Maybe a referendum on UCLA basketball isn’t required right now, or at least it can wait.
The team we’ve seen in recent games is, well, more in line with what many expected from the start of the season.
Donovan Dent has been a whirlwind on the court, Xavier Booker shows promise as a rebounder and defender, and Tyler Bilodeau, let’s just say, has a knack for scoring.
More crucially, the Bruins have stepped up their defense to meet the standards set by their coach.
After overcoming a tough patch and a hamstring injury to guard Skye Clark, they pulled off a surprising win against then-No. 4 Purdue and followed that up with victories over Northwestern and Oregon, winning five of their last six games.
Still, these victories are just steps toward greater growth.
UCLA finds itself on the NCAA Tournament bubble, which isn’t the ideal spot for a storied program in college basketball. If they don’t perform well next month, there’s a real chance they could miss out on the postseason for the second time in three years.
This would put coach Mick Cronin in a tough position heading into the next season, and any major signings would seem unlikely.
Here’s a quick rundown of where the Bruins are at and what they need to focus on as the season winds down.
NCAA tournament status
Currently, most forecasts have UCLA pegged as a No. 10 seed, with ESPN’s Joe Lunardi suggesting they are barely avoiding the “last four” cut line.
With half of their Big Ten schedule left, UCLA (15-6 overall, 7-3 Big Ten) really needs to finish at least 6-4 in their remaining games to stay safe for Sunday’s selection.
Lacking significant nonconference wins, they must aim for a top-tier finish in the Big Ten to secure an NCAA Tournament spot. Upcoming games against Michigan, Michigan State, Illinois, and Nebraska offer crucial chances for Quad 1 wins.
biggest revelation
Trent Perry, the sophomore guard, has made remarkable progress over the past few weeks, prompting Cronin to think about keeping him around for the next season.
“I managed to convince myself to come here,” Cronin remarked loudly. “Now, I just hope I can convince him to stick around.”
Since Clark went down, Perry’s averaged 15.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in his last seven games, shooting 42.5 percent overall, 40.6 percent from three-point range, and an impressive 91.9 percent from the free-throw line.
The big question will be how to best utilize Clark’s time once he’s back. Is a three-guard lineup in the cards for the Bruins?
biggest disappointment
Until recently, Dent would’ve been the obvious choice here.
He still might be, but those who are optimistic don’t need to squint too hard to see the improvement since his days in New Mexico. Dent’s confidence has surged, making him more aggressive in attacking the basket. This has resulted in crucial layups and jumpers that bolster the Bruins’ offense.
He’s also active on defense and is adhering to Coach Cronin’s directive to limit errors, boasting an impressive assist-to-turnover ratio of over 3-to-1.
Yet, shooting remains a concern. Dent has hit only 7 of 33 three-pointers (21.2%) and has a free-throw percentage of 60.4%, which needs to improve for UCLA to be competitive come March.
biggest problem
Without solid defense or rebounding, the Bruins likely won’t make it past the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
They’ve recently made strides in both areas, contributing to their winning run. Cronin has tweaked the defense to mask some weaknesses while emphasizing team play. If Booker can keep up his rebounding performance, especially like he did against Northwestern, perhaps the Bruins can better contend with more physical opponents.
season ceiling
This team has its fair share of limitations that complicate any potential advancement in the NCAA Tournament.
However, if Dent can sustain his midseason improvements, if the defense keeps getting better, and if Clark rebounds quickly after his injury, a taste of March Madness could still be within reach.
