BYU vs. UCLA: How to watch, listen to and stream the NCAA Tournament game

BYU’s Matt Haarms (3) and the Cougars will play their first game since the West Coast Conference Tournament championship against Gonzaga when BYU take on UCLA in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, March 20, 2021. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

No. 6 seed BYU (20-6) vs. No. 11 UCLA (18-9)

First round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament

• Tipoff: Saturday, March 20, at 7:40 p.m. MST
• Venue: Hinkle Fieldhouse
• TV: CBS
• Livestream: CBS Live
• Radio: 1160 AM, 102.7 FM
• Series: Tied, 12-12

Game at a glance

In BYU’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2015, it had to wait to find out which team it was playing until Thursday night, when Michigan State and UCLA met in the First Four. The Bruins entered the tournament on a four-game losing streak, but defeated the Spartans in overtime on Thursday night. Entering the tourney, they had just one win over a top-40 KenPom team, at home against Colorado. Coach Mark Pope said that it’s apropos in a pandemic year, rife with cancellations and postponements, that his team had an extended layoff and didn’t know its opponent until 48 hours before its first-round game. BYU is a sixth seed for the first time since 1981, when it advanced to the Elite Eight.

Crystal ball

UCLA will win if … the Bruins can rediscover their mojo after a prolonged losing streak.

BYU will win if … the Cougars avoid turnovers, play solid defense and hit timely 3-pointers.

Players to watch

Johnny Juzang: The UCLA guard is averaging a team-high 14 points per game. He’s shooting 34.5% from 3 and 91.5% from the free-throw line.

Alex Barcello: BYU’s senior leader is the heart and soul of the team, averaging a team-high 15.9 points and 4.5 assists.

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