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Sam Garcia

By Sam Garcia

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Mick Cronin knows how difficult it is to rebuild a program for scratch.

Going into the 2023-24 season, UCLA men's basketball had a nearly brand new team. That season, the Bruins went 16-17 and failed to earn an NCAA Tournament berth after previously making three consecutive deep runs in the playoffs.

Now going into the 2026-27 season, UCLA has five returning players who contributed to last season's 24-12 record.

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Eric Dailey Jr., Trent Perry, Xavier Booker, Brandon Williams and Eric Freeny bring veteran experience and familiarity with the program to UCLA's squad this season.

“Retention is very important in this day and age, because some teams have absolutely no retention,” UCLA head coach Mick Cronin said, per UCLA Athletics. “Starting over is extremely tough. We did it in 2023 when all our guys graduated. Adem Bona was essentially our lone soldier returning, that next season.

"So looking ahead, for us to have all five of our scholarship guys who could return, when the rules were what they were in the spring, that’s extremely important. They’ve shown a lot of loyalty in this program. They have shown belief in the development that they’re receiving, and they have a real appreciation for UCLA and the education here.”

Eric Dailey Jr. #3 and Xavier Booker #1 of the UCLA Bruins interact during the first half against the Pepperdine Waves at UCLA Pauley Pavilion on November 07, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

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Loyalty Paid Off for UCLA Women's Basketball Last Season

UCLA women's basketball proved last season just how powerful loyalty can be for a program.

The Bruins won the program's first NCAA title with primarily returning players on the roster. Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jaquez spent their entire collegiate careers with UCLA, while players like Angela Dugalic and Lauren Betts transferred to Westwood after their freshmen campaigns.

Members of the UCLA Bruins pose with the trophy after their victory against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the National Championship of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 05, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.

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Now, the men's basketball team is bringing back multiple players from last season's squad, and that familiarity will likely be a big strength for the Bruins during the 2026-27 season.

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