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UCLA will need to pull off another upset against Purdue to keep alive in the Big Ten tournament

UCLA has done it before and they can do it again against Purdue
ByJustin Hickey|
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Jan 20, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Purdue Boilermakers guard Braden Smith (3) is defended by UCLA Bruins guard Donovan Dent (2) in the second half at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Jan 20, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Purdue Boilermakers guard Braden Smith (3) is defended by UCLA Bruins guard Donovan Dent (2) in the second half at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

UCLA will do battle with Purdue on Saturday afternoon with a trip to the Big Ten championship game on the line. Both teams are looking to make it to the title game as a lower seed and pull off the shocking upset. Which could be a huge boost to either team as the NCAA tournament is right around the corner. This is the time that you want to play your best basketball and both UCLA and Purdue are doing just that with both teams coming off big upsets on Friday night. UCLA knocking off Michigan State and Purdue knocking off Nebraska.

These two teams do have a matchup this season under their belt. A big-time win by UCLA earlier this year at Pauley Pavilion. A game and watch the Bruins desperately needed to win and they did just that. They beat Purdue 69-67 when they were ranked No. 4 in the nation at the time. The Bruins were propelled by a late Tyler Bilodeau 3-point basket. They may not have Bilodeau this time around as he left Friday’s game with an injury. That would be a huge loss for UCLA as he is the best scoring option that the Bruins have.

UCLA will need to see improved play from their star transfer in Donovan Dent. He will need to win the matchup with another good point guard in Braden Smith. While the others around him, continue to make their shots and get good looks. UCLA has plenty of scoring that can withstand a Bilodeau absence. As Skyy Clark, Eric Dailey Jr. and Trent Perry are all capable of going for 20 points. Ultimately you want your best players on the floor at all times. But that may not be the case and the depth is going to need to step up. Such as Eric Freeny and Jamar Brown.

UCLA will need to play good collective team defense to help stop Purdue. They’re a good and efficient offense averaging 82 points per game. They shoot 50% from the field as a team which includes 38.2% from 3-point range. Mick Cronin has been coaching his team much better on the defensive end over the last month. If they play defense like they did the first time around UCLA can pull off another upset and head to the Big Ten title game. Which could play big dividends to their seeding in the NCAA tournament.

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