UCLA vs. UConn Final Four Preview: Bruins Underdogs Despite No. 1 Seed Status

Friday night’s Final Four kicks off with two fantastic matchups.

South Carolina will go toe-to-toe with upstart Texas. However, perhaps the most notable one has the field’s No. 1 overall seed UCLA going up against the old bully on the block in No. 2 UConn.

The Bruins are in their first Final Four in program history — whereas this is rather ho-hum for Geno Auriemma’s program. He’s built the standard within the sport, and the Huskies are no stranger to playing games of this magnitude.

Despite UCLA being the top-ranked team losing only to one team all year long (to crosstown rival USC twice), the Bruins find themselves as an 8.5-point underdog. It’s rather perplexing considering UCLA won the Big Ten Tournament, has the Coach of the Year roaming its sidelines (Cori Close), a Defensive Player of the Year/First Team All-American (Lauren Betts), and most likely the deepest team in the tournament.

Stylistically, you’ll see two vastly different squads. UConn wants to push the tempo and unleash its fleet of high-level playmakers. Paige Bueckers leads the charge as the best player in the country not named Juju Watkins. Expect the Bruins to throw a host of players at her ranging from Londynn Jones and Kiki Rice to perhaps a taller option in Gabriela Jaquez.

Azzi Fudd is equally as dangerous and can get on a major heater within an instance. The backcourt duo is without a doubt the best in the country. When throwing in crafty veteran guard Kaitlyn Chen, elite freshman Sarah Strong, and a bench full of ex-McDonald’s All-Americans, the Huskies are formidable.

Having said that, the Bruins being nearly a 10-point underdog in this game is downright disrespectful. Betts, 6’7″, is the biggest and best post player in the country. Her ability to impact things on both ends of the floor makes her truly special. UCLA is also a huge team, as Betts is often flanked by the likes of Janiah Barker and Angela Dugalic (both 6’4″).

Jaquez is the type of glue player you want on your squad. She does a bit of everything, whether scoring in transition or taking on the task of defending the opposing team’s best wing. She probably did as good a job on Watkins as anyone has all year long. Londynn Jones is a bit of a three-point specialist and brings some good energy. Kiki Rice was once the top recruit in the country, and her ability to create off the bounce is paramount for Close’s team.

Barker adds athleticism and toughness off the bench, and Timea Gardiner is a major threat from beyond the arc. Much like Connecticut, it’s also a roster chock-full of former McDonald’s All-Americans. UConn struggled to defend the paint versus USC in the Elite 8, and that’s something UCLA should look to exploit. There’s really no one on the Huskies that can credibly defend Betts, and the Bruins should enjoy an advantage on the boards given their size advantages.

If the Bruins can control the tempo and not turn the ball over, they’ve got a real shot at making the National Championship Game on Sunday.