The highly acclaimed UCLA Bruins stand as the only unbeaten team in Division I basketball, both men’s and women’s, boasting an impressive record of 23-0. On Thursday, they will make the short trip of 14 miles to take on the formidable No. 6 USC Trojans (21-2) in the first of two much-anticipated encounters between the top teams in the Big Ten.

Leading UCLA is the exceptional Lauren Betts, a 6-foot-7 junior, who has averaged 19.6 points and 9.7 rebounds this season, positioning UCLA as the top seed in Bracketology. Meanwhile, the Trojans are spearheaded by JuJu Watkins, who shattered the NCAA freshman scoring record last season and currently averages 23.9 points per game. Both players are in contention for the prestigious national player of the year award, although Hannah Hidalgo, a sophomore from the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, has emerged as a leading candidate this season.

The question remains: Will the Bruins maintain their flawless record, or will the Trojans, who recently fell to a No. 2 seed in the latest Bracketology, secure an impressive victory against their crosstown rivals?

Join us for live updates and in-depth analysis of this thrilling top-10 clash from the Galen Center.