Double digit loss team, no one expected them to make the run they did, but they got blazingly hot at the right moment-- and after the season, they're in a unique position to bring back everyone (UCLA's roster actually *got better* in addition to bringing back everyone), so the media assumes they're a title favorite. Some of the ESPNs and CBSs had UCLA Top 3 coming into the season... but then this year, they weren't ever much better than a top 10-15 type of team.

Because the truth of the matter tends to be if you're a double digit loss team, but you also show the potential to go all the way with a deep run, then more often than not, you're probably somewhere in the middle-- not a double digit loss team, not a title favorite, more of a Sweet 16/Elite Eight contender with some upside if things go well.

Worth noting that, unless they decide to use their COVID exemption and stay in school, I don't think Black and Manek are very easy replacements. 6'10, 40+% high-major shooters don't often pop up in the transfer portal, nor do consistently effective lockdown perimeter defenders with that combo of length and positional speed. They'll obviously be an attractive destination for transfers, so it'll be interesting to see how Davis plugs those gaps if those guys choose to go.