UCLA Bruins Basketball

By almost any measure, the UCLA Bruins are one of the best college basketball teams in America, ranking fifth in terms of total wins (1,986) and overall win percentage (.691). The Bruins have won more than any other NCAA championship titles, with 10 of their 11 titles coming within a stretch of absolute domination over just 12 seasons under legendary head coach John Wooden in the 1960s and 70s. Along with their accomplishments as a collective, the Bruins have also fostered the growth of many players who have gone on to become some of the most famous legendary stars of  the NBA, including the incomparable Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Reggie Miller, and Bill Walton. This production line continues to this day, with a number of Bruins alumni who currently play in the NBA such as Russell Westbrook, Jrue Holiday, and Zach LaVine. Despite it being nearly 50 years since the end of the Bruins’ golden age and nearly 30 years since their last NCAA title in 1995, the team has nonetheless remained a strong contender in recent decades, featuring regularly in the NCAA postseason March Madness tournament. The Bruins have made 4 appearances in the Final Four in the 2000s including one trip to the title game in 2006 (which they lost 73-57 to the Florida Gators). 2022-23 saw the Bruins win their first Pac-12 conference title in 10 years and progress all the way to the NCAA Sweet 16, where they were eliminated by the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Based on these encouraging signs, Bruins fans will be anticipating a return to past glories in 2024 and the seasons to come!

How can I get cheap tickets to UCLA Bruins games?

Despite being located in the second largest city in America where there are countless opportunities to attend live sports at the professional level, the UCLA Bruins attract large and enthusiastic crowds to their home games at Pauley Pavilion, which quite often sell out. As well as the team’s success, fans are also drawn in by the Bruins’ pedigree as exemplified by alumni such as Grant Hill, Jeff Mullins, Kyrie Irving, and Jayson Tatum who have gone on to excel in the NBA. Every year brings a chance of seeing the next up and coming star. The Bruins’ popularity can render tickets difficult to find, particularly for postseason tournament games, key conference deciders, or rivalry matchups (see below). To get your hands on the cheapest tickets to UCLA Bruins games, go to the TicketX listings on this page and use our trusty TicketX seating chart to compare prices and locations. Tickets can be purchased from TicketX with just one click for the lowest commission fees! 

UCLA Bruins Basketball Rivalries

When a basketball team is famous for winning more national titles than any other, there are inevitably going to be a lot of rivals queuing up to knock them off the top of the ladder. As well as a state rivalry against fellow Californians, the USC Trojans, which they have completely dominated over the years, since the 1980s the Bruins have developed a fierce rivalry with the Arizona Wildcats, against whom they consistently vie for the Pac-10/Pac-12 conference championship. The Bruins also have a historic rivalry with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, which is unusual for two colleges from opposite sides of the country. Notre Dame is known for breaking the Bruins’ greatest ever winning streak (88 games) in 1974, a favor that UCLA returned by breaking a 60-game winning streak by the Irish. 

Are UCLA Bruins basketball games exciting?

The Bruins student fans group, known as the Den, shows up en masse at every home game, clad in the school colors of yellow and blue, and generates plenty of noise. HIstoric Pauley Pavilion, which was a gymnastics venue for the 1984 Olympics and will reprise this role for judo and wrestling at the 2028 Olympics, is a fantastic venue for taking in an NCAA basketball game.