UCLA is officially on bubble watch after disappointing showing against Michigan State

UCLA has officially entered bubble watch for the NCAA tournament. After a disappointing showing against Michigan State on Tuesday night. The Bruins now find themselves on the outside looking in with another top 10 matchup against Illinois looming. That could move them to 17-10 on the season if they are not able to pull an upset in that game. With Nebraska still on the schedule, the Bruins could have a tough time getting to 20 wins as well. Proving to be a disappointing season.

This three game stretch that they are on against Michigan, Michigan State and Illinois was going to determine their season. They we’re able to stick around in the Michigan game for the first half. Before the Wolverines took over in the second half. Then they went into the Michigan State game and never really had a chance from the start. Starting this stretch 0-2 and now enter the last game of the three-game gauntlet. Illinois is a very good team and should be favored by quite a few.

For UCLA to have a chance to make the NCAA tournament. They will need to beat Illinois or Nebraska. Quite possibly need to win both then they would need to take care of business twice against USC and against Minnesota. That would put them at 21 wins and a possible 11 seed. Which might be the First Four game similar to the 2020 season. They will definitely have their work cut out for them to do it. As they seem to not have their identity figured out as a team.

26 games into the season and UCLA still are trying to figure things out. That is not a recipe for success and this team seems to be lost at times. Their only real signature when they have on their resume is against Purdue. The other 16 wins were supposed to happen. They held around in the Arizona game but ultimately lost that one. So, when the brackets come around, they're going to see UCLA strength of wins and there isn’t much.