LOS ANGELES — A common notion permeates throughout the UCLA men’s basketball locker room as the players discuss their expectations for this season. They share a cautious optimism. Confidence to predict success, coupled with wariness to not get ahead of themselves.

“I just don’t want to jinx it,” point guard Donovan Dent says. “I think we could go deep, like Final Four range, but I won’t say the big one. I won’t say nothing like that. But, yeah, I think we could get there.”

Dent and his teammates’ belief is steadfast because of what each sees when they crane their necks to scan their peers. They know what it takes to make a run. Bruins head coach Mick Cronin has drilled it into them.

Experience, talent, toughness. Specifically, in that order.

“It’s just gonna come down to how much we re

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