This post was updated Nov. 13 at 2:18 a.m.

Westwood’s two basketball programs are entering a novel era in the Big Ten this season. Amid external changes and roster turnovers within both UCLA men’s basketball and No. 5 UCLA women’s basketball, one word characterizes both teams: deep. The former is welcoming nine new members to its roster while the latter greets six, and there are hefty expectations surrounding them both. Sports editor Ira Gorawara and assistant Sports editor Sabrina Messiha provide viable lineups from both the men’s and women’s talent-laden programs.

UCLA’s Fab Five

Men’s lineup #1: G Dylan Andrews, G Skyy Clark, G Kobe Johnson, G/F Eric Dailey Jr., F Tyler Bilodeau

Coach Mick Cronin’s roster doesn’t necessarily sport any household names in 2024.

But the sheer talent at Cronin’s fingertips all but compensates.

If the defense-first coach sought the ideal mix of balance and versatility, he’d be directed toward one returner and four promising newcomers.

Junior guards Dylan Andrews and Skyy Clark form a potent backcourt tandem for the Bruins.

After a standout finish to 2023 – dropping double-digit points in 13 of UCLA’s last 14 games – Andrews is poised to ignite the offense and dictate pace. Quick and crafty, he’s the lone starting returner and a nightmare on the break – and has a knack for effectively reading defenses.

This high-octane style will seamlessly mesh with Clark’s smooth handle and court awareness, allowing for fluid ball movement. Together, the explosive backcourt can shift gears as needed – on both ends of the floor – and prove an optimal balance of intelligence and composure.

UCLA’s defensive backbone in this lineup is senior guard Kobe Johnson, whose relentless two-way game can stifle opposing wings and capitalize on offensive mismatches. His length and athleticism on the wing can fuel a cutthroat perimeter defense and permit quick, easy transition buckets.

Adding the inches to this lineup is guard/forward Eric Dailey Jr. – the 6-foot-8 sophomore whose versatility can prove too strong for guards and too quick for bigs. His presence will enable harmonious defensive switches and offer a reliable inside-out scoring option.

Tyler Bilodeau, meanwhile, drops in a bit of everything for the Bruins. Capable of stretching the floor – and converting from 3 – the junior forward can also tussle in the paint, thereby creating open lanes for Andrews and Clark to attack the rim.

Each member of this five-man cast is somewhat of a Swiss Army knife – multifaceted in their ability to shoot, pass, rebound and defend – and as the adage goes, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

– Ira Gorawara

Top-Ranked Junior Class

Women’s lineup #1: G Kiki Rice, G Londynn Jones, C Lauren Betts, F Janiah Barker, F Timea Gardiner

No. 5 UCLA women’s basketball hosts the top three recruits from the class of 2022 – and then some.

Juniors guard Kiki Rice, center Lauren Betts and forward Janiah Barker all now wear the Bruin badge – standouts who ranked first, second and third, respectively, out of high school. Also in that top 25, forward Timea Gardiner slots in at sixth, forward Gabriela Jaquez at 19th and guard Londynn Jones at 22nd.

Barker and Gardiner transferred to UCLA during the offseason, departing from Texas A&M and Oregon State, respectively. In their Bruin debuts, Barker dropped eight points while Gardiner put up 15 of her own, trailing only behind Betts’ game-leading 18 points.

While conference play has yet to commence, the Bruins’ junior class has already proven to be the stronghold of the team.

Numbers-wise, the class comprises six of UCLA’s 13-woman roster. Only graduate students forward Angela Dugalić and guard Charlisse Leger-Walker are older, but neither boasts more experience in Westwood than the juniors.

Dugalić transferred to UCLA from Oregon before the 2021-2022 season but got injured her first year in Westwood. After averaging 8.7 points and 6.5 rebounds through last season, the forward is beginning her third – but second full – season for UCLA. Similarly, Leger-Walker transferred from Washington State this past summer and will likely remain out until February or March with an ACL injury.

Nobody is more prepared and talented than the Bruins’ junior class. Coach Cori Close has a buffet at her fingertips, but it’d be surprising if her starting lineup wasn’t dominated by what could have been the nation’s No. 1 2022 recruiting class.

– Sabrina Messiha

Four Out, Lights Out

Men’s lineup #2: G Dylan Andrews, G Lazar Stefanovic, G Sebastian Mack, G Dominick Harris, F William Kyle III

With a heavy emphasis on the guards, this lineup might take shape as a four-out one-in motion offense.

And it’s a blueprint of modern professional basketball – engineered to outrun, outshoot and outmaneuver defenses in fast-paced games that capitalize on quickness, spacing and long-range shooting.

At the core, Andrews will relentlessly orchestrate tempo, providing a breakneck pace that can change the feel of a game. His explosive first step can break down defenses and thread passes in open lanes effortlessly.

Guard Sebastian Mack, whom Cronin likes in a “sixth-man role,” has arguably the highest ceiling in this lineup. The sophomore’s tenacity and offensive firepower make him a constant danger, bringing an explosion this lineup will feed on.

Though Johnson may strip some of his minutes this season, senior guard Lazar Stefanovic is a silent assassin able to not only lead the team – as evidenced by plenty of FIBA experience as a member of the Serbian National Team – but also utilize a smooth release beyond the arc.

