LEXINGTON, Ky. – The clash between UCLA and Tennessee in the NCAA tournament’s second round was expected to be a showdown of defense and toughness. The narrative painted a picture of two evenly matched teams battling it out, mirroring each other’s style. However, the Bruins stumbled into mistakes, ultimately shattering their hopes of an upset as the Volunteers emerged victorious with a 67-58 win.
The Bruins’ downfall came from sloppy play in crucial moments, particularly towards the end of the first half and beginning of the second. UCLA’s head coach, Mick Cronin, pointed to their offensive struggles as the main reason for their defeat. Mistakes like turnovers and lack of execution plagued UCLA, with point guard Dylan Andrews bearing a significant portion of the blame. Andrews’ five turnovers and poor performance led to his benching early in the second half.
Despite the setbacks, Cronin commended his team for their efforts in the tournament, especially considering midseason setbacks like injuries to key players. The Bruins, who had experienced a losing record in the previous season, managed to make significant strides this year. However, their journey came to an end at the hands of Tennessee, who capitalized on UCLA’s mistakes to secure the win.
As UCLA faltered under Tennessee’s pressure, the Volunteers’ guard Chaz Lanier stood out with a 20-point performance, including four three-pointers. UCLA struggled to find answers, with guard Skyy Clark and forward Tyler Bilodeau as the only players reaching double figures in scoring. The Bruins’ inability to feed their big men the ball efficiently further hindered their chances against the Volunteers’ defense.
Despite showing promise with wins over strong opponents earlier in the season, UCLA’s inconsistencies and guard play ultimately led to their downfall against Tennessee. The Volunteers’ intensity and precision proved too much for the Bruins to handle, resulting in their early exit from the tournament. Amidst the disappointment, Cronin acknowledged the challenges they faced and the need to regroup for future seasons.