Going into the 2023-24 season, UCLA men's basketball had a nearly brand new team. Now going into the 2026-27 season, UCLA has five returning players who contributed to last season's 24-12 record. “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. ...Loyalty Paid Off for UCLA Women's Basketball Last SeasonUCLA 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.