The Bruins finished the regular season 14‑0 in the Big Ten, defeating powerhouses such as Ohio State, USC, Nebraska, Minnesota, Maryland, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Michigan State. Their 14 Quad‑1 wins, with only a 76‑65 loss to Texas, gave them the edge over UConn’s perfect record.
The seeding decision reflects UCLA’s strength of schedule and dominant conference play, positioning the Bruins at the top of the bracket and setting the stage for a deep tournament run.