Ucla Bruins vs Michigan State Spartans Picks and Predictions February 4th 2025

No. 9 Spartans Face Key Test Against Bruins at Pauley Pavilion

Michigan State went over two months without a loss before hitting a roadblock against Southern California. Now, the No. 9 Spartans (18-3, 9-1 Big Ten) must quickly regroup as they visit a surging UCLA team (16-6, 7-4) at Pauley Pavilion on Tuesday night.

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Michigan State Aims to Bounce Back

The Spartans’ 70-64 loss to USC on Saturday was a wake-up call. Head coach Tom Izzo didn’t mince words about the team’s performance.

“We got punched in the mouth,” Izzo said. “That doesn’t happen to us very often, and I don’t know if we responded very well.”

The defeat snapped Michigan State’s impressive 13-game winning streak, dating back to a 71-63 loss to Memphis in the Maui Invitational semifinals on November 26. In their setback against USC, the Spartans never held a lead and trailed by as many as 15 points.

Now, they must shift their focus to UCLA, a team that is peaking at the right time.

Guard Jaden Akins, Michigan State’s leading scorer (13.5 PPG), emphasized the need to move on quickly.

“We just gotta realize the things that we did wrong and accept it, but not let it linger over into our next games,” Akins said. “It’s just kind of learn from this game and move on from there.”

UCLA on a Roll, Dominating Opponents

While Michigan State looks to recover, UCLA is riding a wave of momentum. The Bruins dismantled No. 16 Oregon 78-52 last Thursday, marking their fifth consecutive victory.

Head coach Mick Cronin credited the team’s aggressive start against the Ducks as a key factor.

“Obviously, we jumped on them early, I thought that was the key,” Cronin said. “I’m very proud of our guys for this last stretch of games. It’s been a long grind for us since December, since we started in the Big Ten.”

During their current streak, UCLA has won games by both narrow margins and dominant performances, including a 94-70 rout of Iowa. Their home-court advantage has been significant, as the Bruins boast an 11-1 record at Pauley Pavilion this season.

Eric Dailey Jr. Leading UCLA’s Charge

One of the standout players in UCLA’s resurgence has been guard Eric Dailey Jr. The sophomore erupted for 21 points on 8-of-9 shooting against Oregon, including a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc.

“It’s good for the wins, it helps winning,” Dailey said. “Whatever I can do to help us win, whether it’s making shots, rebounding, defending, making one more pass to my teammates, I just like to help winning.”

Cronin praised Dailey’s relentless dedication.

“Eric Dailey is pretty dominant,” Cronin said. “He spends more time in the gym on his shooting and is the most dedicated guy I’ve ever coached on his diet, his rest, his commitment to what he’s trying to accomplish in basketball. And it pays off for him.”

Dailey ranks second on the team in scoring (12.4 PPG), behind Tyler Bilodeau (14.0 PPG).

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History Favors UCLA, But Michigan State Has a Lot to Prove

The Bruins lead the all-time series 7-4, including a thrilling 86-80 overtime win in the First Four of the 2021 NCAA Tournament. That victory sparked UCLA’s Cinderella run to the Final Four.

Tuesday’s game carries added significance for Izzo, who is on the verge of tying legendary coach Bobby Knight (353) for the most Big Ten conference wins. While Izzo remains focused on the present, the milestone looms large.

“I have not talked about that at all up until (last week), when people were asking (players) and they brought it up to me,” Izzo said. “… Every team should leave with something that they can hang their hat on. If I’m fortunate enough to do that, this team will have that along with it.”

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What’s at Stake?

For Michigan State, this game is about proving resilience. Can they recover from their loss to USC and reestablish their winning ways? For UCLA, a win would solidify their status as one of the hottest teams in the country.

With momentum on UCLA’s side and Michigan State looking for redemption, expect a high-intensity battle at Pauley Pavilion.