UCLA’s magical March Madness run as a No. 11 seed came to a gut-wrenching end in the Final Four Saturday night, but Emma Smith, the girlfriend of Bruins star Johnny Juzang, wants him to keep his head high.
“GOOD RUN TO MY BABY. i love you. i’m so proud of you. you are incredible,” Smith wrote on her Instagram story after UCLA’s 93-90 overtime loss to Gonzaga, who won on Jalen Suggs’ buzzer-beating 3-pointer.
Juzang, a 6-foot-6 sophomore guard, led UCLA in scoring this season at 16 points per game, and he led the team with 29 points on 12-for-18 shooting in the loss.
Smith posted another photo of Juzang to her Instagram story, writing, “My best freaking friend.”
Smith, a Los Angeles-based model, cheered Juzang on from the stands in Indianapolis on Tuesday when he led UCLA to an Elite Eight win over Michigan.
“I can’t stop crying. This isn’t OK,” Smith wrote with a selfie on Instagram.
Johnny Juzang during UCLA’s Final Four loss to Gonzaga on April 3, 2021. Getty ImagesGonzaga will meet Baylor Monday night in the NCAA men’s championship game.
