How To Watch, Game Preview and Game Thread: UCLA Bruins vs. Northwestern Wildcats
The Bruins welcome the Wildcats to Pauley Pavilion for the first time as the teams play just their second game ever in Los Angeles.
Fresh off Tuesday’s win over #4 Purdue, UCLA return to action this afternoon when the Bruins welcome Northwestern to Pauley Pavilion for the first time since 1948. Tip-off is set for 3 pm PT and the game will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1.
Northwestern, which is one of the worst teams in the Big Ten, is coached by Chris Collins. Despite being a protege of Mike Krzyzewski and a former player at Duke, Collins’ 13-year run at Northwestern has been very mediocre. He’s gone 203-200 since taking over the Wildcats’ program in 2013. This year, Northwestern has won just one of eight confreshference games. Wednesday’s win over Southern Cal was their biggest win of the season for Collins and the Cats.
In the Wildcats’ last three games, Collins has started a lineup with three forwards and two guards.
Northwestern Wildcats’ Starting Five
The Cats are led by senior forward Nick Martinelli. He leads the team in scoring with an average of 23.6 ppg as well as in rebounding with an average of 6.7 rpg. His 52.1% three-point percentage is also the best on the team.
Freshman Tre Singleton will be the second starting forward. While he’s averaging just 7.3 ppg, he is third on the team in rebounds with an average of 4.6 rpg. In contrast to Martinelli, he’s one of the worst three-point shooters on the team, making just 14.3% of his shots beyond the arc.
If Collins starts the same lineup as he did against Southern Cal, then freshman Tyler Kropp will get the start today. Kropp scored 11 points in 28 minutes against the Trojans, but he’s averaging just 2.9 ppg and 9.1 minutes per game for the season. If he doesn’t start, expect to see Arrinten Page, who has started most of Northwestern’s game, in his place. Page is second on the team in scoring with an average of 12.6 ppg, in rebounds with an average of 5.6 rpg and in steals with 15. Page is Northwestern’s leading shot blocker with 21.
Moving to the guards, sophomore Max Green got his first start of the season against the Trojans and he responded by scoring nine. For the season, he’s averaging just 4.5 ppg. If he doesn’t start today, expect to see Angelo Ciaravino, who is averaging 6.1 ppg, instead.
The other guard is likely to be freshman Jake West. He put up 11 against Southern Cal, but he’s averaging just 3.3 ppg for the season. If West doesn’t start, Jayden Reid would probably start instead. Reid is averaging 11.4 ppg and 5.6 rpg, and he leads the team in assists with 103.
Analysis
If UCLA could beat Purdue at home, they should be able to beat anyone in Pauley.
On paper, the Wildcats look like…well, a paper tiger. Frankly, the Bruins should destroy them, but it hasn’t been the smoothest year for Mick Cronin’s squad.
Despite that, I just don’t see Northwestern winning this afternoon.
Listen to the Game With TMB
Tonight’s game will be broadcast on FS1 and streamed on FoxSports.com with Carlo Jiménez and Don MacLean on the call. Of course, you can opt to listen to Josh Lewin and Tracy Murray on the radio or online instead. To listen online, just right-click on the link below so that you can open up another tab and have it going while you chat in the comments below. Listen to today’s online.
This is your UCLA men’s basketball vs. Northwestern Wildcats game thread. Here’s how to watch, listen and stream today’s game:
UCLA Men’s Basketball (13-6, 5-3)
Opponent: Northwestern Wildcats (9-10, 1-7)
Series Record: UCLA leads, 6-1
When: 3:00 pm PT, Saturday, January 24, 2026
Where: Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA
TV: FS1 with Carlo Jiménez and Don MacLean
Live Stream: FoxSports.com and the Fox Sports app
Radio/Audio
Local Radio: KABC AM 790 with Josh Lewin and Tracy Murray
Satellite Radio: SiriusXM Ch. 372 (UCLA Call)
Online: uclabruins.com
Live Stats: UCLA StatBroadcast
Game Notes:
UCLA
Go Bruins!!!
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Really good design out of the timeout to get Brown a completely open 3 there.
The story of this game right now is at the FT line. Specifically, Northwestern has made 12 more free throws than the Bruins despite only shooting five more. Without it, UCLA is winning comfortably. But with it, and with a lackadaisical effort once they went up big, Northwestern is right back in the game.