Jack Perez
Sports editor
Prediction: Sweet 16
I may be an optimist. I may be foolish. I may see a different Bruin squad than everyone else.

The Bruins and Spartans had to sweat it out, but the day has come for the two teams to help ring in the first NCAA tournament in almost two years.

This post was updated Feb. 25 at 7:52 p.m.
When the two teams met in Westwood to end 2020, the Bruins were pushed to the limit by the Utes, winning by two as they forced a turnover to seal the victory.

This post was updated Jan. 14 at 5:14 p.m.
After starting 2021 with three straight games with a final margin of 6 points or less, the Bruins finally got a comfortable win.

The Bruins will again try to begin their road conference games.
UCLA men’s basketball (7-2, 3-0 Pac-12) is headed to the Grand Canyon State to face Arizona State (4-3, 1-0) and Arizona (9-1, 3-1) on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.

This post was updated Dec. 31 at 7:27 p.m.
The Bruins squeaked past the Utes in the second Pac-12 game for both teams.
UCLA men’s basketball (6-2, 2-0 Pac-12) came out with a win over Utah (4-2, 1-1) 72-70 on Thursday at Pauley Pavilion.

The Bruins are coming home and have the chance to begin Pac-12 play 3-0.
UCLA men’s basketball (5-2, 1-0 Pac-12) returns to Westwood for games against Utah (4-1, 1-0) and Colorado (6-2, 0-1) Thursday and Saturday, respectively.

This post was updated Dec. 19 at 8:57 p.m.
The game came down to one play in the second extra period.
Without their starting quarterback, running back and center, the Bruins went for two – and came up a yard short.

In the final game at the Rose Bowl in 2020, the Bruins lost their starting quarterback and fell behind to their California rival. 
UCLA football (3-3) trails Stanford (3-2) 20-3 at halftime in both teams’ final contest of the season.