU. There have two obvious missed calls so far.
Not good. Defense porous
They are moving the ball we have 4 players with made baskets, They have 8.
Three point defense, a problem last year and this year, is non-existent.
A point that's been made in every game thread this year smdh yet no change
MSU shooting 67% from 3 and 60% overall. We need to tighten the D in a big way. And we need to move the ball better on offense. Better clean this up now.
Hey gang. I'm getting slammed at work but checking on scores here and there. Scream good things at your TVs for me. Go Bruins!!
It’s bad g...
It's all in how it ends, orlando... ;-)
It ended well! Great 2nd half and a better OT
hopefully MSU reverts back to their 3pt average in the 2nd half
Julez!
Keep giving up open three's
Everything they throw up goes in. Is our defense really that bad?