{"id":79528,"date":"2024-05-31T13:00:20","date_gmt":"2024-05-31T17:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=79528"},"modified":"2024-05-31T13:00:20","modified_gmt":"2024-05-31T17:00:20","slug":"ucla-big-ten-basketball-debut-should-be-interesting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/05\/31\/ucla-big-ten-basketball-debut-should-be-interesting\/","title":{"rendered":"UCLA Big Ten Basketball Debut Should Be Interesting"},"content":{"rendered":"

As UCLA begins its Big Ten foray in basketball in the 2024-25 season, the Bruins have plenty of hurdles to deal with this year.\u00a0The whole UCLA family faces the sad news about Bruin legend Bill Walton’<\/a>s passing<\/a>. It seems that won’t stop them from making a name for themselves in their new conference.\u00a0Though Walton was a huge part of UCLA’s legacy in the Pac-12, they will have to build a new one in yet another world-renowned conference.<\/p>\n

UCLA’s National Championship history in men’s college basketball is second to no one. That legacy should fit in nicely with the Big Ten.\u00a0So let’s consider why the Big Ten Basketball debut of UCLA could be fun.<\/p>\n

UCLA Big Ten Basketball Debut Should Be Interesting<\/h2>\n

Head Coach for the Bruins Mick Cronin, has already shown his firey passion for coaching, dating back to his time at Cincinnati. Cronin has always felt like a Big Ten type of coach, and now he gets to coach in the Big Ten with UCLA. When the news was first made public, Cronin certainly had a stance about UCLA leaving the PAC-12. He wasn’t too fond of the idea when he spoke with USA Today<\/a>, citing that it wasn’t in the athletes’ best interest.<\/p>\n

“None of it is in the best interest of the student-athlete, no matter what anybody says,” Cronin said. “It’s in the best interest of more money to cover the bills. That’s it.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Time will tell if he still holds that feeling, as UCLA is among the favorites to compete for the Big Ten Basketball championship in 2024. The Bruins have had plenty of recent clashes with their new conference foes in recent memory.<\/p>\n

In the last several years, they have played some of the most notable Big Ten teams in the NCAA tournament. That includes in 2021 when they beat Michigan State and Michigan en route to the final four. They also met Northwestern in their most recent NCAA tourney berth, when they beat the Wildcats to reach the Sweet 16 in 2023.\u00a0They are more than ready to compete with the top teams in the Big Ten. Their success is going to be based on their roster make-up and they have tackled that in the offseason after a rough 15-16 final season in the PAC-12.<\/p>\n

Key Returns and additions have UCLA near the Top of the League<\/h3>\n

The Bruins have mixed returning talent with some transfers and a solid group of freshmen to put them among the best rosters the Big Ten has to offer in 2024-25. Their biggest add in the portal was snatching Kobe Johnson<\/a> from rival USC. Johnson wasn’t the only big transfer move UCLA, made as they added five other players including guard Skyy Clark<\/a> from Louisville and Oklahoma State’s Eric Dailey.<\/a><\/p>\n

Adding those players a pairing them with experienced Bruins such as Sebastian Mack<\/a> who averaged 12 points as a freshman in 2023-24, or starting point guard Dylan Andrews<\/a> who returns for his third season in Los Angeles. UCLA has plenty of talent, and Bruin Report Online posted a graphic on X showcasing, the outlook for the Bruins roster this fall.<\/p>\n

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The #UCLA<\/a> basketball roster for the 2024-2025 season is set: pic.twitter.com\/IJ5P95zDhf<\/a><\/p>\n

— Bruin Report Online (@BruinReport) May 9, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n