We will examine where the UCLA men's basketball team is ranked in Big Ten preseason and national rankings.
Analyzing preseason rankings can provide valuable insights into which teams, like UCLA, are poised for success in the upcoming 2024-25 college basketball season.
Teams that excelled in the previous season often see their rankings rise in the subsequent year. This is not the case with UCLA, but other factors contributed to the Bruins' being ranked high for this upcoming season.
Teams aiming to retain their star players or manage a roster filled with seasoned veterans often pursue this goal with determination, as UCLA did, for the most part, bring back some key starters from last season's team.
A team's rating can undoubtedly see an uptick when they bring in new players boasting impressive ratings. By many accounts, UCLA brought in a top-five transfer class, which has fueled their high preseason rankings in various polls.
When a team's coaches bring a wealth of experience and a track record of success, it often translates into improved performance on the field. Mick Cronin had one bad season as the head coach of UCLA in terms of losses and wins last season, which doesn't erase all of the success he had in the previous seasons as coach of the Bruins.