UCLA basketball endured a disappointing season last year. The Bruins entered the year ranked 12th in the country but were inconsistent throughout, as several transfer portal additions failed to meet expectations. One of the more notable underperformers was Donovan Dent, who had been counted on as a primary scoring option but never found his footing in the Big Ten. By the time March arrived, UCLA had fallen to a 7-seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins handled their first-round matchup against USF but were eliminated in the second round by UConn, which went on to reach the National Championship game. Mar 20, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Mick Cronin reacts in the first half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Mick Cronin's ability to attract talent to UCLA is not in question.…