Basketball edition looking back on the 2024 season

The 2024 UCLA Bruins were looking to bounce back from a rough 2023 season. One that saw them go 16-17 and have one of the worst offenses in the nation. A far cry from the previous three seasons before that. Where they had very talented teams and were championship contenders. The Bruins brought in a good transfer class that included experienced players in Eric Dailey, Jr., Tyler Bilodeau, William Kyle III, Kobe Johnson and Skyy Clark. Pairing them with returning players in Aday Mara, Sebastian Mack, Lazar Stefanovic and Dylan Andrews.

UCLA was looking to improve their offense while keeping the good defense that they had in 2023. If they could do that, they would become a really good team. They were able to do just that as they bumped up their points per game from 66 to 74.2. While getting even better on defense giving up only 65.2 points per game. They went with a nontraditional starting lineup as they started three guards and had Bilodeau and Dailey Jr. play up a spot.

UCLA finished the regular season at 22-9 and then had a disappointing showing in the first round of the Big Ten tournament. As they lost 86-70 to Wisconsin. Raising questions on the March tournament which they would ultimately enter as the No. 7 seed in the Midwest. They would dismantle Utah State 72-47 in the round of 64. Before putting up a horrific shooting effort in the round of 32 versus Tennessee losing 67-58. Sending UCLA into another offseason of questions and many players hitting the transfer portal.

The 2024 team simply was not well put together. The team couldn’t shoot the ball well and the floor was very congested. It was also interesting that Kyle III and Mara didn’t get many minutes. Now both have become defensive stars after transferring. Losing Andrews and Mack actually helped the team as Bilodeau and Dailey Jr. were able to go back to their natural positions in 2025. They were able to scrap the three-guard starting lineup as well which at times hurt them.