EAST LANSING– No. 22 Michigan State got back on track against Wisconsin and looked like themselves following a difficult performance against Michigan. The Spartans’ reward is a road trip to Los Angeles that kicks off against No. 1 UCLA.  

Regarding the opportunity at hand, it does not get much better for MSU. The Bruins, ranked fifth in the NET and undefeated at home, are the clear favorites in this matchup. They lead the Big Ten in both rebounds per game at 45 and assists per game at 20.8, just ahead of the Spartans.  

 Both of these categories also rank fourth in the NCAA. However, the conversations surrounding this game may aid MSU by giving them a ‘nothing to lose, everything to gain’ attitude.  

“I think it was coach [Kim] Cameron the other day in our share circle said let’s rise to the challenge of playing in the toughest league in the country, it’s demanded of us every day,” MSU head coach Robyn Fralick said after the win over UW. “We’ll head out there and one of our phrases in our program is when it’s time to hoop we hoop, whatever time zone, whatever gym.”  

In the win over the Badgers, MSU played with incredible pace, balance, and control. When the Spartans got out on the break or sped up the game off a steal, they maintained pressure without losing the ball out of bounds or creating a worse look at the basket.  

As a result, the Spartans came away with 21 points off turnovers and 11 on the fast break. Replicating this style while winning the TO battle is vital in pulling off the upset, as this is the only way UCLA has fallen.  

In their only loss of the season to USC, the Bruins gave up 20 TOs. They lost the statistical battle by 11, which turned into 21 points on the other end while the Trojans also found 16 points on runouts.  

It cannot go without stating sophomore guard Juju Watkins’ performance for USC though. She went off for 38 points, going 6-9 from three, earned 11 rebounds for the double-double, and got up for eight blocks.  

While the Spartans are lacking one of the biggest stars in college basketball, they have the depth to be competitive with anyone. MSU had four players in double figures against UW, with the frontcourt in particular finding success.  

 Junior forward Grace VanSlooten and freshman center Inés Sotelo combined for 39 points as Sotelo came away with a career high in scoring. This all came against junior forward Serah Williams for the Badgers, who is a two time Big Ten all-defense recipient and was also Big Ten defensive player of the year for 2023-24.  

Junior guard Theryn Hallock also got into double figures for the 17th time this season with 18 points. She became the main piece in the backcourt in this game, as graduate guard Julia Ayrault only came away with three points on 1-3 shooting.  

While Ayrault has remained an excellent facilitator on offense and an imposing shot blocker defensively, she has struggled to find her shot in the past few games.  

She averages 15.7 points per game along with 7.7 rpg. If the Spartans want to even sniff pulling off a win, Ayrault needs to step back into her role as a scoring leader as her teammates also need to stay hot.  

Scouting UCLA 

MSU is going from one team with impressive and skilled size to another, except this team is a proven danger from everywhere on the floor. The Bruins’ lifeblood comes from the interior with junior center Lauren Betts.  

Betts stands underneath the glass at 6’7” and her stats reflect that presence. She’s nearly averaging a double-double on the year, with 19.5 ppg and 9.9 rpg. It feels inevitable that Betts will make her mark, so the Spartans need to stay disciplined against junior guards Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jaquez.  

The duo is averaging double figures for the season at 12.8 and 10 ppg respectively. While it’s difficult to keep these two down in a game, it’s not impossible. Against USC, Rice and Jaquez combined for 33.3% from the floor. MSU may have to sacrifice paint defense and further ramp up pressure in the half court to keep themselves within striking distance.  

Yet even if the Spartans succeed in slowing down this guard lineup, UCLA has a tendency to drag down opposing offenses and take them out of the game. The Bruins rank third in the nation in field goal percentage defense, holding opponents on average to 33.2% shooting.   

Unfortunately for MSU, the Spartans have two sub 34% shooting performances in their last four games, so the book could be out on how to slow down their attack. If MSU cannot find good shots or finish around the rim, it could be a long night along the west coast.  

The Spartans and Bruins face off in a top-25 battle on Sunday at 9 p.m., with Big Ten Network hosting the broadcast.