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NCAA basketball power rankings: Way-too-early college basketball Top 10 for 2021-2022

By Mike Phillips

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 30: Cody Riley #2 of the UCLA Bruins defends a shot by Hunter Dickinson #1 of the Michigan Wolverines during the first half in the Elite Eight round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 30, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 30: Cody Riley #2 of the UCLA Bruins defends a shot by Hunter Dickinson #1 of the Michigan Wolverines during the first half in the Elite Eight round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 30, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 28: Johnny Juzang #3 of the UCLA Bruins attempts the three-point basket against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first half in the Sweet Sixteen round game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse on March 28, 2021, in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 28: Johnny Juzang #3 of the UCLA Bruins attempts the three-point basket against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first half in the Sweet Sixteen round game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse on March 28, 2021, in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

3. NCAA Basketball Rankings: UCLA Bruins

There is plenty of momentum building in Westwood following the Bruins’ stunning run to the Final Four. Mick Cronin deserves a ton of credit for guiding this program there without three key players that UCLA was counting on at the beginning of training camp, with top freshman Daishen Nix never making it to campus after opting to play in the G-League and Pac-12 Player of the Year candidate Chris Smith suffering a season-ending injury in December.

The big assumption here is that Johnny Juzang opts to stay in school for one more year to bolster his NBA Draft stock. Juzang’s massive NCAA Tournament performance will likely lead him to test the waters but another strong year from the former Kentucky transfer could see Juzang make himself a lock to get selected in the first round.

Getting back Juzang to go alongside Jamie Jacquez Jr and Tyger Campbell gives Cronin a tremendous foundation to start with since the Bruins could potentially bring back everyone from their Final Four team minus Smith, who has to decide if he wants to exercise another year of eligibility or go pro. UCLA also has a tremendous recruiting class coming to Westwood headlined by five-star small forward Peyton Watson, the second-best player at his position.

That class could get even stronger if Cronin can convince Hardy, the second-best prospect in the class and a Nevada native, to stay close to home and play for the Bruins. Landing Hardy could help the Bruins vault into the conversation of national title contenders.