- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
St. Louis Today
By the People, for the People
UConn Faces Upset Warning Ahead of NCAA Tournament Clash with UCLA
Huskies narrowly avoided first-round upset, now face battle-tested Bruins squad
Mar. 22, 2026 at 5:26pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
After a shaky first-round win over No. 15 seed Furman, the UConn Huskies are now facing an upset warning ahead of their Round of 32 matchup with UCLA in the NCAA Tournament. UConn needed a historic 31-point, 27-rebound performance from center Tarris Reed Jr. to avoid disaster against Furman, raising concerns about the Huskies' perimeter shooting and overall vulnerability. Meanwhile, the Bruins enter the game battle-tested from the Big Ten and with a resume of wins over top-seeded teams, making them a dangerous opponent for the favored Huskies.
Why it matters
UConn was widely viewed as a legitimate Final Four contender heading into the tournament, but their close call against Furman has raised questions about their ability to make a deep run. A loss to UCLA would be a major upset and derail the Huskies' championship aspirations. The game also features a clash of styles, with UConn's interior dominance going up against UCLA's guard-oriented, slow-paced approach - a matchup that could determine which team advances.
The details
UConn struggled mightily against Furman's defense, shooting just 20% from three-point range and needing a historic performance from Tarris Reed Jr. to avoid the upset. Key Huskies shooters like Solo Ball and Braylon Mullins have gone cold lately, making UConn vulnerable if Reed can't replicate his first-round heroics. Meanwhile, UCLA enters the game with a resume of wins over top teams like Illinois, Purdue, and Michigan State, and has the guard play and defensive approach to slow down UConn's half-court offense.
- The UConn-UCLA game is scheduled for 8:45 p.m. ET on March 22, 2026.
- UConn narrowly avoided an upset against No. 15 seed Furman in the first round on March 19, 2026.
The players
Tarris Reed Jr.
UConn's dominant senior center who had a historic 31-point, 27-rebound performance to lead the Huskies past Furman in the first round.
Donovan Dent
UCLA's standout junior guard who leads the Bruins' backcourt alongside Trent Perry and Skyy Clark.
Dan Hurley
UConn's head coach who has led the Huskies to a 30-5 record and a top seed in the NCAA Tournament.
What they’re saying
“It took a Herculean effort from center Tarris Reed Jr. for the UConn Huskies to avoid an upset at the hands of No. 15 seed Furman in the first round, and now they face an underseeded UCLA squad.”
— Joel Reuter, Bleacher Report Writer
“They now face a UCLA squad that is comfortable matching their half-court, slow-paced style, with the standout guard trio of Donovan Dent, Trent Perry, and Skyy Clark leading the charge.”
— Joel Reuter, Bleacher Report Writer
What’s next
The winner of the UConn-UCLA matchup will advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
The takeaway
This game will test whether UConn's recent struggles are a temporary blip or a sign of deeper vulnerabilities. If the Huskies' perimeter shooting woes continue, UCLA has the defensive blueprint to pull off the upset and derail UConn's championship aspirations.
