In Reply to: There are probably 15 or so big games... posted by ClockBlocker on August 04, 2026 at 20:56:58
I think this team's record will end up looking a lot like last year's. UCLA has more continuity than most high-major programs, which should help, but Cronin's teams also have a history of starting slowly. The biggest variable is how quickly the newcomers—especially Petty and Kusturica—become reliable on the defensive end.
Even so, I think we already have a pretty good idea of what this team will look like. Cronin can roll out a starting five of Perry, Freeny, Dailey, Williams, and Booker, a group that logged plenty of minutes together last season. That lineup should defend at a high level, as it showed late in the year. It's also worth remembering that Bilodeau, Dent, and Clark were either out or limited by injuries during that stretch.
That said, I don't think it makes much sense for Cronin to simply run it back, and I don't expect he will. If UCLA is going to take a step forward, Petty and Kusturica need to become contributors as quickly as possible. How fast they pick up Cronin's defensive system could determine how successful this team is in the early part of the season.
We already know UCLA will likely play Texas and Gonzaga in Southern California, along with Arizona in Las Vegas. I'd really like to see them go 2-1 in those games. If they lose all three-especially considering two are essentially home games-it will be difficult to earn a favorable NCAA Tournament seed. Last season showed how much of a difference there is between being a No. 6 seed and a No. 7 seed. A 7-seed is much more likely to run into one of the nation's elite teams in the second round. Even going 1-2 against those opponents would be disappointing.
As for conference play, I think a pattern is beginning to emerge. UCLA should win most, if not all, of its home games while continuing to struggle on the road. Last season, the Bruins did a nice job beating the West Coast teams away from home, and they'll need to repeat that if they're going to have another good season. Back in the Pac-12, the formula was to protect your home court and split your road games. In the Big Ten, it feels more like you have to win every home game and then grind out whatever road wins you can. In a good year, UCLA should be able to pick off a few of the conference's bottom teams away from Pauley.
To me, last year's home loss to Indiana and road loss at Minnesota were the difference-makers. Win those two games, and UCLA is in a much better position heading into the NCAA Tournament. I think the same will be true this season. It'll come down to two or three games. Don't lose to teams you should beat—like Cal or Minnesota—and find a way to steal another win or two against quality opponents.
So I expect the overall record to be very similar to last year's, with the ceiling determined by those swing games. If they take care of business against the teams they're supposed to beat and pick up a couple of quality wins, they'll put themselves in position for a much better seed.
Just to be clear, I don't expect this team to challenge for a Final Four. A Sweet 16 appearance would be a successful season. If Cronin can then bring back a strong core, continue developing Kusturica, and finally add the impact piece he wasn't able to land this offseason, then we're talking.