UCLA Bruins Eliminated from NCAA Tournament in Second Round

Bruins' Sweet Sixteen bid falls short against UConn Huskies

Mar. 23, 2026 at 4:04am

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The UCLA Bruins' NCAA Tournament run came to an end in the second round, as they fell to the UConn Huskies 73-57. The Bruins, seeded 7th, put up a valiant effort but were ultimately outmatched by the 2nd-seeded Huskies, especially with the absence of injured star Tyler Bilodeau. Social media was abuzz with reactions to the Bruins' disappointing loss, which ended their season on a sour note.

Why it matters

The Bruins' early exit from the tournament is a letdown for their fans, who had high hopes for the team's postseason run. The loss also raises questions about the program's direction under head coach Mick Cronin, with some fans calling for changes. The game highlighted the challenges the Bruins faced without Bilodeau, their leading scorer, and the difficulty of competing with top-tier teams in the NCAA Tournament.

The details

The Bruins started the game strong, taking an early lead, but the Huskies eventually found their rhythm and pulled away. UConn built a double-digit lead in the second half, and although UCLA made a late push to cut the deficit to one point, the Huskies regained control and pulled away for the 73-57 victory. The Bruins' valiant effort was not enough to overcome the absence of Bilodeau and the Huskies' overall talent and depth.

  • The game was played on March 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA.
  • The Bruins trailed 38-33 at halftime.

The players

UCLA Bruins

The UCLA men's basketball team, who were the 7th seed in the NCAA Tournament.

UConn Huskies

The UConn men's basketball team, who were the 2nd seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Tyler Bilodeau

The leading scorer for the UCLA Bruins, who missed the game due to injury.

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What they’re saying

“When I picked UCLA to beat UConn, I believed words that Mick Cronin said about Tyler Bilodeau.”

— Jack Benter Fan Club

“We need some divine intervention.”

— just win!

“Clark gives the lead back to UCLA.”

— Connor David Dullinger

“UCLA feeling themselves”

— M

“Eric Dailey heats up, gets yanked and watches UCLA not be able to score for like 6 minutes.”

— Lance Becker

What’s next

The Bruins' season has come to an end, and the focus will now shift to the offseason and potential changes to the program, including the future of head coach Mick Cronin.

The takeaway

The Bruins' early tournament exit is a disappointment for their fans, who had hoped the team could make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. The loss highlights the challenges the Bruins faced without their star player Bilodeau and the difficulty of competing with elite teams in the tournament. The game has sparked debate about the direction of the program and the future of head coach Cronin.