How UCLA Can Become a Top 25 Team Next Season

UCLA men’s basketball heads into the upcoming season with tempered expectations compared to a year ago.

Last season, the Bruins checked in at No. 12 in the preseason poll and were positioned as one of the Big Ten’s elite programs. However, they were unable to back it up, finishing 24-12 overall and 13-7 in conference play.

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

A major offseason splash had been the addition of Donovan Dent, one of the most coveted names in the transfer portal. But Dent never found his footing in Westwood; his scoring dropped from 20 points per game to 13, his field-goal percentage fell from 50% to 40%, and his three-point shooting cratered from 40% to just 25%.

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This offseason, Mick Cronin took a different approach, forgoing a big-time portal pickup in favor of depth pieces designed to complement rising star guard Trent Perry.

UCLA head coach Mick Cronin reacts to a play against Michigan State during the first half of Big Ten tournament quarterfinal at United Center in Chicago on Friday, March 13, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Coming into this season, UCLA does not have the same hype as last year. Recently, Sports Illustrated released its way-too-early preseason top 25 teams, and UCLA was left out.

What UCLA Did This Offseason

Mar 19, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Mick Cronin speaks with the media before a practice session ahead of the first round of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

As I mentioned earlier, the Bruins didn’t go the route of picking up a top player in the portal. Instead, going in favor of bringing in players who have a better fit and fill out the depth of the roster.

Mick Cronin brought in a great…

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Publish date : 2026-06-04 10:00:00

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