NCAAB · 1 year ago

College Basketball 2024-25 Preview Top 40: #35 UCLA Bruins

David Connelly

Host · Writer

College Basketball 2024-25 Preview Top 40: #35 UCLA Bruins

With the 2024-25 College Basketball season on the horizon, it’s time to break down our preseason top 40. Over the next several weeks, we’ll analyze rosters and key storylines for each program. Our journey continues with No. 35 UCLA.

UCLA Preview: Departures

UCLA Biggest Losses:

Adem Bona (NBA Draft) – 12.4 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.2 APG
Will McClendon (San Jose State) – 4.1 PPG, 3.3 RPG. 1.1 APG
Berke Buyuktuncel (Nebraska) – 4.5 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 0.4 APG

Outside of Bona’s departure for the pro ranks, the Bruins have not lost much production. He is one of four consistent starters to depart the program this offseason. Mick Cronin did better than most to keep his core from 2023-24 away from the portal, and it sets up some high expectations in Los Angeles this season.

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UCLA Preview: Arrivals

UCLA Top Additions:

Kobe Johnson (USC) – 10.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.3 APG
William Kyle (South Dakota State) – 13.1 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.7 APG
Skyy Clark (Louisville) – 13.2 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 3.0 APG

Head coach Mick Cronin recognized the need for change after last season’s disappointments and took decisive action in the transfer portal with notable success. Kyle, though not widely known, was a standout athlete at South Dakota State and is expected to adapt well to the high-major level. Coming from USC, Johnson brings elite defense and valuable intangibles that Cronin will appreciate. Despite Louisville’s tough season, Clark had a solid personal performance. He will be a crucial presence in the backcourt as a scoring off-ball guard with two years of eligibility remaining.

UCLA Preview: Returnees

UCLA Top Returnees:

Dylan Andrews – 12.9 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 3.7 APG
Sebastian Mack – 12.1 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.6 APG
Lazar Stefanovic – 11.5 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.6 APG

It’s rare to see this much production returning to a program in today’s era of the transfer portal. Andrews, Mack, and Stefanovic all return as double-digit scorers from a season ago, giving the Bruins an elite backcourt with the experience and system knowledge that Cronin desires in his guards. This may be enough to provide them with a headstart on most teams around the country, which are piecing things together with newcomers from the portal.

UCLA Preview: Look Back

UCLA 2023-24 Season:
Record: 16-17 (10-10 in Pac-12)
Postseason: Declined NIT

Last season was as tumultuous as possible for such a storied program. Cronin seemed frustrated at multiple points, and many thought that he would consider leaving the program or being fired if things continued to get worse.

UCLA Preview: 2024-25 Season

UCLA 2024-25 Season:
UCLA National Championship Odds +5000

We’ll buy on the Bruins, which has robust roster construction and plenty of experience returning to the mix. It feels like all the chips are in the middle for the program entering this season. Things go well, and life is good inside Pauley Pavilion with Cronin at the helm, and UCLA can stake its claim as a power inside its new home, the Big Ten. Things go poorly, and we’re starting to wonder if Cronin could be heading for the door sooner than later, leaving behind a program that might feel a bit lost in its new conference without a true leader on the sidelines.

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