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March Madness: UCLA vs Kentucky preview, prediction, TV schedule

By Michael Foy

Mar 19, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats players celebrate after defeating the Wichita State Shockers in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats players celebrate after defeating the Wichita State Shockers in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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On Friday night in March Madness, the UCLA Bruins take on the Kentucky Wildcats in the Sweet 16.

TV Schedule: Friday, Mar. 24, 9:39 p.m. ET, CBS

Arena: FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee

Prediction: UCLA 92, Kentucky 84

UCLA versus Kentucky. 19 NCAA National Championships between the two. What more could you ask for?

Related Story: Catching up on the Midwest region

UCLA has cruised in their first two games beating Kent State, 97-80, and Cincinnati, 79-67. The Bruins’ offense has been the talk of the season, averaging a national-best 90.2 points per game. But what warrants more attention is the Bruins’ defense as of late. They forced Cincinnati to shoot just 7-of-20 from beyond the arc, as well as forcing them to commit 10 turnovers.

The main player that will determine who wins this game more than anyone else is Lonzo Ball. He is arguably the best player in the NCAA Tournament, and UCLA goes as he goes. If he plays at his best, the Bruins will come out on top. When these two teams met earlier this season Ball didn’t even play his best basketball but still affected the game in so many different ways scoring 14 points, grabbing six rebounds, and dishing out seven assists.

Kentucky is coming off of two closer-than-comfortable games in the NCAA Tournament. In the Wildcats’ first game they defeated Northern Kentucky 79-70, followed up with a 65-62 win over Wichita State. Kentucky obviously has the star power to beat any team in the country, and they will need these stars to show up in full force Friday night. Kentucky’s two star freshman, Malik Monk and De’Aaron Fox combined to shoot just 8-of-23 from the field in the Wildcats’ win over the Shockers. They will need much more contributions from these two if they want to defeat UCLA.

Next: Ranking the remaining 16 teams in the NCAA Tournament

The Bruins met with the Wildcats earlier this year in Lexington, in a game UCLA won, 97-92. The outcome will be the same, but the score will not. Ball will be too much to handle and UCLA’s improved defense will show out during this match-up of blue bloods.

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