2 team in the country according to both the AP and Coaches Polls, and is the preseason favorite to win the Pac-12.
UCLA finished off last season by making a run from the First Four to the Final Four, narrowly losing to then-undefeated Gonzaga on a buzzer-beater in overtime.
Villanova reached the Sweet 16 last year, losing to the eventual national champion Baylor in the South Region semifinals, but they are less than four years removed from winning their second NCAA championship in three seasons.
Villanova did not play a preseason exhibition game, meaning it got its first taste of game action Tuesday in a 91-51 victory over Mount St.
The Bruins opened the year with all five starters and the whole bench returning from last year’s Final Four team, but reserve big man Mac Etienne suffered a potential season-ending right knee injury in practice and forward Cody Riley sprained his left knee Tuesday and will miss the next week before getting re-evaluated.
Point guard Collin Gillespie was co-Big East Player of the Year last season averaging 14.0 points, 4.6 assists and 1.0 steal per game, while shooting guard Justin Moore and forward Jermaine Samuels are also back and combined for 44 points against Mount St.
Mick Cronin is entering his 19th season as a head coach, and he has an all-time record of 407-193 with 12 NCAA tournament appearance across stints at Murray State, Cincinnati and UCLA.
The teams have played twice in the NCAA tournament, with Villanova winning in the 2009 Round of 32 by 20 points and UCLA winning in the national final 68-62 to secure the 1971 NCAA title.