UCLA’s 2025-2026 season ended with head coach Mick Cronin wishing for some extra money in his NIL budget to help compete in the modern landscape of college basketball. According to Cronin, his request has been answered.
Cronin told Ben Bolch of the California Post that he “couldn’t be happier” about the team’s roster construction as we inch closer to the 2026-2027 season. In recent years, it’s become increasingly clear, for UCLA to compete for national titles, it will take top-of-the-line spending on their roster.
“I thought we did an excellent job given our situation financially,” Cronin said. “Actually, couldn’t be happier.”
UCLA landed some big fish this offseason, landing Serbian teenager Nikola Kusturica, Texas Tech’s Jaylen Petty, Filip Jovic,
Sergej Macura and Azavier Robinson to fill out the Bruins’ roster. Cronin has enjoyed his new players, as he seeks an identity for this year’s UCLA team, which was missing for parts of last season.
“They’re both hard-nosed, tough kids, which is what I wanted to add,” Cronin said. “You know, Big Ten, your bigger guys gotta have physicality, and they both have that.”
We all saw what a transfer-heavy Michigan was able to accomplish last season, winning an NCAA title with a rotation filled with portal additions. UCLA was also able to retain some talent of their own, keeping Eric Dailey Jr., Trent Perry and Xavier Booker.
UCLA didn’t get to keep all of their players from last year, with both Skyy Clark and Donovan Dent being granted extra years of eligibility and both heading to LSU.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Mick Cronin 'couldn’t be happier' with UCLA's financial situation
