Ranking each Big Ten basketball team entering conference play
3. UCLA Bruins
Mick Cronin always has his team well prepared and UCLA has proven it is ready for its transition to the Big Ten. The 11-2 Bruins鈥� resume may lack signature non-conference wins outside of beating Gonzaga, but UCLA is 2-0 in the Big Ten thus far thanks to an impressive victory at Oregon. UCLA also earned a good non-conference win over former Pac-12 rival Arizona and has suffered losses to just North Carolina and New Mexico. As usual, Cronin鈥檚 squad hangs its hat on defense, ranking No. 1 in the Big Ten and ninth in the country by allowing just 58.7 points per contest. The Bruins are also averaging a respectable 77.4 points offensively. With a deep rotation led by transfer forward Tyler Bilodeau, UCLA should remain in the mix to win a conference championship through March.
