In Reply to: Projecting every Big Ten team's floor and ceiling for 2026-27 posted by mh on August 05, 2026 at 09:25:18
I mean, it's the time of year when hopes get raised, expectations get inflated, and we start wondering if "this could be the year." I've done this every summer going back to the late 90s, when I attended UCLA. And most summers, I felt perfectly reasonable setting high expectations for teams coached by Lavin then Howland and even Alford. Lavin's teams tended to finish better than they started, which I appreciated since the ultimate indication of good coaching is when a team plays its best basketball in March, imo. Howland's tenure was the best of any coach since Wooden. I couldn't believe how confident I became going into games against Arizona and Oregon and USC during those years. We were untouchable in the Pac.
It's been entirely different under Cronin. I never quite know what he's after with his recruiting and roster, and I suspect he doesn't either. He emphasizes defense, but many of his UCLA teams have not been good on D. And his domineering, irascible coaching style creates tensions that make our guys play stiff and apprehensive. He's toxic.
I know a lot of you think we got a special player in Kusturica, and it remains to be seen how quickly he can help the team win. But if we expect too much from this guy in 2026-27, we're bound to get disappointed. He's very, very young, and the Big 10 is a physical, competitive league. If we're lucky enough to keep him for more than a single season, I think he can make a difference in 2028.
But until we make a coaching change, this team's "floor" and "ceiling" are much lower than they need to be.