Rivalry Renewed: Latest Chapter for Gonzaga-UCLA in NCAAs
The Gonzaga Bulldogs and UCLA Bruins have had some nail-biting games in the past, and if March Madness predictions are correct, their Sweet 16 rematch has the chance to be another classic.
Thursday’s matchup will be the fourth in the NCAA Tournament between the two teams since 2006.
Many college basketball fans may remember the back-and-forth battle that took place during the 2021 Final Four between Gonzaga and UCLA. Few may remember more than the Bruins, who saw their hopes of returning to the national championship game crushed on a last-second buzzer-beater in overtime.
Behind Johnny Juzang’s team-leading 29 points, it looked like UCLA would force the game into a second overtime. However, a desperation heave from Gonzaga’s Jalen Suggs at the buzzer banked in, sending the Bulldogs to the championship game and the Bruins packing.
JALEN SUGGS WITH THE BUZZER-BEATER 😱
WHAT. AN. AWESOME. GAME.
(via @CBSSports) pic.twitter.com/EMlS6QnnHq
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 4, 2021
With the game just two years ago, there remains a few holdovers from both teams, including UCLA’s two leading scores, Jaimie Jaquez Jr. and Tyger Campbell, as well as David Singleton and the injured Jaylen Clark, who are all likely to be seeking revenge.
Gonzaga has a couple returners as well, such as Andrew Nembhard and Anton Watson, but no one more key to the Zags’ success than Drew Timme, who has led the team all season and has averaged 24.5 points through two games of the NCAA Tournament.
UCLA’s elite defense will have to find a way to slow the big man to prove March Madness expert picks right and grab the win as the Bruins did 17 years ago.
When the Bruins and Zags take the floor Thursday, it’ll be on the anniversary of another legendary matchup between the two in the NCAA Tournament.
The two found their way to the Sweet 16 in 2006 when, despite Gonzaga having a 17-point lead at one point, UCLA came away victorious. The Bruins finished the game by scoring the final 11 points and had a key steal to secure the 73-71 win.
Though the game was memorable in its own right for UCLA’s comeback, few will forget the sight of Gonzaga’s Adam Morrison in tears on the court while Bruins players celebrated around him.
The win was just one of two in the Bruins’ history with Gonzaga, with the Bulldogs taking five against UCLA. The last NCAA Tournament meeting came in 2015 when No. 2 seed Gonzaga ousted the 11th-seeded Bruins 74-62 in the Sweet 16.
However, with NCAA basketball lines setting the Bruins as two-point favorites in the matchup, this could be UCLA’s opportunity for win No. 3.
The two meet Thursday at 9:45 p.m. ET, so make sure to get your March Madness picks in for the game at BetUS.com.
