UCLA Basketball Faces a Massive Big Ten Test

It’s an intriguing year for the Bruins under Mick Cronin.

UCLA has a talented lineup that could be one of the more underrated rosters in the country, and could certainly make some noise in the Big Ten and in March.

Mar 20, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Mick Cronin reacts in the first half during a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

UCLA recently released its full schedule for the 2026-2027 season, and there is one particular section the Bruins have that could yield both negative and positive results.

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Gauntlet in Conference Play

Starting January 19th, the Bruins will begin a 6-game stretch in the middle of conference play, with some of the hardest opponents in the Big Ten. UCLA will begin with a home game against Wisconsin, and though the Badgers lost talent in the offseason, they should still be a team at the top of the conference and will not be an easy matchup, even at home.

Mar 25, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Pryce Sandfort speaks during a practice session press conference ahead of the south regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Then UCLA will travel to Nebraska to take on the Huskers in another matchup against a potential top-25 team in the country. Pryce Sandfort and Braden Frager return as the focal point of the Huskers’ offense and could give UCLA a ton of trouble on the road.

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From there, they’ll head back home to take on the defending champions of Michigan. Despite the loss of key talent, the Wolverines still look poised to sit atop the conference and will be a crucial game for the Bruins if they want to have a chance at winning the Big Ten.

Mar 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; UCLA Bruins forward Eric Dailey Jr. (3) shoots the ball against the UConn Huskies in the second half during a second…

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Publish date : 2026-09-30 11:00:00

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