The UCLA Bruins men’s basketball team has worked wonders in the portal. They have brought in six players via the portal, all six being difference-makers and suddenly vaulting UCLA into a top-25 team.
UCLA is a popular Big Ten favorite entering the 2024-2025 season. However, Jon Wilner of The Mercury News picked UCLA to finish 4th in the Big Ten behind Indiana, Oregon, and Ourdue, respectively (subscription required).
Renewed optimism in Westwood is rooted in the return of every top scorer except big man Adem Bona. But the core of coach Mick Cronin’s rotation was merely good enough to finish fifth in a mediocre conference last season. Granted, the experience gained by Dylan Andrews, Sebastian Mack and others should result in more consistency. But that improvement will be partly, if not fully offset by the elevated competition.
Still, finishing fourth in a tough conference such as the Big Ten would likely have the Bruins returning to the Big Dance again.