Poll: Will UCLA Beat Gonzaga In The Sweet Sixteen?

UCLA Bruins

It looks like we will have ourselves one hell of a ball game on Friday afternoon when the #11 UCLA Bruins travel to Houston to take on the #2 Gonzaga Bulldogs in the Sweet Sixteen! Sure we have seen this scenario before, circa 2006, but that was a different time. UCLA is not longer the grind-it-out defensive juggernaut they were back then. These days, the Bruins are a young, scrappy team that barely got into the NCAA Tournament.

So do the Bruins have a chance in the Sweet Sixteen against the Bulldogs? Of course they do! It is March Madness! A time when a team’s dreams are made… or crushed! (Yes, I stole that from Ace Venture: Pet Detective)

Here is the thing about UCLA… they CAN beat Gonzaga. The question is, will they?

UCLA and Gonzaga met back in Decemebr when the Bulldogs invaded Pauley Pavilion. Gonzaga had a firm lead in the first half, but the Bruins fought back and made it a close game in the second. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs outlasted the Bruins for a 87-74 victory that gave UCLA their only loss at home this season.

Dec 13, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins forward Kevon Looney (5) passes the ball to guard Isaac Hamilton (10) against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the game at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

But those were two different teams.

Though they have the same rosters as they did in December, both UCLA and Gonzaga are in full post-season mode. That is why the Bruins have a chance in this game despite being an 8.5 point underdog.

So we ask you…