The Washington Huskies' men's basketball team's NCAA Tournament hopes are hanging on by the thinnest of threads.

The Huskies entered Saturday with a 12-11 overall record and a 4-8 mark in Big Ten competition.

Barring an unexpected Big Ten postseason championship run, it will likely take Washington running the table, in addition to several quality wins in the postseason tourney, to make it the dance as an at-large bid.

A large chunk (if not the majority) of the team's struggles this year can be chalked up to the near-nonstop string of injuries suffered by the Huskies. But neither head coach Danny Sprinkle nor the players have been using those ailments as an excuse.

If Washington does make the turnaround, it will have to begin with the team avenging one of the most disappointing losses from earlier this season.

The Huskies will take on the UCLA Bruins at 7 p.m. PT on Saturday at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles.

Washington and UCLA played each other in the former's first Big Ten game of the season Dec. 2 at Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle. The Huskies ultimately fell 82-80.

In that game specifically, it wasn't just the fact that Washington lost, it was how it lost that made it a tough pill to swallow.

The Huskies trailed by as much as 16 points with less than five minutes remaining in the second half. This was after the Dawgs opened the game with a double-digit lead. Freshman forward Hannes Steinbach had an inspired performance in that first-half run, putting up double-figures. It was his first game back after missing three contests with an ankle sprain.

Despite being down by 16 with under five minutes left, Washington kept pushing and ultimately had a chance to take win the game on a last-second 3-point attempt from sophomore guard Zoom Diallo.

The 3-pointer from Diallo failed to fall in, and the Huskies were left empty-handed despite the inspired comeback attempt.

Currently, UCLA ranks 41st in NET rankings. The loss from earlier in December deprived UW of a Quad 2 win. Due to Saturday's matchup being in L.A., the Huskies have an opportunity to have a Quad `1 win on their resume, which could be the difference in them making the NCAA Tournament or not, depending on how the rest of the season progresses.

If Washington does get its revenge against the Bruins, it will be the former's second Quad 1 win of the season in Big Ten competition.

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