UCLA and South Carolina, the last teams standing in the 2025-26 season. That season ended with another loss to South Carolina, 59-43, in the Sweet 16. "South Carolina has been, you know, one of the best programs in basketball for the past many years," Rice said Friday. "But I honestly think that the biggest thing is just gonna be like, 'Look, this is the 2026 UCLA team. This is the 2026 South Carolina team.'

Source: Los Angeles Times April 04, 2026 20:26 UTC