A week after facing a serious hurdle, UCLA seems to be rallying as a cohesive unit.
It’s mid-March.
“I’m having a lot of fun,” point guard Donovan Dent shared late Tuesday night.
With such a remarkable turnaround, who wouldn’t be feeling good?
Dent has consistently impressed with his play. Coach Mick Cronin has shifted from being tough on players to engaging with them in a more lighthearted way.
The Bruins appear to have pinned down their optimal lineup. Starting three guards and moving Tyler Bilodeau to center seems to have unlocked the offense’s potential. This change has also allowed big man Xavier Booker to shine in recent games.
This strategy led to an 81-62 victory over USC at Pauley Pavilion, marking a significant win against a top-10 rival.
UCLA’s record of 19-9 overall and 11-6 in the Big Ten has transformed the team from an underdog in the NCAA Tournament to a contender that could create some noise in the postseason.
The key to this success has been Dent’s revival, who didn’t quite mirror his strong performance from New Mexico throughout the season.
“If our best players don’t perform, we’re not going anywhere in March,” Cronin pointed out.
Dent has delivered back-to-back standout performances, accumulating 14 points, 15 assists, and no turnovers against Illinois, followed by a season-high 30 points with seven assists and, again, no turnovers against the Trojans.
OptaSTATS reveals that Dent is the only Division I player in the past 30 years to have at least 40 points, 20 assists, and zero turnovers across two games.
Dent expressed optimism. “I hope it continues like this,” he said. “I struggled early in the season, but getting back on track now is big for both the team and me.”
UCLA’s offense has benefitted from a new trio of guards, with Dent alongside Skye Clark and Trent Perry. Perry contributed significantly with 13 points, four assists, and four steals against USC, making him a reliable scoring option.
“Tyler Bilodeau can’t be the only one hoping for success,” Cronin quipped.
Cronin’s commentary draws a parallel to a historical baseball situation where a team had strong pitchers but not much else.
Every player in UCLA’s starting lineup is capable of stepping up, allowing the team to navigate rough patches, such as Eric Daley Jr.’s quiet one-point outing against USC.
They also tackled rebounding challenges, outperforming USC on the boards by ten, thanks to a gritty defense and an offense that showcased efficient shooting and solid ball movement.
“We’re not perfect in every area, and we won’t be. When we share the ball, though, our offense is quite effective,” Cronin mentioned.
UCLA is eager to maintain this momentum after a morale-crushing loss to Michigan and Michigan State collectively by 53 points. Adding to the drama was Cronin’s ejection of backup center Stephen Jamerson II during a game against the Spartans, which drew criticism from fans and media alike.
Lucky for him, his players seem to have moved past the incident.
“We faced a tough time, but it could have gone one of two ways,” Perry reflected. “We could’ve folded or grown stronger. I think we’re developing a closer bond now, and the coaches have been motivating us.”
In a lighter moment, Cronin resumed his playful banter with players, teasing Dent about Riverside being merely a truck stop, a nod to a comment made by the late Bill Walton about other conferences.
Perhaps a testament to their growing rapport, Dent playfully shot back, “Ignore him. Riverside is beautiful. It truly is beautiful, everyone.”
