UCLA Bruins Power Index: 30.2*

The Bruins were young at key spots and inconsistent from game to game last season, but when NCAA Tournament rolled around, UCLA made its annual trip to the Sweet 16. The same Bruin squad that lost to Ball State, Pepperdine and barely squeaked by UC Irvine, throttled Kansas, beat Arizona, and then dispatched a No. 1 seed (Cincinnati) in the NCAAs. UCLA has one of the best shooters in college basketball in Jason Kapono, who has a chance to finish among the top three scorers all-time at UCLA. Kapono has a lightning quick trigger on his shot, and can hit from deep and mid-range. He is an excellent passer, and understands how to play so well that he can run the point. Steve Lavin has size and athleticism on this team, and he will run more unstructured motion offense to take advantage of his different pieces. The absolute key to the season is the play of sophomore point guard Cedric Bozeman. The smooth, 6-7 guard played injured all of last season, but was at his best in the NCAA Tournament. Dijon Thompson has the chance to be a great college player, and T.J. Cummings is an athletic big man who can be relied upon to score and rebound at a higher and more consistent rate. UCLA has the talent to contend, but must have leadership from the talented, but quiet Bozeman. -- Jay Bilas

Toughness: 5.0
This is the issue that dogs the Bruins. UCLA's toughness is always in question. West Coast players deal with the "soft" label and especially those who play at Pauley Pavilion. The hope is that Jon Crispin will help toughen up the perimeter and that the returnees, especially up front, can be as intimidating as Dan Gadzuric was at times last season. Cummings and Thompson could be tougher players if they applied themselves and Kapono has matured into a mentally tougher player. Kapono knows when and where to take shots and should be one of the better leaders in the Pac-10. He's not the most physical guard, but he has been taking contact better the last year.

Talent: 5.2
The Bruins lost some of their talent level when Evan Burns failed to qualify and Andre Patterson was deemed ineligible for the first quarter. He's got a shot to get onto the team by mid-December but no one is counting on him. Bozeman hasn't reached his potential as a playmaker just yet. Kapono is one of the purest shooters in the game and Thompson is a legit slashing scorer. Cummings has battled inconsistency, but has a chance to produce double-doubles. Michael Fey could be a difference maker if he's able to stay out of foul trouble in the post and the Bruins have depth, albeit inexperience, with Ryan Hollins. Crispin is a situational shooter and Ryan Walcott a legitimate backup point.

Tourney Tested: 6.3
UCLA answers this category without an issue. The Bruins always seem to give their best effort in mid-March. UCLA can't find a consistent streak at other times of the year, but Lavin's speeches or the players' sense of urgency always seems to pick up in the NCAA Tournament. But the Bruins can't expect their ability to play well in March to save them every season. Last season, UCLA caught one of the easier No. 1 seeds when it drew Cincinnati in the second round. That won't be the case every season and the Bruins need to take care of business so they're not put in a near-impossible second-round situation.

Schedule: 8.6
The Bruins will get a true test against Duke in Indianapolis and are facing their toughest game prior to New Year's at Kansas. Playing Michigan and St. John's at home shouldn't scare them, but a dangerous game awaits at Georgetown in February. The Bruins haven't been a good Pac-10 road team against the league's upper echelon, except for its trip to Stanford. The Bruins must get tougher when they go to Oregon, Arizona State and USC if they want to challenge for the Pac-10 title. But the Bruins have successfully been a March team, enough to where there shouldn't be too much concern in Westwood.

Xs & Os: 5.1
Lavin gets criticized often for his tactical skills, but he must be doing something right to keep winning in March. He made a good adjustment two years ago when he went to a more pressing system. He's got to get Kapono more shots and create opportunities for Bozeman this season. If Fey and Cummings can score in the post, the Bruins will be more balanced.

-- Andy Katz

ESPN.com's Power Index is based on a 10-point scale in each of these five categories: Toughness, Talent, Schedule Strength, Tournament Tested, Xs & Os. Teams are scored based on returning players, coaching staffs, a program's past performances in the regular season and postseason, as well as expectations heading into the 2002-03 season.