UCLA had arguably the most impressive win of the opening night in college basketball as they took down the No. 5 overall Arizona Wildcats in a thriller that came down to the wire.

However, though UCLA is starting out 1-0 , the matchup did bring up an interesting concern surrounding the offense. In fact, it's the same concern that the Bruins displayed in the first two of their exhibition games in the preseason.

Mar 20, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; UCLA Bruins forward Eric Dailey Jr. (3) shoots a free throw in the second half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Defense Kept UCLA in the Game

It's clear that this team is coached by Mick Cronin because the Bruins' defense has been impeccable in all three of the live contests that we've seen so far throughout this preseason, and now one week into the regular season.…