16. UCLA Bruins - 11-2
Things looked dicey at first for the Bruins, losing to New Mexico in the season's first week. But they recovered since, winning nine straight games. That includes over three west coast teams in Arizona, along with both Oregon and Washington to open Big Ten play.
The Bruins last two games in the non-con were against two of the top-scoring teams in the nation in North Carolina and Gonzaga. They split those contests, falling to the Tar Heels and beating the Bulldogs in one-possession outcomes.
While the preseason hype with UCLA has been with its backcourt players, the frontcourt transfer duo of Tyler Bilodeau (14.5 ppg and 5.2 rpg) and Eric Dailey (11.4 ppg) leads them on offense. However, the guards have played well on the defensive end, with Kobe Johnson, Skyy Clark, and Sebastian Mack all making cases for all-league defensive spots.
The Bruins are back on the road as Big Ten play fully begins. They take on Nebraska on Saturday, followed by Michigan at home and road contests with Maryland and Rutgers. This will be a tough slate for UCLA, but a split at worst would be ideal.