Pac-12 Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2021-22 season

Momentum is one of the most debated topics in all of sports, both in-game and from the perspective of how an entire season plays out. The UCLA Bruins’ 2020-2021 season could be the topic of a dissertation on the subject considering the team’s two major runs in the middle and at the end of the season. As the Bruins went from a First Four team to a Final Four, college basketball argued over whether the high-scoring cardiac team from the end of March was the real squad or if we’re just simply erasing a season marred by injuries and four straight losses headed into that NCAA tournament.

There is no doubt that Mick Cronin’s team has the talent to match their Final Four run and raise expectations. The Bruins lost Chris Smith and Jalen Hill who played a combined 22 games last season but are returning with everyone else. That includes preseason All-American and bucket-getter Johnny Juzang, who averaged 16 points last season and 22.8 points in that unbelievable tournament run. The junior is a ball-dominant hooper who gets isolation looks whenever the Bruins find themselves late in the shot clock. He’s a mid-range maestro, able to drill stepbacks and fadeaways with a hand in his face.

As much publicity as Juzang received this offseason, the Bruins roster is stacked with talent at every position. Junior Tyger Campbell is a returning Pac-12 First Team honoree and is one of the best facilitators in the country. His poise in traffic allowed him to average 10.2 points and 5.3 assists while only averaging 1.8 turnovers over 33.7 minutes per game.

Perhaps the biggest piece on the Bruins that makes them a top 10 team is junior small forward Jaime Jaquez. He led the team in minutes last season and shot 39.4% from outside while utilizing his length to disrupt offenses on the other end, which earned him All-Defense honors last season. Jaquez is a dangerous weapon having great handles and driving ability.

Senior Cody Riley is a solid post player who dominates the post on offense, creating a “pick your poison” scenario with the other premiere scorers on the roster. He is a solid defender and disrupter on the other end. The addition of Rutgers big man Myles Johnson may be the best transfer pick-up in the conference, considering that he excels in the categories that Riley does not. He was a Big 10 All-Defense honoree and shot-blocking machine, averaging 2.4 blocks per game. He averaged 8.5 rebounds per game, which should help shore up the concerns of Riley’s 5.4 rebounds average.

And with all of this, the Bruins add even more firepower with the addition of 5-star, top 10 recruit Peyton Watson. The freshman offers great length at the small forward position, standing at 6-foot-8 with a wingspan nearing 7-feet. Watson is a high-energy rebounder and defender who continues to grow his offensive game and handles. He’ll be a transition monster and help secure second chances with his natural rebounding skills. Steady play from Jaiquez, Johnson, and Watson should elevate the UCLA defense which finished at 46 in KemPom last season.

Regardless of your thoughts on whether last year’s squad was as good as their tournament run suggests, it’s clear that UCLA has the talent to match that tournament run. They have the talent to not only win the conference but contend for the top spot in all of the country.