UCLA Basketball Gaining Momentum As Potential Tournament Team

Mick Cronin is entering a pivotal year as the UCLA basketball head coach.

Entering last offseason, the Bruins made big noise in the transfer portal, bringing in one of the top players, Donovan Dent, as well as Xavier Booker and a few others to buildthe roster’s depth. With the addition of five players through the portal, the Bruins were ranked 12th in the preseason.

Mar 20, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Mick Cronin reacts in the first half during a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

However, they didn’t live up to that preseason hype, as they never reached that level throughout the season. UCLA would finish the year with a 24-12 record and 13-7 in the Big Ten.

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This year, Cronin brought in multiple players through the transfer portal, but didn’t land any of the top players in the class.

Mar 14, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Mick Cronin reacts after being called for a technical against the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images | David Banks-Imagn Images

The Bruins are a team that could play their way into the top five of the Big Ten or be middle of the road and have another double-digit-loss season. Recently, CBS Sports released its rankings of all Big Ten teams after the NBA withdrawal period, placing the Bruins in the middle of the conference.

Where the Bruins Are Ranked

Mar 12, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Mick Cronin gestures to his team against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images | David Banks-Imagn Images

Isaac Trotter of CBS Sports split the Big Ten into five tiers, and UCLA was placed into tier three, which is categorized as tournament teams. Along with the Bruins are Nebraska, Iowa, Ohio State, Purdue, and Maryland.

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Trotter brings up the moves Mick Cronin…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/ucla-basketball-gaining-momentum-potential-120006505.html

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Publish date : 2026-06-02 12:00:00

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