As the No.1 UCLA Bruins are just about to take the NCAA hardwood, the analysts have some concerning highlights they’ve drawn.

The Bruins are entering the tournament as the regional No. 1 and overall No. 2, just behind the UConn Huskies. But when the question is about the most vulnerable team amidst the powerhouses, senior analysts Cassandra Negley and Caroline Fenton had their cold facts ready.

“If I have to pick one seed of UConn, UCLA, Texas, and South Carolina that I trust the least, it's UCLA”, said Fenton in the March 17 episode of Yahoo Sports. “A team that does have experience in this environment in games with the highest stakes, that we all are hesitant to truly buy into them.”

The Bruins have won the conference title against No.2 Iowa, with a 31-1 record and a senior team. But they haven’t been able to build up a legacy like Geno Auriemma has with UConn, the powerhouse mindset of South Carolina under Dawn Staley, or Vic Schaefer’s consistency with Texas.

So, despite a strong season, when “you look at UCLA and Cory Close, it just feels like the odd one out.” But there's another angle to UCLA's first-seeded doubts.

Did UCLA Deserve an Overall No. 1 Seed?

With the No. 2 LSU, No. 3 Duke, and No. 5 Ole Miss under the same bracket, one could claim that the Bruins have one of the toughest brackets. Coach Corey Close mentioned her team wasn’t ready last year, but this year, things look a bit different.

“We’re going to talk about what that takes”, said Close after UCLA’s bracket reveal. “And we are completely committed to just being really focused on us and our journey and keeping the main thing, the main thing.”

While she’s focusing on her team, the bad draw can’t really be denied. The Bruins played a much tougher schedule than the Huskies, beat 11 ranked teams and have 14 Quad 1 wins. And Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw had one question.

“Does anyone else think UCLA deserved the overall [No. 1] seed? “, she asked over X. “UConn is certainly good enough to win the national championship, but UCLA and South Carolina have had as much success against a much tougher schedule.”

While Negley and Fenton didn’t really feel high vibes from the Bruins, McGraw had every nail to counter them with. Which side do you find more accurate? Comment it down.

Written by

Deblina Roy

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi