In a highly anticipated game, both teams look to go 2-0 in conference play, entering the month of January.
Here is a look at UCLA and Oregon.
Team Rankings: NET: #18, KenPom: #19, EvanMiya: #17, Barttorvik: #15, and BPI: #24
Key victories this season: Washington (69-58) and Southern Utah (88-43)
Loss this season: New Mexico (64-72)
Team Rankings: Net: #10, KenPom: #15, EvanMiya: #18, Barttorvik: #29, and BPI: #31
Key victories this season: @ Oregon State (78-75), Texas A&M (80-70), Alabama (83-81), @ USC (68-60), and San Diego State (78-68) in the Players Era Festival-Power Tournament
Losses this season: None
Key Headlines for the Game.
Oregon's 9-0 Start: To their season, the Ducks are undefeated and ranked in the top 15, highlighted by their impressive win over No. 10 ranked Alabama in the Players Era Festival. Their current AP Poll ranking is their highest since the 2021-22 season.
UCLA's first true road test: The Bruin's only game away from home this season was on a neutral court and resulted in their only loss of the season. Should UCLA triumph in this game, they would secure a 2-0 conference record and likely secure a spot in the top 25 rankings the following week.
Rivalry renewed, kind of: While both teams have not paused from playing one another as former members of the Pac-12, they are now in the Big Ten, and their history in the Pac-12 adds an extra layer of intensity to this matchup.
Prediction for this game.
The Ducks, who are undefeated, ranked, and playing on their home court, will favor Oregon in this game. However, Cronin and his team will be ready for this game, and UCLA and Oregon have had four of their games go to overtime in these past 10 seasons. The prediction of this game is that it goes to overtime and the Bruins prevail by a final score of 81-79.