There’s not much mystery about UCLA’s starting five heading into 2026-2027, and the same is true for the group Mick Cronin may lean on when the game tightens up late. The Bruins’ mix of veterans, transfers, and freshmen gives Cronin plenty to work with, but it also leaves him with one of the biggest decisions on the roster: who should have the ball - and the trust - when everything is on the line?
The strongest case points to Nikola Kusturica. He may be the freshman on the floor, but he also looks like the player with the highest ceiling and the broadest toolkit. His size, athleticism, and versatility give UCLA a chance to get something useful out of nearly every possession, no matter where the action is happening.
That matters most when the pressure rises. In late-game situations, defenses get more aggressive, and teams need players who can affect the game in more than one way. Kusturica’s length gives UCLA a real chance to create stops, control the glass, and still have a player who can make plays on the other end.
Of course, there’s one obvious catch: he hasn’t been through this at the college level yet. Late-game clutch ability has to be earned, not assumed, and Kusturica’s first season will be about proving he can handle that responsibility.
Still, the path is there for him to become UCLA’s closer. Cronin has other choices, but Kusturica’s talent and all-around skill set make him the most compelling candidate to become the Bruins’ go-to option when the game is hanging in the balance.
In Other News...
UCLA's Hot Start Just Created A Bob Chesney Question Fans Feared
A 7-0 start and a No. 7 national ranking have turned UCLAs season into more than just a fast opening run, because success this immediate also brings a familiar headache for any program with an upward trajectory. Bob Chesney has given the Bruins exactly the kind of lift fans hoped for when he arrived last December, and the early results have only strengthened the sense that UCLA may have landed a coach who fits the job.
Chesney has also made clear he is invested in what he is building, praising the school and the opportunity in strong terms while the wins keep piling up. His contract already runs several more years, but when a team starts this hot, the conversation naturally shifts from whether a coach will stay to how a university keeps the relationship aligned if the momentum continues. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Rowe Jr. Is Giving UCLA's Offense A Needed Lift
Brian Rowe Jr. has quickly become one of the more important pieces in UCLAs passing game, and his impact was on display again in the Bruins 28-10 win over Michigan State. The sophomore wide receiver, a transfer from South Carolina, has given UCLA a much-needed lift on offense this season, and his big-play ability has helped the Bruins create some separation in games where every explosive moment matters.
Against the Spartans, Rowe Jr. added another reminder of why he has become such a valuable target, and UCLA will keep leaning on that kind of production as it turns to Nevada. In the background of that preparation, coaches Dean Kennedy and Colin Hitschler were also talking about player development and how the Bruins are sharpening their defensive approach, but the offenses ability to keep finding answers has been just as important to the teams momentum. [Read more 🡒]
UCLAs Rotation Battle Just Got More Interesting Before Opening Night
UCLAs exhibition win over San Diego offered another look at a rotation that still feels very much up for grabs, and a few players made their case in a convincing 82-50 result. Trent Perry stood out with 17 points and 7 assists, giving the Bruins a steadier lead guard presence after a quieter first exhibition, while Joe Jovic added 16 points and 6 rebounds in a showing that fit neatly into the teams growing depth chart. Joe Philon also chipped in across the board with 11 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks and 3 steals.
For a team trying to sort out roles before opening night, those kinds of nights matter just as much as the final score. The Bruins got enough from Perry, Jovic and Philon to keep the offense moving and the defense active, but the larger question is how that production translates once the games count and the coaching staff has to narrow the rotation for real. [Read more 🡒]