UCLA enters the season with plenty of reason for optimism, but the frontcourt questions are enough to keep the Bruins outside the top four in the first Big Ten power rankings.
That’s a notable spot for a team headed into what could be one of the toughest conference slates in college basketball. With Mick Cronin beginning his eighth season at UCLA, the Bruins are staring at a demanding schedule that will include plenty of the nation’s best teams.
At the top of the league, Illinois looks like a team with championship-level ambition. The Illini took some hits with the departures of Keaton Wagler and Kylan Boswell, but they answered by bringing in major talent and keeping a strong core intact.
Freshman point guard Quentin Coleman, Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks, and returner Andrej Stojakovic are set to anchor the backcourt, while David Mirkovic and Tomislav Ivisic are back up front. Brad Underwood has built a roster that looks loaded from top to bottom, and the expectation is that Illinois will be right in the thick of the Big Ten race and the National Championship picture.
Michigan State follows with a group that feels ready to make a serious run. Tom Izzo’s team is built around Jeremy Fears, who could become the best point guard in the nation.
The Spartans also bring back Jordan Scott, Coen Carr, and Cam Ward, while Charlotte transfer Anton Bonke joins them at center. It’s a reloaded roster with enough familiar pieces to keep Michigan State squarely in the title conversation.
Michigan, meanwhile, lost both its head coach and a wave of talent, but the Wolverines still have the look of a team that can compete at a high level again. Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney will be the center of everything they do, and McKenney is a major breakout candidate. Roddy Gayle returns as well, and the transfer additions of JP Estrella from Tennessee and Moustapha Thiam, the 7’2” center from Cincinnati, give Michigan more size and depth to work with.
USC checks in next, and the Trojans are aiming to get back to the standard they’ve set in recent seasons. Alijah Arenas and Rodney Rice headline the roster and should give USC one of the best backcourt duos in the conference. Georgetown transfer KJ Lewis, returner Jacob Cofie, and UConn transfer Eric Reibe are expected to fill out the starting group.
UCLA lands fifth on the initial list, but the ceiling is clearly higher if the pieces come together. Trent Perry and Jaylen Petty project as one of the best guard duos in the sport, and Nikola Kusturica brings the kind of upside that could make him a generational talent for the Bruins. If Cronin gets the defense where it needs to be and the frontcourt holds up, UCLA has a chance to climb quickly.
In Other News...
UCLA May Need Aidan Mizell More Than Ever Against Oregon
Aidan Mizells first reception of the season turned into a play UCLA could not ignore, with the receiver taking an 83-yard catch against Maryland and flashing the kind of speed the Bruins have been waiting to see. It was a reminder that even after being limited by injuries early in the year, Mizell still has the ability to change a game in one snap and give UCLA another layer in the passing attack.
The timing matters now, with Oregon looming and the Bruins looking for every available spark on offense. UCLA is expected to use the bye week to help Mizell recover, and his availability could become a real factor if he can stay healthy and get more involved in the game plan. For a team that needs playmakers to step forward, his return to full strength would be a welcome development. [Read more 🡒]
USC Still Has A Hand In Oregons Biggest QB Question
Oregons quarterback situation is still tied to the aftermath of its game against USC, with Dante Moore working back from a concussion and needing to clear NCAA-mandated testing before he can return. Dan Lanning has stressed that the Ducks are taking an abundance of caution, and there is no firm timetable for when Moore will be available again.
In the meantime, Dylan Raiola stepped in for Moore and helped Oregon to a recent victory, keeping the offense moving while the Ducks wait on their starters status. For a program with bigger goals ahead, the health of the quarterback room remains the central issue, and USC still looms over the answer. [Read more 🡒]
Eric Dailey Jr. Could Decide How Far UCLA Really Goes
Eric Dailey Jr. is back for UCLA with a bigger spotlight waiting for him, and the Bruins could use that versatility in just about every lineup wrinkle this season. After averaging 11.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists a year ago, he enters the year expected to start at power forward, giving UCLA a forward who can stretch the floor, handle the ball some and toggle between positions as the roster demands.
For a team with bigger ambitions than just settling into a rotation, Daileys value goes beyond the box score. If his scoring climbs and his defense becomes a steadier part of UCLAs identity, the Bruins gain a more flexible frontcourt piece and a clearer path to maximizing their style of play. The open question is how much more he can give, and how much the rest of the roster will let him show it. [Read more 🡒]