How UCLA Basketball Can Surpass Projected Tournament Seeding

UCLA men's basketball is entering this basketball year with lower expectations than last year.

Last season, UCLA entered the season ranked 12th in the preseason poll and among the top teams in the Big Ten. However, they would not live up to those expectations, finishing the season with a 24-12 record and a 13-7 mark in the Big Ten.

UCLA made big moves last offseason by bringing in Donovan Dent, who was one of the top players in the transfer portal. However, he did not live up to the expectations placed on him, as he struggled to find his three-point shot, going from 20 points on 50% from the field and 40% from three to 13 points on 40% from the field and 25% from three.

This offseason, Mick Cronin didn't bring in a top player from the transfer portal, but he did add depth pieces who complement star guard Trent Perry.

With the moves Mick Cronin has made this offseason, UCLA isn't projected to be one of the top teams in college basketball, and in Rivals' way-too-early Bracketology, they aren't projected to be a 1-5 seed.

Rivals Bracketology

During the offseason, the NCAA added more teams to March Madness, increasing the tournament field from 68 to 76. While the field is bigger than last year, UCLA seemingly won't have to worry about being on the bubble as the Bruins are projected to be an 8-seed in the West Region.

In the West Region, UCLA plays the 9-seed Texas A&M and would be in the same region as the projected 1-seed Duke and 2-seed Michigan State.

How UCLA Can Become a Higher Seed

UCLA comes into this season with much lower expectations than last year, as they aren't projected to be in the preseason top 25 poll. That said, having lower expectations could benefit Mick Cronin and UCLA.

Trent Perry came into his own last year as a sophomore, going from three points as a freshman to 12 points as a sophomore. With both Tyler Bilodeau and Donavan Dent leaving, Perry will be looked at as the number one option. UCLA will also need Xavier Booker to step up in his senior season, as he is a very talented player who just hasn't been able to put it all together.

UCLA also brought in Jaylen Petty from Texas Tech, who can be a great complement to Perry in the backcourt with his scoring and shooting. The Bruins also brought in players such as Azavier Robinson, Sergej Macura, and Filip Jovic to fill out the roster.

This is a more complete team than last season, as last year it didn't seem as though the pieces fit together well. If this team can play as a team, they can absolutely be a higher seed come March.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/ucla as How UCLA Basketball Can Surpass Projected Tournament Seeding.

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This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 7:00 AM.