Tag: BIG Ten Conference

UCLA men’s and women’s hoops both in AP Top 25 rankings

The UCLA men and women are balling.

The UCLA men’s and women’s basketball teams have gotten off to a hot start in the 2024-2025 season.

The UCLA women’s basketball team is the nation’s top-ranked team, with a perfect 11-0 record, while the men’s team ranks No. 18, with a 10-1 record.

In a post on X by Fox College Hoops, the Bruins are one of nine NCAA programs with AP Top 25 men’s and women’s basketball teams.

Joining college basketball powerhouses Connecticut, Duke, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Michigan, Michigan State, Ole Miss, and Kentucky on the list, the Bruins are seeing success with both programs.

After a 2023-2024 season where both programs fell short of their early-season aspirations, things are looking up in Westwood. Despite moving to the Big Ten from the Pac-12, the men’s and women’s teams are competing at a high level.

Though the season is only just getting started, if the men’s and women’s teams continue to play this way, they both enjoy long runs in both the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments in March.

UCLA baseball releases complete 2025 schedule

A look at who the Bruins will play this season.

Though spring is still many months away, baseball season is just starting to ramp up in Westwood. This week, the UCLA Bruins baseball team released their schedule for the 2025 season.

Posting on X, the UCLA baseball team released their full schedule for the 2025 season, with some notable new opponents.

The 2025 season marks the first for the Bruins in the Big Ten after a lackluster 2024 season. In their final season in the Pac-12, the Bruins finished 19-33, including a nine-game losing skid in mid-April.

Taking on a full slate of Big Ten opponents, UCLA opens conference play against Michigan State on February 23rd. As the Bruins begin their first season in the Big Ten, they look to leave their bad habits in the past.

UCLA struggled mightily in 2024 with inconsistent pitching and offensive slumps. To compete in the Big Ten this season, the Bruins must tighten up their rotation and string together wins consistently against the likes of Illinois, Indiana, and Nebraska.

UCLA hoops jumps to No. 24 in latest AP college basketball poll

The Bruins land back in the Top 25.

The UCLA Bruins have hit their stride after a shaky start to the college basketball season. Taking down No. 12 Oregon, the Bruins returned to the AP Top 25 ranking this week.

Landing at No. 24 in the AP Poll, just behind San Diego State, Cincinnati, and Big Ten comrade Michigan State, the Bruins are a perfect 7-0 since their sole loss to New Mexico in early November.

After knocking off two Big Ten opponents in a row, first Washington, then Oregon, the Bruins are finally rolling. Entering the season as the No. 22 team in the AP Poll, the Bruins are right around where they started. With Big Ten play to ramp up over the next two months, UCLA has an opportunity to continue to build momentum.

Given the transfer additions of Skyy Clark, Kobe Johnson, and Tyler Bilodeau, UCLA rightfully had high expectations this season. If their newly-added star players can take to Mick Cronin’s coaching, the Bruins should be in the hunt for a long run in the NCAA tournament this spring.

UCLA Bruins linebacker accepts invite to Reese’s Senior Bowl

One Bruin is headed to Mobile, Alabama.

The season may be over for the UCLA Bruins, but one of their star defensive players still has one game left.

After a breakout season in the Big Ten, UCLA defensive end Oluwafemi Oladejo has accepted his invite to the Reese’s Senior Bowl. Finishing his senior campaign with 57 tackles and 4.5 sacks, Oladejo was a force along the Bruins defensive line all season long.

Oladejo transferred to UCLA after a short stint with the University of California in 2022, racking up over 100 tackles and five sacks with the Bruins. At Cal, Oladejo played mostly as a true linebacker, but a shift to the line of scrimmage improved his numbers and UCLA’s defensive production.

Now, Oladejo has a chance to improve his draft stock with a solid performance in the NCAA’s most prestigious all-star game with NFL scouts in attendance.

The Reese’s Senior Bowl kicks off on February 1st, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. (PT) on the NFL Network in Mobile, Alabama.

UCLA open Big Ten play with 73-62 win over Washington

A good start to Big Ten play.

The UCLA Bruins survived their Big Ten conference opener on Sunday against the Washington Huskies with a 73-62 win on the road.

UCLA’s stars showed up for the win on Sunday, junior center Lauren Betts scored 23 points and two blocks but only three rebounds, down from her season average of 10.9. Junior guard Kiki Rice had another strong showing, with 18 points, five assists and four rebounds. In the last three games Rice has averaged 18 points per game after having that total sit at 8.5 in her first two games of the season. 

Junior guard Gabriela Jaquez got another chance in the Bruins starting lineup and again provided a spark with Bruins, scoring 11 points off of 5-9 shooting in 36 minutes which tied Rice for the team high.

The Bruins shot a tremendous 54% from the field, doing almost all of their work inside the three point line, taking just 12 threes and knocking down four of them. Not only did they not shoot threes, the Bruins also didn’t get to the free throw line with much regularity against Washington, going 5-7 from the line. 

UCLA led by ten at halftime at 35-25 but the Huskies kept pace with the Bruins in the third quarter, trailing just 57-49 entering the fourth. Washington trimmed the lead down to five points with just over four minutes remaining but the Bruins answered with a run to close out the game and move to 9-0. 

The Bruins will look to move to 10-0 next Saturday on the road against Long Beach State, not resuming Big Ten play until December 29th against Nebraska.



Oregon Big Ten title should make USC fans angry

Dan Lanning and Oregon are actually doing the things Lincoln Riley was hired to do at USC. It’s the harsh but obvious truth.

