UCLA Men’s Water Polo Is Back In The Final Four Of The NCAA Tournament

The #1 UCLA Men’s Water Polo (27-3, 8-0) team only has two obstacles between them and their first national championship since 2004 as they are back in the Final Four of the 2014 NCAA Tournament. The first would be the Bruin’s second round opponent, #4 UC San Diego, whom them take on today at 1 p.m. PT. After that contest, the defending champions #3 USC will battle it out with #2 Stanford. The winner of both games will meet for the National Championship tomorrow (December 6) at 3:10 p.m. PT. That game will be preceded by the third-place game.

Because of the smaller pool of teams available to compete in the Men’s Water Polo tournament, there were only six teams chosen for the playoff. UC San Diego had defeated Brown in the play-in game whilst USC defeated Whittier for a chance at Stanford. With the Bruins being the overwhelming #1 seed in the tournament after a fantastic season, UCLA got a bye in that first round.

But now things get serious as the four remaining teams battle it out for NCAA supremacy. The tournament will take place at Canyonview Aquatic Center in La Jolla, California. To watch the tournament, visit NCAA.com.

Against The Field

This season UCLA has nearly gone undefeated against the teams in the tournament. Here is how the Bruins fared:

Vs. UC San Diego, 2-0 (13-5, 17-5)

Vs. USC, 3-1 (9-7, 6-10, 10-8, 10-5)

Vs. Stanford, 2-1 (9-7, 6-7, 7-6)

Not only do the Bruins know these teams, but have been fortunate to have had plenty of success against them. Though the tournament is is UC San Diego’s backyard, UCLA looks to be the heavy favorite in that game. If the Bruins can make it into the championship game, they will have their hands a bit more full with Stanford and USC (who has won the last six national titles). Could this be the year UCLA returns to national prominence? Tune in and find out!

Go Bruins!