Right by Stefanovic’s side is redshirt senior guard Dominick Harris, who averaged a team-leading 14.3 points at Loyola Marymount last season while shooting a staggering 44.8% from deep. His untapped potential remains bare for the Bruin faithful to eventually discover.

Harris and Stefanovic’s 3-point weaponry won’t just ameliorate UCLA’s deplorable 3-point shooting percentage from last season – it’ll stretch the floor to let Andrews and Mack attack without the fear of a packed paint.

And UCLA’s man in the key – junior forward William Kyle III – will add the size and rebounding ability needed for this lineup to hold its own, while his mobility will allow him to run the floor on the break.

Though there’s a tradeoff between size and speed, this lineup is capable of launching a fast-paced start or steadily wearing down opposition.

– Ira Gorawara

Fresh-Faced Five

Women’s lineup #2: G Elina Aarnisalo, G Avary Cain, C Lauren Betts, F Kendall Dudley, F Zania Socka-Nguemen

Even this early in the season, this theory is beginning to emerge.

While familiar faces – Betts, Jones, Jaquez and Dugalić – competed in Paris against Louisville, an unknown freshman made her debut.

Guard Elina Aarnisalo, an international student-athlete from Helsinki, started at the one in place of Rice – who is out with an injury. Close had acknowledged Aarnisalo’s potential before the point guard first donned the blue and gold, being described by her coach as a “difference-maker.”

Unlike the majority of the roster, Aarnisalo already boasts professional experience, having played in the BNXT League – Belgium’s premier division for women’s basketball. She totaled eight points in her debut and played for 29 minutes against Louisville, the fourth longest of the team and most of any newcomer.

Alongside her is the No. 2-ranked recruiting class in ESPN’s early top-10 classes. Five-star recruits guard Avary Cain and forwards Kendall Dudley and Zania Socka-Nguemen give Close an incredible amount of depth, along with future-proofed stability and continuity when her star-studded junior class graduates.

Despite being a talented group, though, the freshmen still lack the experience necessary for collegiate glory. Simply put, their time will come, but for now, Close should leave the team’s championship hopes to the veterans.

– Sabrina Messiha

Power in the Paint

Men’s lineup #3: G Trent Perry, G/F Eric Dailey Jr., G Lazar Stefanovic, F Tyler Bilodeau, C Aday Mara

Cronin’s philosophies already mesh well with Big Ten basketball – slow-paced, with an emphasis on strong post play, defense and methodical offense.

And presumably, the sixth-year head coach wouldn’t hesitate to deploy a big-heavy, imposing lineup built to dominate the interior and own the boards.

Though it’d be a freshman calling plays, guard Trent Perry’s size, poise and defensive tenacity give this lineup an edge. The 6-foot-4 four-star recruit established himself as one of the most well-rounded young talents out of high school, capable of configuring his game to best suit any offensive system.

Dailey’s muscle and toughness will allow him to bully smaller players, while his skill and smarts can outmaneuver taller defenders. His versatility to operate on any region of the floor will prove nightmarish for opposing teams scrambling to contain him.

Working with Dailey in the paint, Bilodeau’s rugged ability to bang in the posts, grab rebounds on both ends and even step out for 3-pointers gives him the ability to clog up the middle and control second-chance opportunities.

At perhaps the heart of this lineup, the towering presence of 7-foot-3 sophomore center Aday Mara will command the middle with elite rim protection and finishing power. His imposing frame can provide ammunition on both ends of the floor – using his size and soft touch in the low post while punishing any opposing guard who dares to enter the key.

And if the inside game gets congested, Stefanovic’s long-range finesse will keep defenses honest – and provide the release valve this unit needs to excel.

UCLA’s new conference demands a patient breed ready to embrace contact – and Cronin’s pieces are at his disposal to make a statement.

– Ira Gorawara

Something Old, Something New

Women’s lineup #3: G Elina Aarnisalo, C Lauren Betts, G Londynn Jones, F Janiah Barker, F Angela Dugalić

As seen in the 2024-2025 season opener, Close can mix things up.

Only one freshman earned a starting nod against Louisville, while against Colgate, two freshmen and a transfer took the court for tipoff while five-star recruits and acclaimed veterans lined the bench.

The perfect lineup would feature a mix of Close’s top-ranked recruiting classes – those of 2022 and 2024. Rice – who is anticipated to return soon – rallying alongside 6-foot-7 center Betts and guard Jones could be matched with a combination of forwards Socka-Nguemen, Dudley, Gardiner or Barker.

No matter which starting five Close chooses, her lineup will be strong – the issue that follows is chemistry.

“We’re still becoming a team, rather than a bunch of talented individuals,” Close said during halftime against Colgate.

Dudley, Rice and Socka-Nguemen all played at Sidwell Friends in Bethesda, Maryland. Jones and Jaquez have played together for the past two seasons and faced each other throughout high school. Meanwhile, Gardiner and Leger-Walker played against the Bruins – at their respective former schools – before transferring to UCLA this past summer.

Balanced chemistry can be tough to establish amid so much talent, but Close has yearslong relationships to go off of. Her nonconference matchups are the perfect chance to capitalize on the opportunity to test out new groups.

– Sabrina Messiha