USA Today via Reuters
Dec 16, 2020; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes forward Justice Sueing (14) shoots the ball over Purdue Boilermakers forward Mason Gillis (0) in the first half at Mackey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Dec 16, 2020; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes forward Justice Sueing (14) shoots the ball over Purdue Boilermakers forward Mason Gillis (0) in the first half at Mackey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Men’s Basketball will see a massive clash between the UCLA Bruins and the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Bruins entered the 2021 season as a ranked team in the AP Poll but fell out after week one, and they’re yet to reclaim their spot. Meanwhile, the Ohio State Buckeyes have maintained a position in the rankings, and currently are place 20th after losing their last game to Purdue University.
💥💥💥💥💥 FINAL
Purdue 67
[20] Ohio State 60Purdue's defense limits Buckeyes to 30.0 percent shooting in second half.
Williams finishes with 16 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists. pic.twitter.com/PsFAFNIPJL
— Purdue Mens Basketball (@BoilerBall) December 17, 2020
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The Buckeyes were supposed to face the UNC Tar Heels, while UCLA was set to take on the Kentucky Wildcats. However, the teams swapped opponents after inconsistent testing patterns became a cause for concern.
The Bruins are on a five-game winning streak and can establish themselves back in the Top 25 with a win against Ohio State. The Buckeyes, on the other hand, are coming off their first loss of the season. The intrigue for the game has massively risen amid the short-notice chaos surrounding the fixture. So which one of these teams will win this clash?
NCAA Men’s Basketball: Can the Bruins establish themselves as real contenders?
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After UCLA’s opening loss to San Diego State, many were quick to dismiss the program for being more hype than substance. However, their strong run (which includes a win over Marquette) has proven they’re one of the better teams in the country.
USA Today via Reuters
Dec 11, 2020; Los Angeles, California, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (4) and guard Tyger Campbell (10) celebrate at the end of the game against the Marquette Golden Eagles at Pauley Pavilion. UCLA defeated Marquette 69-60. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes saw their undefeated streak ended by Purdue, and the loss threatened to take them away from the rankings. However, a win over the UCLA Bruins may be enough to help them keep this position for another week.
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The Buckeyes will start the game with Musa Jallow, Justice Sueing, Zed Key, Duane Washington Jr., and Jimmy Sotos on the floor. Meanwhile, the Bruins will line up with Cody Riley, Chris Smith, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Johnny Juzang, and Tyger Campbell.
For our prediction, we are going with an upset. The Bruins are rolling right now and they seem prepared to keep that momentum going against the Buckeyes, who have had no time to recover since their loss to Purdue.
