Ucla Bruins vs Wisconsin Badgers Picks and Predictions March 14th 2025

Rested UCLA Makes Big Ten Tournament Debut vs. No. 18 Wisconsin

Fourth-seeded UCLA is set to make its first-ever Big Ten tournament appearance on Friday afternoon in a quarterfinal showdown against fifth-seeded No. 18 Wisconsin in Indianapolis.

Wisconsin Advances, Looks for Revenge

Wisconsin (24-8) secured its quarterfinal spot with a 70-63 victory over Northwestern on Thursday. Nolan Winter and John Tonje led the way with 18 points each, fueling a crucial 10-4 run before halftime that gave the Badgers a 37-30 lead at the break. Wisconsin built on that momentum in the second half, extending its advantage to as many as 18 points before cruising to victory.

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The win helped the Badgers rebound from a stunning 86-75 loss to Penn State to close the regular season—a result that had major seeding implications. The loss created a three-way tie for fourth place in the Big Ten between Wisconsin, Purdue, and UCLA. Because of the Bruins’ 85-83 win over Wisconsin on Jan. 21 in Los Angeles, UCLA earned the No. 4 seed and the double bye into the quarterfinals.

UCLA Riding Late-Season Surge

UCLA (22-9) closed the regular season in dominant fashion, winning 11 of its final 14 games. Head coach Mick Cronin has emphasized preparation and execution heading into the postseason.

“We’re going to score if we don’t turn it over. We’ve improved at going to rebound (the ball). That goes back to effort,” Cronin said. “If you don’t prepare to try to win the tournament and be a team that can stop one of the best teams in the country and execute against a tough, hard-nosed defensive team, then you can’t believe you’re going to win.”

A key part of UCLA’s resurgence has been the emergence of 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara. When the Bruins defeated Wisconsin in January, Mara had a breakout performance with a career-high 22 points off the bench. Since that game, Mara has recorded six of his eight double-digit scoring efforts, including two double-doubles—the most recent an 11-point, 10-rebound outing against Northwestern on March 3.

Contrasting Styles: Defense vs. Offense

UCLA leans on its defense, allowing just 65.1 points per game—a mark that has ranked in the top 25 nationally throughout the season. Meanwhile, Wisconsin thrives on offensive firepower, averaging 80.4 points per contest.

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In their previous matchup, the Badgers relied on stellar performances from Tonje (24 points) and John Blackwell (23 points), with the duo combining for 9-of-14 shooting from beyond the arc. Wisconsin averages just under 10 made three-pointers per game, and its offensive versatility is a major asset.

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“It’s great having talented guys around you. [Opponents] can’t key in on one guy,” Tonje said. “We’re a team that’s willing to share it and really get anyone involved. It could be anyone’s night.”

Tonje and Blackwell pace the Badgers with scoring averages of 18.9 and 15.4 points per game, respectively.

For UCLA, Tyler Bilodeau (14.0 ppg), Eric Dailey (12.0 ppg), and Sebastian Mack (9.8 ppg) lead the offensive attack.

With a spot in the Big Ten semifinals on the line, expect an intense battle between a disciplined UCLA squad and a high-scoring Wisconsin team eager for payback.