The UCLA Bruins should be more competitive in the 2025-26 NCAA season. Analyst Jon Rothstein sees the team as one of the strongest in the Big Ten following a second-round exit from the 2025 NCAA tournament.
They couldn’t move past the Tennessee Volunteers after beating Utah State in the first round of the tournament, finishing the season with a 23-11 (13-7 in the conference) record.
UCLA has improved under Mike Cronin in the last six seasons, and they’re now expected to become a strong force in the NCAA. On Monday, Rothstein ranked the Bruins No. 3 in his Big Ten power rankings, crediting their improvements at the point guard position as a major factor in their potential better season.
UCLA could thrive next season, says analyst
“UCLA is an interesting team,” Rothstein said. “The Bruins last year won 23 games, advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament under Mick Cronin, returned over 55% of its scoring. But UCLA, we have to remember, last year had subpar point guard play. So what did Mick Cronin do? He went out and got an all-American caliber point guard in Donovan Dent from New Mexico.”
UCLA Head Basketball Coach Mick Cronin
Jon Rothstein explains what new point guard Donovan Dent gives to UCLA
Jon Rothstein lauded the new Bruins’ point guard, who is a clear upgrade from their prior floor general. He explained that Dent is one of the best players in his position and can only make the Bruins better.
“Given the fact that UCLA won 23 games last year without a capable point guard, Dylan Andrews has since transferred to Boise State. And given the fact that UCLA is going to add a point guard who is among the top two or three at his position in the entire sport, Donovan Dent again has the chance to elevate UCLA to a different level,” he said.
The Big Ten is a challenging conference, but the Bruins have everything to compete and win it.
