UCLA enters the NCAA women's tournament without much of a successful past and the experience this season does not figure to last until the end.
The fourth-seeded Bruins, who host No. 13 Boise State on Saturday in a first-round game at Pauley Pavilion, have not advanced beyond the third round of the NCAA tournament since 1999, when the Bruins lost in a regional final.
The winner plays No. 5 Texas A&M or No. 12 Pennsylvania on Monday at Pauley Pavilion.
If the Bruins (23-8) win their first two games, they probably would face top-seeded Connecticut in the Bridgeport (Conn.) Regional semifinal. The Huskies are 32-0 and winners of their last 107 games. They have won six of the last eight NCAA titles, including the past four.
UCLA coach Cori Close said the Bruins would try to gather as much information about Boise State, an unfamiliar opponent that enters the tournament on a 10-game winning streak capped by a Mountain West tournament title.
"It's very tempting to almost over prepare in terms of talking about the opponent," Close said. "But I also don't want to overlook that we have to make them take away what we do best and that's playing to our strengths on a consistent basis."
Boise State (25-7), which finished tied for third in the Mountain West Conference regular-season standings, started the season 12-1 but went through a 3-6 stretch in January before going on its 10-game run.
"When you're younger, you fill out brackets," freshman guard Braydey Hodgins said among her jubilant teammates at a tournament viewing party. "But to see your name actually called is something really special. It's something you looked forward to when you were little."
Close was more close to the vest in her approach with her team. Instead of having an NCAA tournament viewing party, the Bruins attended their classes. She said that she would not allow the Bruins to discuss the tournament and within 90 minutes of the bracket reveal, had sent a text message to her team that they were to discuss only Boise State.
"We need to be focused on preparing and doing the work that it takes to earn the right to even play them," Close said about the potential matchup with Connecticut in the Sweet 16. "When it first comes up on the screen, you look at the bracket as it's whole and you go, 'Oh my gosh, I'm in U-Conn's bracket.'
"But what a great problem to have. ... You've got to embrace that."
UCLA's strength is its inside game with junior forward Monique Billings averaging 16.8 points and 10.7 rebounds. Junior point guard Jordin Canada averages 18 points and 6.6 assists a game while mostly targeting Billings.
Boise State is also strong inside with its forward and center tandem of Shalen Shaw and Marijke Vanderschaaf, respectively, who combine to average 13.6 rebounds and 20.5 points a game. Yaiza Rodriguez, of Spain, leads the Broncos averaging 5.9 assists per game.
