California could be getting its star player back, while Southern California should be happy just to be back on the basketball floor when the Pac-12 rivals meet Saturday in Berkeley, Calif.

Shortly after USC (11-3, 5-2 Pac-12) had its scheduled game at Stanford postponed over COVID concerns on Thursday, Cal (7-9, 2-7) battled 24th-ranked UCLA to the wire before coming up short, 61-57, in Berkeley.

The Bears had hoped Matt Bradley could face the Bruins after nearly a three-week absence due to a sprained ankle. He warmed up with his teammates before being shut down for a fifth consecutive game.