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UCLA Basketball: Top 5 potential non-conference games in 2023

By Ryan Kay

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 23: Head coach Mick Cronin of the UCLA Bruins calls out a play during the first half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 23, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 23: Head coach Mick Cronin of the UCLA Bruins calls out a play during the first half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 23, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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The semifinals of the East regional of the men’s college basketball NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Mitchell Leff-USA TODAY Sports /

These two historical programs will face off against one another in the CBS Sports Classic in Atlanta, Georgia. 

TBD. CBS. 0. 441. . 0. 518. Saturday, December 16th

To put the histories of these two basketball programs in perspective, UCLA has won 11 national championships, the most of any school in college basketball history. UNC has won six national championships, for third-most in the country.

UNC and UCLA are two of the most storied programs in college basketball history. They have met 14 times, with UNC holding an 11-3 record. The most famous meeting between the two schools came in the 1968 NCAA Tournament when UCLA defeated UNC 78-55 to win its second national championship of the John Wooden era, and fourth overall.

However, UNC would have a nice run defeating UCLA four times in a 12-year span from 1987 to 1999. However, the Bruins would win on the road against the Tar Heels in 2000 defeating UNC by three points. That UCLA victory was their last win against the Tar Heels though.

The Bruins have lost six straight games to the Tar Heels, which includes losses in 2015, 2018, and 2019 on neutral courts with two of those games being in the CBS Sports Classic against UNC and losing on average by 13 points throughout those three defeats. UCLA looks to end that losing streak against UNC this upcoming season.

History and Game Prediction

Eight games have been played between these two schools since 1997: North Carolina has won seven out of the eight games against UCLA.

Current Win Streak: The Tar Heels have won the last six games between these two schools, having a six-game winning streak in this series between these two programs.

The last meeting between both schools: UNC defeated UCLA on a neutral court by a final score of 73-66 in the 2022 NCAA tournament.

Prediction: UCLA wins in a very close game by a final score of 81-80.