2023 March Madness Sweet 16 bracket breakdown
No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 3 Gonzaga
UCLA dominated in the first round against Asheville and then took care of business against Northwestern. The Wildcats made it a close game in the second half but the Bruins鈥� defense and veterans kept them ahead of Northwestern. Jaime Jaquez Jr., is averaging 20.5 points in March Madness and UCLA point Tyger Campbell has only two turnovers and is perfect from the free throw line. The Bruins also have one of the better defenses left in the tournament even without Jayden Clark. This rematch of the 2021 Final Four game will be amazing.聽
Gonzaga is once again in the Sweet 16 but this will be a tough game against UCLA. The last time these two teams played, it took a Jalen Suggs buzzer beater to get the Bulldogs past UCLA. Gonzaga still has Drew Timme, who鈥檚 averaging 24.5 through two tournament games, from that team and one of the best offenses in the country but can the Bulldogs find the defense they need to stop Jaquez? Defense could be the deciding factor that gives the Bruins the upperhand in round two of this battle between blue bloods.聽
There are plenty of familiar faces from the Final Four game between these two teams but the Bruins are better equipped to stop Gonzaga. This will be a hard fought game with both sides landing punches but the Bruins are tougher on defense and can play physical. UCLA wins to move onto the Elite Eight.
