The UCLA Bruins will be out to pull off an upset against the UConn Huskies in what promises to be a pulsating contest in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Tournament.
UCLA began its March Madness campaign by defeating the UCF Knights 75-71 in the first round. The Huskies enjoyed a comfortable 82-71 win over Furman in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
How to Watch UCLA vs. UConn in the 2026 NCAA Tournament
The second-round clash between UCLA and UConn will take place at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia on Sunday, with tip-off scheduled for 8:45 p.m. ET. This NCAA Tournament contest will be broadcast live on TNT, and fans can also watch it on the Max streaming service.
Other streaming options include YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and the official March Madness website. Radio coverage of this game will be provided by SiriusXM Channel 204.
For the TV broadcast, Andrew Catalon will provide the play-by-play, with Steve Lappas serving as the analyst and Evan Washburn as the courtside reporter.
The UConn Huskies will be the favorites going into this one, with a 30-5 win-loss record for the season. The UCLA Bruins (24-11) will have their work cut out for them but are more than capable of pulling off an upset.
The winner of this matchup will face the Michigan State Spartans in the Sweet 16 on Friday, March 27. Michigan State defeated the Louisville Cardinals in the second round of March Madness.
Can Tarris Reed Jr. Lead UConn Past UCLA?
Tarris Reed Jr. has been the leader for the UConn Huskies this season, averaging 14.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. The center stood out in the Huskies’ first-round triumph against Furman, scoring 31 points on 12-of-15 shooting. He also had 27 rebounds in an incredible double-double performance.
Reed also averages 2 blocks per game and will be out to keep the UCLA offense at bay on Sunday. His battle against Xavier Booker, who had 15 points and 8 rebounds for the Bruins against UCF, will be crucial in determining which team advances to the next round.
What Donovan Dent Brings to the UCLA Offense Against UConn
UCLA’s points leader, Tyler Bilodeau, remains an injury doubt going into this second-round matchup. The key for the Bruins on Sunday will be Donovan Dent, who struggled with his shooting against UCF in the first round, going 4-of-17 from the field for 10 points.
MARCH MADNESS: Fill In Your Bracket Now!
Dent is averaging 13.4 points per game this season to go along with 2.9 rebounds and an impressive 7.5 assists per game (fourth-highest in college basketball).
Against UCF, Dent still made a decisive impact for UCLA, recording 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and an impressive 6 steals. He will have to be at his best in all aspects of his game if UCLA is to spring a surprise here.
