Indiana Hoosiers vs Ucla Bruins Picks and Predictions February 14th 2025

College Hoops Titans Clash as UCLA Visits Indiana

Two of college basketball’s most storied programs collide on Friday as the UCLA Bruins travel to Bloomington for a Big Ten showdown with the Indiana Hoosiers.

With a combined 16 national championships and nearly 4,000 wins between them, these programs have met 12 times before—five of those coming in the NCAA Tournament. The all-time series is deadlocked at 6-6, making this a pivotal tiebreaker.

UCLA Looking to Bounce Back After Defensive Letdown

UCLA (18-7, 9-5 Big Ten) had been riding a seven-game winning streak before a tough 83-78 loss at Illinois on Tuesday. The Bruins had played suffocating defense during that stretch, holding four of their last five opponents to 61 points or fewer.

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But Illinois torched UCLA for 52 points in the second half, exposing defensive weaknesses that had been hidden during their hot streak.

“We got exposed defensively,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin admitted. “We had different guys that weren’t able to guard the ball and stay in front of it. That was my biggest concern.”

UCLA is 15-1 when holding opponents to 71 points or fewer, but just 3-6 when allowing 72 or more. Their season average of 64.6 points allowed per game ranks 23rd in the nation.

Indiana Hoping to Build Momentum in Final Stretch

Indiana (15-10, 6-8 Big Ten) snapped a five-game losing skid with a gritty 71-67 road win at No. 11 Michigan State on Tuesday. It was the first time since Jan. 8 that the Hoosiers held an opponent under 70 points, signaling a much-needed defensive turnaround.

Before that victory, Indiana had gone 1-7 in its previous eight games while surrendering an average of 80.0 points per contest. The Hoosiers rank 228th in the country in scoring defense (73.2 points per game), a weakness they’ll need to shore up to contain UCLA.

“These guys have been down. We’ve been scrapping and scratching trying to find a way,” Indiana coach Mike Woodson said. “There’s a lot of basketball left. We have to continue to work.”

Woodson, an Indiana alum, recently announced he will step down at the end of the season after four years at the helm, making this final stretch even more meaningful for his team.

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Key Players to Watch

Indiana Hoosiers

• Oumar Ballo (13.7 PPG, 8.5 RPG) – The Arizona transfer is Indiana’s most consistent inside presence.
• Mackenzie Mgbako (13.0 PPG, 5.1 RPG) – The freshman forward is coming into his own as a scoring threat.
• Malik Reneau (12.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG) – A versatile forward who can stretch the floor.
• Myles Rice (11.0 PPG, 4.3 APG) – Indiana’s playmaker and perimeter scoring option.

UCLA Bruins

• Tyler Bilodeau (14.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG) – The Bruins’ top scorer and a key piece of their frontcourt.
• Sebastian Mack (10.0 PPG) – A spark plug off the bench who has played a bigger role in recent weeks.
• Adem Bona (9.2 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.1 BPG) – A defensive anchor in the paint for UCLA.

A Must-Win for Both Teams

With March approaching, both teams are in need of strong finishes. UCLA is eyeing a higher seed in the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments, while Indiana is battling to stay in the mix for a postseason berth.

Can UCLA tighten up its defense and get back on track, or will Indiana ride its recent momentum and give Woodson a much-needed home win?