Indiana basketball vs. UCLA expert prediction, start time, channel for 2/14/25

Posted by author February 13, 2025 Basketball

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The Hoosiers feel better about themselves after going into East Lansing and beating Michigan State.
The Bruins are coming off a loss, but they won seven straight games immediately before that.

Indiana basketball may feel like the weight of the world has lifted as UCLA visits on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025.

The Hoosiers (15-10, 6-8 Big Ten) snapped a five-game losing streak against host No. 11 Michigan State on Tuesday, giving them at least a sliver of hope for the rest of the season. Malik Reneau appears to be fully back from his knee injury, averaging 17.5 points and 7.5 rebounds over the past two games. IU has averaged just 8.0 turnovers in the past two.

Remember when Bruins (18-7, 9-5) coach Mick Cronin complained about UCLA’s conference travel schedule? Maybe this is why: The Bruins haven’t won a game east of Phoenix this season. During an earlier stretch of five losses in six games, they lost in to North Carolina in New York and at Nebraska, Maryland and Rutgers. They won seven straight games − all played on Pacific time − before falling at Illinois on Tuesday. Sebastian Mack is UCLA’s third-leading scorer (10.0) coming off the bench. The Bruins take care of the ball better than anyone in the league (9.4 turnovers per game, +4.4 turnover margin per game in conference play).

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Indiana basketball vs UCLA expert prediction, picks

Zach Osterman, IndyStar: Indiana 68-63

Indiana rides momentum, for the first time in a while, into Friday’s visit from UCLA. The two storied programs first played in 1937 but haven’t faced off since 2007, and not outside the NCAA tournament since 1991. On the floor, their styles will make this fight interesting − UCLA with its tough defense and tight ball security, and Indiana with its ability to hurt the Bruins on the boards. UCLA doesn’t have the usual markers of the kind of team that hurts Indiana, so long as the Hoosiers hold onto the ball well. Close game, but IU makes it two wins on the trot.