This post was updated Feb. 3 at 11:23 p.m.
A formidable interior presence is imperative in the Big Ten. 
And UCLA has lacked a solution at center since former Bruin Aday Mara transferred to Michigan ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.

A gut punch often serves as a wake-up call.
UCLA men’s basketball (15-7, 7-4 Big Ten) was on the brink of capturing its eighth conference victory against Indiana on Saturday, a game that coach Mick Cronin’s squad ostensibly sealed after sophomore guard Trent Perry drained a 3-pointer to tie the contest with less than two seconds remaining in regulation and then netted another to mount a three-point lead with less than two minutes remaining in double overtime.

Coast-to-coast reach is hard to achieve.
Although Snoop Dogg and Run-D.M.C. captured national attention, their regional fame outweighed their coast-to-coast popularity, with the former commanding the Los Angeles music scene and the latter embodying the New York style.

This post was updated Jan. 29 at 9:11 p.m.
“Kamikazes” are often only mentioned when discussing World War II. 
But the term has a different association in Eugene. 
The “Kamikaze Kids” characterized Oregon men’s basketball from 1972 to 1977, defined by the team’s full-court pressure and relentless hustle. 
Yet, it was UCLA men’s basketball (15-6, 7-3 Big Ten) that embraced this defensive tenacity in its 73-57 victory against Oregon (8-13, 1-9) at Eugene’s Matthew Knight Arena on Wednesday night. 
The Bruins’ defense limited the Ducks to a 35.6 field goal percentage and a 28.1% 3-point clip, while forcing 10 turnovers. 
Coach Mick Cronin’s team has elicited the third-most turnovers in the Big Ten this season, forcing 13.2 per game, and UCLA has scored the second-most points off turnovers in the conference. 
But turnovers are not the only measure of a team’s grit.

This post was updated Jan. 27 at 10:18 p.m.
Communication is integral to sustaining any relationship.
But it also serves as the foundation for an elite defense.

How a team responds is often a test of its toughness.
And a comeback with less than two minutes remaining against a top-ranked opponent is one way to highlight a squad’s grit.

Life often revolves around embracing challenging paths.
But sometimes one must take the easy points in life.
Basketball players achieve this at the free-throw line.
UCLA men’s basketball (12-5, 4-2 Big Ten) shot 21-for-21 from the charity stripe against Penn State on Wednesday on the road – the first time the squad has notched a perfect free-throw percentage since shooting 10-for-10 from the line against Utah State in last year’s NCAA tournament.

Sprinting and relays often excite.
Pumping arms, long strides and flying track pellets often captivate an audience’s attention as athletes dash for the finish line.
UCLA track and field will send most of its highest-performing sprinters and relay athletes to the Spokane Sports Showcase in Spokane, Washington, on Friday – the squad’s first official meet of the 2026 campaign.

Stephen Curry helped transition basketball from the paint to the 3-point line.
Consequently, shooting and perimeter defense have become staples of every championship-caliber team.
Coach Mick Cronin has embraced a defensive-centered approach throughout his coaching career, molding squads that stifle opposing players.

Tom Brady is considered the “GOAT” because of his unique ability to lead historic comebacks and prevail in crucial moments.
Seven rings speak for themselves.
Brady earned one of these rings after leading a 25-point second-half comeback against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI – the largest squandered lead in Super Bowl history – and orchestrating a game-winning drive in overtime to secure the championship victory.