NCAA Basketball: Gonzaga, Houston lead in updated way-too-early top 25 ranking
By Joey Loose
8. UCLA
UCLA has had quite the run of success the last few seasons under Mick Cronin, highlighted by that run as an 11-seed to the Final Four in 2021. Much of that talented returned last year, though the Bruins bowed out in the Sweet Sixteen. There’s reason for excitement yet again for the Bruins, especially with what remains from what that roster and the new pieces Cronin has uncovered.
First off is the bad news, with Johnny Juzang and Jules Bernard both departing for the NBA Draft; role player Cody Riley is also gone. Fortunately, Jaime Jaquez (13.9 ppg last year) is back, as is resilient point guard Tyger Campbell. Filling those absences are a pair of highly-touted recruits, starting with Amari Bailey, a combo guard who ranks among the top 10 freshmen in the nation. With Riley gone, UCLA will hope for early contributions from Adem Bona, a strong 5-star center recruit.
There are new faces in new places on this Bruins team, and the losses of Juzang and Bernard certainly hurt, but Cronin has reloaded with some young talent and these Bruins are still in fantastic shape. This certainly looks like the most talented team in the Pac-12, and the experience combined with the young talent could create quite the result. With everything Arizona lost last season and with the relative weakness of the conference, this Pac-12 should belong to UCLA.