UCLA is starting to collect some real preseason buzz, and the latest sign is a spot in CBS Sports’ top 25. Gary Parrish slotted the Bruins at No. 17 after a busy offseason that gave the program a very different look heading into next year.
That optimism comes after a 2025-26 season that never really settled in. UCLA opened with expectations after landing Donovan Dent to pair with established names like Tyler Bilodeau and Skyy Clark, but the team stumbled early and never fully recovered.
Dent’s lone season in Westwood was a rough one by his standards, with his numbers sliding across the board and his efficiency dropping hard. His struggles reflected the bigger picture for a team that kept tripping over itself.
The Bruins also had more than their share of self-inflicted headaches. They dropped games they probably should have won and dealt with distractions along the way, including Mick Cronin’s actions against Michigan State, when he ejected Steven Jamerson from the game himself after a hard foul and then followed it up with an outburst to the media.
Even with all that, UCLA still finished 24-12 and made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Now the roster has turned over again, with Dent, Clark and Bilodeau all gone. But the Bruins did manage to hold onto important rotation pieces like Trent Perry and Eric Dailey, which gives them a foundation to build on.
The big addition is freshman Nikola Kusturica, who headlines the class and arrives after two years from the former FC Barcelona star. Parrish pointed to that mix of returning production and incoming talent in explaining the ranking.
“This ranking is based on the Bruins returning three of the top six scorers -- specifically Trent Perry, Eric Dailey Jr. and Xavier Booker -- from a team that finished 24-12 and advanced to the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament," Parrish said.
"That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by international prospects Nikola Kusturica and Gunars Grinvalds, Texas Tech transfer Jaylen Petty, Butler transfer Azavier Robinson, Mississippi State transfer Sergej Macura, Auburn transfer Filip Jovic, four-star prospect Joe Philon and three-star prospect Javonte Floyd."
With those pieces in place, UCLA has a real chance to look much sharper next season. The returning core should handle the heavy lifting, and Kusturica brings the kind of upside that can change the ceiling fast. That’s why the Bruins are drawing respect now, and why the No. 17 placement doesn’t feel out of line.
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Nikola Kusturica Could Change Everything For Mick Cronin At UCLA
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For Cronin, the arrival of a highly regarded international prospect carries more than just roster value. UCLA reportedly beat out several major programs for Kusturica, and the move gives the Bruins a potential cornerstone as they look ahead to the next few seasons, with the kind of upside that could shape both the teams ceiling and the coachs future in Westwood. [Read more 🡒]