“Best defense in the country”: NCAA analyst lists down why Mick Cronin’s UCLA is back in the national conversation
NCAA analyst Andy Katz has given his reasons why Mick Cronin and the UCLA Bruins are back in the national conversation. Citing five reasons why the Bruins are back, Katz started by praising UCLA's defense, calling it the best in the country.
"UCLA head coach Mick Cronin has the Bruins back in the national conversation as a potential deep NCAA tournament team and a Big Ten title contender. Here's why—Number one: They've got the best defense in the country." (0:01)
"They're holding teams to an average of 55 points a game, and in their win over Arizona, Arizona only scored 54. That's the fewest points Arizona has scored since 2020," Katz continued.
You can watch and hear the rest of Andy Katz's reasons below.
Mick Cronin and the Bruins continue to climb the rankings
Cronin and the Bruins are making waves in the national rankings, climbing into the top 20 after a significant 57-54 win last Saturday (Dec. 14) against Arizona. With a 9-1 record, the Bruins now sit at No. 18 in the latest Associated Press men’s basketball Top 25, moving up nine spots.
UCLA opened the season ranked No. 22 but stumbled early with a loss to New Mexico, briefly dropping out of the top 25. However, they quickly rebounded with seven straight wins, regaining their national ranking at No. 24 after defeating then-No. 12 Oregon two weeks ago. That performance handed the Ducks their first loss of the season and set the stage for UCLA’s resilience.
As the non-conference schedule winds down, UCLA is set to host Prairie View A&M tonight (Dec. 17). The road gets more challenging from there as the Bruins prepare to face blue-blood powerhouse North Carolina and the No. 13 Gonzaga Bulldogs—two challenging matchups that will test their mettle.
The Bruins have emerged as strong contenders to win the Big Ten this season, thanks to a combination of stifling defense, veteran leadership, and the immediate impact of several key transfer players. These strengths are proving to be difference-makers as UCLA continues to build momentum.
With five Big Ten teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25, the conference promises no shortage of competition, and UCLA will face all of them as the season progresses. These early non-conference games serve as critical benchmarks, providing a glimpse of how the Bruins stack up against some of the nation’s top programs.
If UCLA maintains this level of play and continues to notch wins against elite opponents, a top-15 ranking is well within reach as they approach conference play. The Bruins will kick off their Big Ten schedule on Jan. 4 with a road matchup against Nebraska.