2024 FTN NFL Power Rankings Through Week 15: Who Takes Over the Top Spot?
Daniel Kelley
Check out our entire college basketball season preview!
The college basketball season is less than three weeks away, and here at FTN Fantasy we have you covered for what promises to be another thrilling year of upsets and incredible finishes. I will be taking you around the country with a betting preview of the major conferences. I recap the betting trends from last season, list projected starters, preview the season, identify a key player, and reveal how I’m backing or fading each team.
Let’s continue with the largest conference in college basketball, the Big Ten. This conference underwent massive changes, adding four new teams from the Pac-12 in Washington, USC, Oregon and UCLA. The expansion has not diluted the competitive level of the Big Ten, ranking third (same as last year) in KenPom preseason rankings.
Let’s check out our betting preview for the UCLA Bruins. I give a huge shout-out to our newest contributor, Gus Kearns, for his extensive research on the Big Ten.
2024-2025 College Basketball Season Preview: UCLA Bruins
Conference: Big Ten
Head Coach: Mick Cronin (6th season)
2023-2024 Record: 16-17(10-10)
ATS: 15-16-2
O/U: 14-19
Projected Starters: G Dylan Andrews; G Kobe Johnson; G Lazar Stefanovic; F Tyler Bilodeau; F William Kyle III
Cronin has delivered for UCLA despite not being a top-three or even top-five choice for the job in 2020. Consecutive Sweet 16 finishes were followed by a frustrating 16-17 record last season, losing five straight games from Feb. 8 to March 7 popped any NCAA Tournament bubble hopes. Junior Dylan Andrews took a massive jump, posting an impressive 12.9 PPG and 3.8 RPG. Andrews averaged 21.2 PPG over the last six contests.
This year’s edition of UCLA will leverage Cronin’s high-strategic IQ with second-chance grinders. Kobe Johnson (USC) owns a top-15 Defensive Box Plus/Minus national metric (5.0) and Skyy Clark (Louisville) could slide into that Johnny Juzang role after a few previous college addresses. William Kyle III (South Dakota State) is the physical interior presence Coach Cronin always craves (see Cody Riley). Lazar Stefanovic rebounds, stretches the floor and isn’t scared by the big game. Gonzaga product Dominic Harris will help with culture, championship practice habits and in the locker room.
Key Player: Eric Dailey Jr.
I am fascinated by 6-foot-8 sophomore Eric Dailey Jr. (Oklahoma State). He is a long defensive disruptor, strong offensive rebounder, and shares the ball. Dailey got lost in the Oklahoma State struggles during the second half of last season after an impactful start. In a defensive-first Cronin scheme, Dailey’s effectiveness will earn more playing time, which would directly increase UCLA’s chance of winning.
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