This post was updated March 7 at 1:15 a.m.

Fans may be disappointed with the way the Bruins’ 2024-2025 season has transpired – once losing four in a row and now going 3-3 over their last six games.

But the Trojans’ campaign shows that things can always be worse.

While the Bruins sit outside the top four in conference standings and could miss out on a double bye in the Big Ten Tournament, their crosstown rivals sit four spots from the cellar – at risk of missing the tournament entirely.

Regardless of their mirrored Big Ten records, UCLA men’s basketball (21-9, 12-7 Big Ten) and USC (15-15, 7-12) will collide at Pauley Pavilion on Saturday evening for their shared regular season finale.

“You never want to let your rival beat you on your home floor – for your fanbase, for your job security,” said coach Mick Cronin. “I don’t think I have to motivate these guys for Saturday.”

The Bruins trounced the Trojans 82-76 when the two dueled at the Galen Center in January, with Aday Mara recording his first career double-double in the contest. Coincidentally, the sophomore center is coming off his second career double-double after scoring 11 points and collecting 10 boards across 16 minutes on the floor against Northwestern on Monday.

UCLA is undefeated when Mara plays at least 20 minutes and 16-2 when he plays at least 10 but 5-7 when the sophomore sits on the bench for 30 minutes or more.

And Cronin said he wants to play Mara more but said the 7-foot-3 center just can’t handle it yet.

“Aday’s conditioning is a big key,” Cronin said. “You’ve got to be able to handle minutes played. It’s called building your toughness level.”

As the Bruins’ last regular season home game, the affair also serves as the team’s Senior Day.

“We definitely got to show out for our seniors, Laz (guard Lazar Stefanovic) and Kobe (guard Kobe Johnson),” said sophomore guard/forward Eric Dailey Jr. “We have to give them the praise back with a win.”

The rivalry match carries a bit of extra significance for Johnson, who played three seasons with USC before this year.

The senior threw more gas on the fire when he spoke to the media Thursday.

“From this side, it’s just more passion,” Johnson said. “The fans are more dedicated – they’re into it a lot more.”

Johnson added that UCLA is hitting its stride at the right time. The Bruins are starting to figure out how to play with one another and will be a scary team come March, Johnson said.

Meanwhile, time is running out for Dylan Andrews to find his 2023-2024 form ahead of the playoffs.

The junior guard is averaging 7.1 points per contest – a sharp decline from his team-leading 12.9 a season ago – despite seeing the fourth-most minutes per game on the roster. Andrews is shooting just 38.5% from the field and hasn’t reached double digits in points since Jan. 30.

“If you asked him, he would tell you at times he hasn’t played up to his standard – at times he has, but that’s for all the guys,” Cronin said. “The pressure of playing at UCLA is a factor for all those guys. It’s not easy for a guy like Dylan in his situation. … I try to tell them all the time, ‘Man, just control your effort and your attitude.’”

For what it’s worth, Andrews scored 12 against the Trojans at Galen Center earlier this year.

The men’s iteration of the crosstown showdown may not carry the same stakes as the women’s did a week prior – but the men’s final tuneup has its own postseason implications.

“It’s our last game of the season – we just want to finish strong,” Dailey said. “We’ve been having ups and downs this season, and we just want to end on a great note going into the tournament.”