UCLA Picked for Fourth in Big Ten Preseason Poll

Media members selected the Bruins to finish fourth in the conference during the upcoming 2026-27 basketball season.

Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Basketball

UCLA Picked for Fourth in Big Ten Preseason Poll

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The Big Ten Conference released its preseason media poll, which projected UCLA to finish in fourth place for the 2026-27 men's basketball campaign. The rankings were determined by a panel of 28 media members who cover the league.

Why it matters

Preseason media polls provide an early look at how analysts view team strength and talent distribution across the conference hierarchy. These rankings help set expectations for programs as they enter the new season.

A panel of 28 media members participated in the voting process. Illinois led the conference projections with 18 first-place votes, followed by Michigan State with nine and Michigan with one.

The players

UCLA

This university is a prominent member of the Big Ten Conference and competes at the highest level of collegiate men's basketball.

Jeremy Fears Jr.

He is a collegiate basketball player who received 23 votes in the preseason media poll for player of the year.

Anthony Thompson

He is a basketball player who was recognized by the media panel with 15 votes for the preseason freshman of the year award.

Stefan Vaaks

He is a college basketball player who received 12 votes in the media poll for transfer of the year.

The details

Individual players also received recognition, including Jeremy Fears Jr., who garnered 23 votes for preseason player of the year. Additionally, Trent Perry and Nikola Kusturica earned eight and seven points respectively in the voting, while Anthony Thompson and Stefan Vaaks were highlighted for freshman and transfer honors.

October 5, 2026: The preseason media poll was officially released.
2026-27 season: The men's basketball schedule will take place.

Season Trajectory

The Big Ten men's basketball preseason media poll acts as the primary barometer for team expectations heading into the new year. UCLA's fourth-place projection places them as a top contender looking to balance their season narrative against high-polling rivals like Illinois and Michigan State.

UCLA enters the 2026-27 season with a fourth-place standing, which establishes a baseline for their potential path to the conference tournament. Voters also signaled high expectations for Jeremy Fears Jr., who secured 23 votes for top player honors.

The takeaway

Media preseason rankings offer a snapshot of expected performance, but actual results often fluctuate as teams integrate new players and navigate conference play. Fans can track how these projections align with reality as the 2026-27 season progresses.