T5. UCLA Bruins
After earning a share of the Pac-12 regular season title, the UCLA Bruins are back this season as the preseason Pac-12 favorites with the majority of their core from last season back. The Bruins had their most successful season under head coach Cori Close last season as UCLA made it to the Sweet 16 before falling to Texas. This season, the Bruins enter Pac-12 play with a 9-2 record while facing a tough non-conference schedule. UCLA’s two losses are nothing to scoff as they fell to two Top-10 teams on the road falling to then-No. 2 Baylor and and then-No. 6 South Carolina. Some key wins for UCLA were versus Iowa and Michigan.
The Bruins are one of the most experienced teams in the conference as they bring back three starters from last season in guard Jordin Canada and forward Monique Billings. Canada is pegged as one of the best guards in the country, averaging a team-high 17.6 PPG on 46.1 percent shooting and 7.5 assists per game. With Nirra Fields graduated, Billings has stepped in as UCLA’s best paint player averaging 17.0 PPG and 10.2 RPG this season. The player that has taken the biggest step for UCLA is sophomore guard Kennedy Burke. After finishing with 5.8 PPG last season, Burke is averaging 12.0 PPG this season and has been a key contributor for the Bruins this season.
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UCLA is expected to finish at or near the top of the Pac-12. To go along with three players mentioned above, UCLA has incredible depth with guards Kari Korver and Nicole Cornet on the bench. Korver, sister of Atlanta Hawks guard Kyle Korver, is an effective three-point shooter just like her brother and she helps spread the floor for UCLA. The Bruins will open up Pac-12 play this weekend versus Utah and No. 20 Colorado.