UCLA Eliminated from NCAA Tournament After Loss to UConn

Bruins coach Mick Cronin and players discuss the team's second-round defeat

Mar. 23, 2026 at 4:20am

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The UCLA Bruins were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament after losing to the University of Connecticut Huskies in the second round, 73-57. In the post-game press conference, head coach Mick Cronin, forward Eric Dailey, and center Xavier Booker discussed the team's performance, the impact of injured player Tyler Bilodeau's absence, and the overall season.

Why it matters

The loss ends UCLA's tournament run and season, marking a disappointing end to what had been a promising campaign for the Bruins. The team's inability to overcome UConn's physicality and score effectively without the injured Bilodeau raises questions about the squad's depth and ability to adapt to adversity.

The details

UCLA struggled to score against the physical UConn defense, with Cronin citing the Huskies' physicality as the key difference in the game. The Bruins were also hampered by the absence of injured forward Tyler Bilodeau, whose presence Dailey said was sorely missed. Despite the loss, Cronin, Dailey, and Booker emphasized that it was still a five-on-five game and that the team had come a long way over the course of the season.

  • The NCAA Tournament second-round game between UCLA and UConn took place on March 23, 2026.

The players

Mick Cronin

The head coach of the UCLA Bruins men's basketball team.

Eric Dailey

A forward on the UCLA Bruins men's basketball team.

Xavier Booker

A center on the UCLA Bruins men's basketball team.

Tyler Bilodeau

An injured forward on the UCLA Bruins men's basketball team who missed the game against UConn.

University of Connecticut Huskies

The opposing team that defeated UCLA in the NCAA Tournament second-round game.

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What they’re saying

“The difference in the game was UConn's physicality.”

— Mick Cronin, Head Coach, UCLA Bruins

“It's tough to recently play well and then not have Tyler Bilodeau in the game, and the seniors were crying in the locker room.”

— Eric Dailey, Forward, UCLA Bruins

“We put in the work and the team came a long way but came up short.”

— Xavier Booker, Center, UCLA Bruins

What’s next

The UCLA Bruins will now turn their attention to the offseason, where they will look to rebuild and reload for another run at the NCAA Tournament next year.

The takeaway

The loss to UConn highlighted UCLA's lack of depth and inability to adapt without one of their key players. However, the Bruins' overall season was a success, and the team's future remains bright as they look to learn from this experience and come back stronger next year.