The No. 7-seeded UCLA Bruins will face the 10th-seeded UCF Knights in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament on Friday. The game will tip off at 7:25 p.m. ET from Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, PA.
Ahead of the UCLA vs. UCF game, there is an important update on the Bruins duo of Donovan Dent and Tyler Bilodeau.
On Monday, college basketball insider Adam Zagoria reported that Dent and Bilodeau are both expected to play against UCF in UCLA’s opening game of the NCAA Tournament, according to a source close to the school.
Dent, a freshman, reportedly suffered a calf strain during UCLA’s Big Ten Tournament semifinal against Purdue on Saturday. He exited in the first half and did not return.
However, Dent’s availability for UCLA’s March Madness opener is a big boost for the program. He is averaging 13.5 points, 7.6 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game, becoming a critical member of the Bruins’ offense.
Meanwhile, Bilodeau’s availability is possibly the best news for UCLA heading into the Big Dance. The Bruins forward suffered an apparent knee injury in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals after colliding with Michigan State’s Carson Cooper and exited with 3:33 left in the first half. Bilodeau did not return and subsequently missed the semifinal clash against Purdue.
Bilodeau is in his fourth year in college, and his second with the Bruins. He is averaging a team-high 17.6 points, along with 5.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.
UCLA will be thrilled to have two of its key players returning in time for the NCAA Tournament.
How to Watch UCLA vs. UCF First Round Game of NCAA Tournament? TV Channel and Live Stream Details for March Madness Clash
The UCLA vs. UCF NCAA Tournament First Round game will be broadcast live on TBS. Fans can also live stream the contest on Fubo.
Here are the key details for the UCLA vs. UCF game:
- Channel: TBS
- Date: Friday, March 20, 2026
- Time: 7:25 p.m. ET (4:25 p.m. PT)
- Streaming: Sling TV, Max, Fubo (Free Trial)
- Location: Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, PA
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