UCLA Basketball in the NCAA Tournament: A Mini-Look at the Mini-Bracket

#6 Cincinnati Bearcats (29-5, 8-10)

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RPI: 12

vs Top 25: 2-3

Points per Game: 74.5

Points Allowed: 60.8

The deeper you get in the tournament, the tougher the opponents are and if UCLA beats Kent State and Cincinnati wins their first game, we should have a very interesting basketball game on Sunday.

Cincinnati is a very good defensive team and are holding their opponents 60.8 ppg. They are very good rim protectors and can slow the game down. If they can dictate the pace, like USC andin Arizona did in last week’s Pac-12 Tournament, then they have a really good shot of beating UCLA, but they would also have to fulfill the second part of their game. Namely offense.

They are not the best shooting team (45.4%) so if UCLA can play some defense and force them to make outside contested shots, they will not be able to outscore the Bruins, no matter how much they limit UCLA.

#11 Kansas State Wildcats (20-13, 8-10)

RPI: 56

vs Top 25: 3-7

Points per Game: 71.7

Points Allowed: 66.9

Kansas state squeaked by Wake Forest in an 11th seed “First Four” game. The advantage they have is that they are already in tournament mode, but can they get past Cincinnati and potentially UCLA? If they want to get to the Sweet 16, that would mean they would have to win three games in a row, in six days.

Next: How UCLA Can Make a Run in the NCAA Tournament

K-State has won three games in row three times this season, but it was to lesser opponents, sans Baylor