UCLA vs. UConn Final Four game preview and prediction

Here is a look at UCLA's game against UConn for their Final Four game of the NCAA Tournament.

Here is a look at both teams entering this game.

UConn Huskies
Overall Record: 35-3 Big East Conference Record: 18-0
Rankings metric-based sites: NET: #1, Barttorvik: #1, HerHoopStats: #1
Quality victories this season: UNC (69-58), Ole Miss (73-60), Louisville (85-52), Iowa State (101-68), @ Marquette (77-45), @ Creighton (72-61), Seton Hall (96-36), @ South Carolina (87-58), Creighton (72-53), Villanova (82-54), and Creighton (70-50) in the Big East Tournament.
Defeats this season: @ Notre Dame (68-79), USC (70-72), and @ Tennessee (76-80)
NCAA Tournament: Defeated Arkansas State (103-34), South Dakota State (91-57), Oklahoma (82-59), and USC (78-64).

Legendary and multiple national championship-winning coach Geno Auriemma is the long-time head coach at UConn. This marks his team's 24th journey to the Final Four and an impressive 16th appearance in the last 17 years. UConn has secured eleven national championships in women's basketball. In this NCAA tournament, they triumphed over USC, Oklahoma, South Dakota State, and Arkansas State to reach the Final Four this year.

Three Key Players for UConn

Paige Bueckers (SR, G) averages 20.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. He has netted over 31 points in the past three games of the NCAA Tournament.
Sarah Strong (FR, F) is averaging 16.1 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Put up an impressive 22 points and secured 17 rebounds in the Elite Eight showdown with USC.
Azzi Fudd (SR, G) averages 13.1 points per game and boasts an impressive 44.1% shooting accuracy from beyond the three point arc.

UCLA Bruins
Overall Record: 34-2 Big Ten Conference Record: 16-2
Rankings metric-based sites: NET: #4, Barttorvik: #5, HerHoopStats: #4
Quality victories this season: Louisville (66-59), Arkansas (101-52), South Carolina (77-62), Creighton (70-41), Michigan (86-70), @ Indiana (73-62), @ Iowa (67-65), @ Maryland (82-67), Baylor (72-57), Ohio State (65-52), Michigan State (75-69), Ohio State (75-46), and USC (72-67) in the Big Ten Tournament.
Defeats this season: @ USC (60-71) and USC (67-80)
NCAA Tournament: Defeated Southern (84-46). Richmond (84-67), Ole Miss (76-62), and LSU (72-65)

Head Coach Cori Close, who won the national coach of the year award is looking to guider her team to a national title this year. UCLA reached the NCAA Final Four for the first time and then in 1978 and 1979, and they advanced to the AIAW Final Four.
They clinched the Spokane 1 Region title by defeating Southern, Richmond, Ole Miss, and LSU on their way to the Final Four.

Three Key players for UCLA

Lauren Betts (JR, C) is significantly impacting and driving the success for UCLA this season as she is averaging 20 points, 9.6 rebounds, three blocks, and 2.8 assists per game.
Kiki Rice (JR, G) puts up impressive numbers almost each game, averaging 12.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 5.1 assists.
Gabriela Jaquez (JR, G/F) averages 9.9 points and pulls down 5.2 rebounds each game. She had an impressive 18 points and eight rebounds per game during the Elite Eight triumph against LSU.

History between UCLA and UConn

UCLA is currently on a one-game winning streak against UConn but, previous to that, had lost seven straight games to the Huskies. In the last game they played one another, UCLA defeatd UConn for the first time in November 2023, securing a 78–67 victory in the Cayman Islands Classic. UConn has emerged victorious in its prior playoff NCAA Tournament game against UCLA, with the latest NCAA tournament win against UCLA occurring in the 2019 Sweet Sixteen, where they secured a 69–61 win.

Prediction for this game

This matchup highlights a captivating intersection of style and tempo of play. UConn faces a tough challenge against UCLA, particularly with the Bruins' formidable presence in the paint, spearheaded by Betts. No team has proven capable of containing UConn's offensive prowess in the NCAA Tournament, led by the dynamic Bueckers and the impressive rookie sensation Strong.

The Bruins must focus on solid defensive play and secure enough rebounds to maintain the game's pace and restrict UConn's scoring opportunities. The Huskies' need to maintain a fluid offense will be crucial, and they need to identify consistent contributors beyond Bueckers and Strong.

UCLA has enjoyed an impressive season, reaching its inaugural Final Four. However, UConn holds a narrow advantage in this matchup, bolstered by their experience, elite-ranked offense and defense, and the exceptional skills of Paige Bueckers. This matchup promises to be tightly contested, with UConn's tournament savvy and goal-scoring prowess potentially tipping the scales in their favor. However, the Bruins, with their depth and inside post defense, seem to be destined to pull off a mild upset in this game.