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UCLA Basketball 2025-26 Preview: Size has Bruins Ready for Year Two

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports | By Kaleb Kraus | Last updated Oct 11, 2025 11:50 AM ET

UCLA basketball went through plenty of growing pains in its first season in the Big Ten. Despite some early bumps, the Bruins were able to tie for fourth in the Big Ten and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Coach Mick Cronin had some work to do in the offseason with eight departures, including five in the transfer portal. Despite that, it appears the Bruins have nicely retooled and appear to be ready for year two in the Big Ten.

Outside shooting could really make or break the Bruins, who find themselves inside the top 25 preseason ranking heading into the 2025-26 season. So let’s take a closer look at what UCLA basketball brings to the table this season.

UCLA Basketball 2025-26 Preview: Size has Bruins Ready for Year Two

Roster Makeup

Losing eight players isn’t an easy fix, especially when five transferred out. All five players were massive contributors. Losing Aday Mara to a fellow Big Ten foe in Michigan is a tough pill to swallow, but Coach Cronin hopes Michigan State transfer Xavier Booker can take a massive step this season. Kobe Johnson ended up being the Bruins’ best defender last season, earning All-Big Ten honors for that effort. But he graduated. Not to mention the Bruins were left without a true floor general.

That’s where New Mexico transfer Donovan Dent will be a complete weapon. He can come right in and deliver. He had quite a 2024-25 season as he was the Mountain West Player of the Year.

The other massive departures were two of their expected returning guards, Dylan Andrews (Boise State) and Sebastian Mack (Missouri), who both went elsewhere after averaging over seven points per game. UCLA has been no stranger to losing players, while also replacing them in the portal. Jamar Brown comes in from UMKC after averaging 16 points per game in two seasons for the Roos.

Anthony Peoples Jr (NCCU), Steven Jamerson II (San Diego) also made the jump to the Big Ten from much smaller schools. Markell Alston should come in as the lone freshman and find a way to contribute, especially for a Bruins team that needs strong guard play.

The top two returning scorers for the Bruins are back as Tyler Bilodeau and Eric Dailey Jr are back, ready to lead the Bruins. As is senior guard Skyy Clark. The only question with Clark is, can he deliver after so much hype? UCLA basketball certainly has gone to a primarily portal team over the past several seasons.

Rest of the Roster:

Christian Horry (RS-Fr)

Eric Freeny (RS-Fr)

Trent Perry (Soph)

Brandon Williams (RS-Soph)

Evan Manjikian (RS-Jr)

Jack Seidler (RS-Jr)

Big Ten life hits different

Mick Cronin reflects on @UCLAMBB's first Big Ten season and the realities of life in a new conference #B1GMediaDays pic.twitter.com/YraNKV4O9E

— Big Ten Men's Basketball (@B1GMBBall) October 9, 2025

Schedule Outlook

UCLA opens the regular season on November 3rd against Eastern Washington. That comes after a pair of tune-up exhibition games at San Diego State and then against UC Irvine, both of which have been NCAA Tournament capable teams in recent memory.

The bulk of the non-conference schedule for the Bruins will see them face some old foes. The first of which is old Pac-12 rival Arizona, which they will play at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. UCLA basketball will partake in the Empire Classic, which used to be a tournament but has turned into a one-game showcase. They will face Sacramento State and Presbyterian in a lead-up to facing the California Golden Bears at Chase Center on November 25th.

December will be crazy as they get a road game at Washington and a major home tilt with Oregon in the early Big Ten games. Clashes with Gonzaga in Seattle and then Arizona State certainly give the Bruins flavor in the non-conference in 2025-26.

As for the rest of UCLA’s second season in the Big Ten, the slate is a mixed bag with massive games both at Pauley Pavilion and on the road. Visiting both Ann Arbor and East Lansing is going to be quite the road trip for Mick Cronin and UCLA basketball.

Big Ten Home Games: Maryland, Purdue, Northwestern, Indiana, Rutgers, Washington, Illinois, USC, Nebraska

Big Ten Road Games: Iowa, Wisconsin, Penn State, Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, USC

Last Word on the Bruins

With that in mind, UCLA certainly has a retooled lineup. Enough talent to make the Big Dance again, obviously, but can they be physical enough down the stretch? The rest of the league has plenty of massive big men. Booker is talented, but Michigan State’s Tom Izzo couldn’t get much out of him, and if he couldn’t, who’s to say Mick can? Outside of Booker, it’s going to be a committee in the post, it seems. That worked for MSU last season. Perhaps UCLA can shock some. Getting Purdue and Illinois both in Los Angeles is huge, but those road trips East are going to be tough as well.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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