It has now been more than 16 months since it was announced that USC and Oregon would be joining the Big Ten Conference together in 2024. At the time of the announcement, USC football and Oregon football appeared to be in similar places. Both were coming off of double-digit win seasons under first-year head coaches, were recruiting well, and appeared poised for long-term success.

Since then, however, the Trojans and Ducks have gone in completely different directions.

Since the start of the 2023 season, Oregon is 25-2. On Saturday evening, the Ducks defeated Penn State to win the Big Ten championship in their first season in the league and lock up the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.

USC, meanwhile, is just 14-11 the past two years. At 6-6 this year, the Trojans barely even made a bowl game, and were nowhere near the playoff.

The unfortunate truth for USC fans is that Dan Lanning is doing at Oregon exactly what Lincoln Riley was hired to do at USC.

The Ducks have recruited elite talent. They consistently have high-level quarterback play. They are extremely physical along the lines of scrimmage. They have a culture of toughness and discipline.

The Trojans? Not so much. USC had a great season with Caleb Williams in 2022, but the Trojans have yet to prove that they can field an elite team in the trenches. USC has been dominated along the lines of scrimmage on numerous occasions under Riley, and there have not been enough recruiting wins to suggest that is going to change in the imminent future.

For decades, USC has been the premier football program on the West Coast. Right now, Dan Lanning and the Ducks are stuffing the Trojans into a locker. Given how much Riley is getting paid, USC fans have every right to be furious with the results.

Jacory Barney Jr. named Big Ten Freshman of the Week

Jacory Barney Jr. was recognized for his play on Saturday.

Nebraska freshman wide receiver Jacory Barney Jr. was named the Big Ten Football Freshman of the Week, per an announcement from the conference.

Barney was a catalyst in the Huskers’ 44-25 win over the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday. In Saturday’s game, he recorded nine catches for 85 yards, bringing his season total to 49 catches for 402 yards. The 49 catches are a program freshman record.

Barney was able to show off his playmaking ability at a high level on Saturday. The nine receptions were the most he’s had this season. The 85 yards were also a season-high. The Florida native averaged 9.4 yards per catch on the day.

Barney will have a chance to build off his big day this coming Friday as Nebraska prepares to take on the Iowa Hawkeyes in the battle for the Heroes Trophy. The freshman is excited about the program’s future and figures to be a large part of it.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.

Photos of UCLA’s ugly loss to USC in Week 13

It was not a good game at all…

The 2024 edition of the USC-UCLA rivalry game was not a good one. Both Los Angeles teams have had disappointing seasons, and the Week 13 showdown was far from exciting.

USC squeaked out the ugly 19-13 win at the Rose Bowl late on Saturday night. It was a 9-3 score at halftime as USC had the lead, but UCLA took the lead with 10 third-quarter points before USC scored 10 in the fourth quarter.

J. Michael Sturdivant’s big night was wasted as the UCLA WR had five catches for 117 yards.

Now, UCLA’s bowl game hopes are over, and USC moves to 6-5 as they try to end the year on a positive note.

Here are photos from the ugly game.

DeShaun Foster estimates how many recruits will be at UCLA vs. USC

The Bruins are likely to draw hundreds of recruits as they take on rival USC.

The UCLA Bruins take on the USC Trojans this weekend, renewing one of college football’s greatest rivalries. Now, taking their rivalry to the Big Ten, the Bruins are looking for more than just bragging rights as serious bowl implications take center stage.

If that were not enough, there are tons of prospective recruits who will be in attendance. According to Tracy McDannald of UCLA Rivals, head coach DeShaun Foster estimated that upwards of 700 recruits could be at the Rose Bowl on Saturday. As a result, the Bruins have an incredible opportunity.

For prospective recruits, rivalry games are the perfect way to showcase a program’s ability, pride, and amenities. Add to that the Rose Bowl’s historic charm and UCLA could sway some undecided recruits with just one win.

At 4-6 this season, the Bruins have, in many ways, overachieved relative to expectation. With a talented 2025 recruiting class on the way, the Bruins have a chance to improve their recruiting board and take down their biggest rival at home on Saturday.

Oregon Ducks clinch spot in Big Ten Conference Championship Game after win vs. Wisconsin

With a 16-13 win over the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday night, the Oregon Ducks clinched their spot in the Big Ten Conference Championship.

The Oregon Ducks joined the Big Ten Conference less than a year ago. On Saturday night with a 16-13 win over the Wisconsin Badgers, they clinched a spot in the Big Ten Conference Championship Game.

That didn’t take long.

With an 11-0 record — their first since 2010 and second in program history — and a No. 1 ranking in the nation, Dan Lanning and his team officially locked in their spot in Indianapolis to play for the conference title on December 7.

They will likely play the winner of the Indiana Hoosiers vs. Ohio State Buckeyes game that takes place next week, but there are scenarios where they could also face the Penn State Nittany Lions, as well.

Oregon has only played one of those potential opponents so far this year, beating Ohio State at home on October 12, 32-31 in a thriller that will go down as one of the best games of the year.

Indiana has been splendid this year in the first season under new head coach Kurt Cignetti, while Penn State has been a force, as usual, in the conference as well.

While we wait to see next week who the Ducks will face in the conference title game, Lanning and his team will enjoy the bye week at long last to recover and rest up, looking to host the rival Washington Huskies in Week 14.

After that, we now know that their season will continue in Week 15 with a trip to Indianapolis.

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