It felt weird, didn't it? Seeing Arizona and UCLA square off this past November without a Pac-12 logo anywhere in sight. For decades, this was the game in the West. It was the "Conference of Champions" crown jewel. Now, with the Wildcats in the Big 12 and the Bruins in the Big Ten, people were genuinely worried this rivalry would just... evaporate.
But then November 14 happened.
The most recent chapter of Arizona Wildcats men's basketball vs UCLA Bruins men's basketball proved that conference realignment can't kill a decades-old grudge. Arizona walked away with a 69-65 win at the Intuit Dome, but the score barely tells the story. It was chippy. It was ugly at times. It was exactly what college basketball fans needed to see to believe the fire is still there.
Honestly, the "neutral site" vibe in Inglewood felt more like a street fight than a showcase.
The Rivalry That Refuses to Fade
When Lute Olson arrived in Tucson back in the 80s, he didn't just build a program; he picked a fight with the giant in Los Angeles. Before Lute, UCLA pretty much owned the coast. After Lute? It became a heavyweight boxing match that never really ended. Even with Tommy Lloyd and Mick Cronin now steering the ships, the DNA of this matchup remains the same: Arizona wants to run you into the ground, and UCLA wants to grind you into dust.
Most people get this wrong: they think the move to different conferences makes these games "exhibitions."
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Tell that to Jaden Bradley or Skyy Clark.
The November matchup was the first of a three-game neutral site series meant to keep the tradition alive. We've got another one coming in 2026 and then Las Vegas in 2027. It's basically a long-distance relationship that only works because they still love to hate each other.
Why Arizona is the Current Standard
As of January 2026, Tommy Lloyd has the Wildcats sitting at 17-0 and ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll. They aren't just winning; they're dismantling people. The recent 89-82 win over ASU just a few days ago (January 14) showed that even when they have an "off" night defensively, they have too many weapons.
- Tobe Awaka is a grown man. He just dropped 25 points on the Sun Devils.
- Koa Peat, the freshman phenom, is living up to every ounce of the hype. He’s averaging double-doubles like it’s a chore.
- Jaden Bradley provides that senior "don't-mess-with-us" energy that every title contender needs.
Arizona plays with a pace that is frankly exhausting to watch, let alone play against. They lead the nation in fast-break points for a reason.
The UCLA Identity Crisis (and Resurgence)
On the other side, Mick Cronin’s Bruins have had a bit of a rollercoaster. They’re sitting at a respectable spot in the Big Ten, but it hasn't been easy. Injuries have been the main culprit. Tyler Bilodeau has been playing through sickness—literally getting out of bed just to go drop 21 points on Penn State.
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Donovan Dent is the engine. He's a senior now, and when he’s healthy, he’s probably the best pure playmaker in the country. He took a nasty hit to the head in the Penn State game but still managed to facilitate the offense without turning the ball over once after coming back. That’s the Cronin grit.
UCLA sort of plays the "anti-Arizona" style. They want the game in the 60s. They want to make you work for 30 seconds every single possession. When these two styles clash—Arizona's 100-mph sprint vs. UCLA's mud-crawl—it creates this fascinating tactical tension.
Looking Back at the November Clash
In that 69-65 Arizona win, the Wildcats actually struggled. UCLA’s defense, led by Eric Freeny and Steven Jamerson II, took away the transition lanes. Arizona only scored 69 points—way below their season average.
But stars made plays.
Koa Peat hit a turnaround jumper late in the second half that basically iced it. For UCLA, it was a "moral victory" in a season where they were still trying to find their rotation. They showed they could stay in the ring with the No. 1 team in the country.
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Critical Matchup Factors
- The Glass: Arizona usually out-rebounds everyone. In their recent games, they’ve had a +10 margin on average. If UCLA can’t keep Awaka and Motiejus Krivas off the boards, they don't stand a chance in future meetings.
- Point Guard Play: The Donovan Dent vs. Jaden Bradley matchup is a purist's dream. Two veteran guards who don't rattle.
- The "Home" Crowd: Despite being in California, the Intuit Dome had a massive sea of red. Wildcat fans travel better than almost anyone in the country. It basically felt like McKale North.
What’s Next for the Series?
So, where do we go from here? Arizona is currently the "it" team in college hoops, chasing a 1-seed and a potential Final Four run. UCLA is the gritty underdog trying to secure a top-4 finish in a brutal Big Ten and make some noise in March.
If you’re looking to follow the Arizona Wildcats men's basketball vs UCLA Bruins men's basketball saga, here is how to handle the rest of the 2026 season and beyond:
- Watch the Big 12 Standings: Arizona’s next big test is at BYU on January 26. That environment is going to be a pressure cooker. How they handle that road noise will tell us if they’re truly "title or bust."
- Keep an eye on UCLA’s health: If Tyler Bilodeau and Donovan Dent can stay on the floor together for a full month, the Bruins are a Top 15 team. Their 0-3 record against ranked teams earlier this year was largely due to a revolving door of injuries.
- Mark the 2026 Schedule: We don't have the exact date for the next meeting yet, but it’s part of that neutral-site agreement. It’ll likely be another early-season heater.
The rivalry is different now. It’s no longer about who wins the conference. It’s about national relevance. It’s about two programs with 12 combined national championships (UCLA 11, Arizona 1) refusing to let geographic realignment dictate their history.
Basically, as long as these two keep scheduling each other, the West Coast still has a pulse in the national conversation. Bear Down vs. the 4-Letters. It never gets old.
Keep an eye on the AP Polls every Monday morning to see if Arizona can maintain that No. 1 spot, and watch the Big Ten injury reports for UCLA; those are the real indicators of how the next chapter of this rivalry will look when they inevitably meet again in the postseason or next winter.