3 keys to beating UCLA and how to watch

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Dec 29, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA;Minnesota Golden Gophers forward Bobby Durkin (3) shoots the ball as Fairleigh Dickinson Knights guard Josiah Francis (15) defends during the first half at Williams Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images | Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

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The Barn

1:00

FS1

UCLA

Minnesota Golden Gophers
Record: 13-15 (6-11)
KenPom Rank: 69

UCLA Bruins
Record: 19-9 (11-6)
KenPom Rank: 40

If I’m being honest, I know very little about the Bruins (18 teams in the Big Ten is a lot to keep track of). But I do know that coach Mick Cronin has often been very unhappy with his team’s toughness. He is also frequently unhappy about having to travel to the Midwest to play basketball games where his team is 1-5 in Big Ten road games that are not on the West Coast. Mostly, he is just an unhappy man, but these two things have been recurring themes over the last two years.

Minnesota’s toughness might actually be their greatest attribute. Can they use this, and their location, to pull out an upset win over the Bruins?

KEYS TO A GOPHER WIN

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Wake up! – It would be helpful if the Bruins are sleepy and the Gophers’ Iron-6 jump on them early. They really do struggle away from the West Coast. I mentioned their 1-5 record this year, and they finished 2-5 last year. Their trip to Minnesota and the early(ish) tip-off are potentially beneficial for the Gophers…if they wake up ready to play.

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Attack and get to the FT line – This Bruins team fouls a lot and gives opportunities at the line for their opponent. Which is also something the Gophers have been adept at. Attack the rim, get to the free-throw line and make them.

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Defend the three – Tyler Bilodeau and Skyy Clark are two of the best three-point shooters in the Big Ten. Bilodeau is shooting almost 45% from three with a team-leading 116 attempts and Clark has attempted 84 threes, making over 47% of them. UCLA as a team does not attempt very many threes, just over 20 attempts per game, but they make them at a high percentage. This will make the Gopher’s zone an interesting decision.

PREDICTION

Both of these teams LOVE a slower-paced game. And both of these teams do a pretty good job of managing turnovers. I would not expect a very high-scoring game.

The question for me is, can the Gophers play physical and with more mental toughness than UCLA and pull out a gritty win?

Minnesota – 68
UCLA – 64



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