Overview
- During a timeout at the UCLA–Indiana basketball game, Chesney addressed fans at Pauley Pavilion and vowed the Bruins are "about to win a Big Ten Championship."
- He introduced his newly assembled staff on the court, calling it "the best staff in the world," and told fans, "This is the team of the future."
- Reporting indicates he has already added more than 40 players through the transfer portal and recruiting as he reshapes the roster before his first season.
- Early indicators remain skeptical, with betting odds around +50,000 for the national title and roughly +27,000 for the Big Ten, and an SP+ ranking near 99th nationally.
- The pledge comes as UCLA seeks its first conference title since 1998 and prepares for a challenging Big Ten slate that includes road trips to Oregon, Ohio State and Michigan.