Look ahead to UCLA vs Minnesota in game 29

UCLA will play their 29th game of the season on the road against Minnesota. A matchup the Bruins should be heavy favorites in as the Golden Gophers have struggled mightily this season. This will be a good tune up matchup as UCLA will then play against No. 5 Nebraska after this matchup. Giving them another opportunity to strengthen their resume for the March Madness tournament. The team is currently 15-7 and if they can get wins over Rutgers and Washington that would put them at 17-7 before their three-game big test.

Minnesota is currently on a seven game, losing streak to put them at 10-12 on the season. This is after being on a five-game winning streak to put them at 10-5. To say the least, they have been a very bipolar team on the season. They have one of the best scoring guards in the nation in Cade Tyson who averages 20.1 points per game. But outside of him, they struggle for consistency from other players. Jaylen Crocker-Johnson averages 13.6 points per game as their second leading scorer.

UCLA will be in an intriguing spot before this game. If they go 0-3 in their Michigan, Michigan State and Illinois stretch. That will put them at 18-10 on the season. That is assuming that they beat Rutgers, Washington and USC. Games in which are no walkovers. A slip up or two will have them at 16-12 or 17-11. Leaving them on the outside, looking in for March, while sitting on the bubble. But the goal is to get an upset win in between there and take care of business in the other games. Setting them up to be 19-9 at that point.

Going into the Nebraska game with single digit losses on the season will be seen as a win-win situation. It will be hard to do, but it is not impossible. The Bruins have a lot of things they need to clean up, and they are running out of time to do so. The schedule is getting tougher and tougher as the season goes on. They need to play their best basketball of the season if they want to end this season positively.