UCLA's quad 1 record doesn't speak good volumes for NCAA tournament hopes

UCLA currently sits at 2-7 with their quad 1 record. Putting a damper in chances of making the NCAA tournament. They currently have Illinois and Nebraska that will fall into quad 1 as well. If they were to drop both of those that would put them at 2-9 with a USC on the road possibly falling into that category. Let’s say they are able to win that game that would put them at 3-9 in their record and if they can beat Minnesota that would put them at 20-11 on the season. With that resume, it is not likely that they get in.

UCLA has struggled for a majority of the season. Now with their backs against the wall, Saturday against Illinois becomes a must win. Not the ideal situation that you want to be in but here is where we are at. They were able to pick up a big win against Purdue last month. When the Boilermakers were the No. 4 team in the nation at the time. That most certainly helps their resume. Currently their only other quad 1 win, was on the road against Washington earlier in the season.

UCLA is 11-0 in quad 3 and 4 games. But that doesn’t really do much to the resume beating lower level teams. Currently 16 of the 17 UCLA wins they were favorites and expected to win those games. They have also lost games against Indiana and Cal that they were favored in. That is not something you can do when you are on the bubble. UCLA needs as many wins as possible, and those are games. They will look back on if they miss the tournament.

Quad 1 is the chunk of what will ultimately look at when figuring out seeding. UCLA will need to play their best basketball down the stretch. There is no way around it as they head towards the Big Ten tournament. As of right now, they will be a lower seed and will be expected to do the impossible of a gauntlet. One that would include possibly two or three of the best teams in the nation, but if they continue on this trend, that could be the only way they make the tournament if they win the Big Ten. After last night it does not seem likely they will recover in time.