Final Four Preview: UCLA Bruins vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs

The UCLA Bruins are the latest 11 seed to reach the NCAA Tournament Final Four, and they have pulled off some big upsets during this run. UCLA will take on the Gonzaga Bulldogs on Saturday night, and Gonzaga has been the top team in the country all season long.

UCLA had to beat Michigan State in a First Four game just to reach the field of 64, but they used that game to build some momentum. The Bruins stunned Michigan in the Elite 8 to earn a spot in the semifinals.

Gonzaga has steamrolled teams during their NCAA Tournament run, winning every game by double-digits. The Bulldogs have yet to lose a game all season long and are just two wins away from perfection.

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are 14.5-point favorites over the UCLA Bruins, making this the largest point spread in Final Four history.

Bruins Loving Cinderella Role

The UCLA Bruins actually got off to a great start this season and were a Top 25 team for a few weeks. UCLA then lost their two best players to injury and personal reasons, and it was a rough end to the regular season.

UCLA was actually a slight underdog against Michigan State in the First Four and have remained underdogs in every game. It’s hard to think of the Bruins as a Cinderella team, but this squad has embraced that title.

Johnny Juzang leads this team with 15 points per game, and he was the hero in the game against Michigan. Point guard Tyger Campbell leads the way with more than five assists per game, and he has stepped up his play of late.

Gonzaga Just So Explosive

The Gonzaga Bulldogs do everything really well, but their offense is the first thing you notice. Gonzaga is scoring nearly 92 points per game this season, and they haven’t slowed down that production in the NCAA Tournament.

Drew Timme has been the star during this March Madness run, and he now leads the team with 19 points per game. Corey Kispert is a first-team All-American, and Jalen Suggs is arguably the best all-around player in the country.

Gonzaga has also been playing terrific defense this march, and they will look to overwhelm UCLA on both ends of the floor.

No Stopping Gonzaga

The UCLA Bruins have been a great story throughout the NCAA Tournament, and they are looking for a happy ending. Unfortunately for them, it appears that this storybook run is going to come just two wins earlier than they hope.

UCLA has proven that they can win games in a variety of ways, and the win against Michigan was impressive. With that being said, Gonzaga is a much better team than Michigan, and this is a much bigger challenge for the Bruins.

The Bulldogs have been the betting favorite to win the NCAA Championship since the season began, and there is no reason to bet against them now. Gonzaga just doesn’t feel like a team ready to be challenged by anyone.