By Stephen Vilardo, SuperWest Sports
Sports
Off-and-On Again UCLA Hoops Peaking at the Right Time
Most of the headlines this season, beyond the gym, have involved head coach Mick Cronin.
From questioning his squad’s toughness to kicking Steven Jamerson out of a game to doubting his team’s potential, the seventh-year coach has been borderline embarrassing.
Through it all, though, UCLA has persevered and seems to be peaking at the right time.
The Bruins’ tournament resume got a big boost this week after knocking off Illinois on Saturday and dismantling USC on Tuesday night.
Donovan Dent had a big week. Against Illinois, he played 42 minutes, finishing with 14 points, including the game-winner to cap the upset.
More impressively, over the last two wins, he has dished out 22 assists without turning the ball over in 80 minutes of court time.
The two-game winning streak has improved UCLA’s record to 11-6 in Big Ten play and 19-9 overall.
Winners of seven of their last 10 games, the Bruins seem to have righted some of their woes following a tough two-game swing through the State of Michigan.
The trip to the Great Lakes State is certainly no picnic this season as both the Wolverines and Spartans look like legitimate challengers in March.
But a pair of lopsided losses by an average of 26.5 points in the two contests could have signaled the end for UCLA.
Instead, the Bruins got themselves off the mat with a pair of impressive performances.
This UCLA team enters March with seven of its nine losses coming against Quad 1 opponents, and only one of them at Pauley Pavilion.
If Dent can start finding his shooting stroke consistently—especially on threes—it will be a big lift for the Bruin offense.
The senior point guard has connected on only 24.1% of his triples this season.
That makes his performance against the Trojans all the more promising, as he knocked down five of six from distance.
He ranks fifth in the nation with 7.2 assists per game, but his threat to score from outside will open things up more for the likes of Tyler Bilodeau and Trent Perry.
Perry has stepped up recently as the sophomore guard has reached double figures in nine of his last 10 games, while averaging 15.2 points per outing during that stretch.
UCLA’s offense is averaging 78.0 points per game, ranking 136th nationally, but 77.6% of the team’s scoring has come from five players.
The Bruins could use more production from their bench down the stretch.
UCLA does not have any bad losses this season, with a neutral-site loss at the hands of California being the worst on the resume.
That loss could loom large down the stretch as the Bears are a fellow bubble team and the head-to-head result could come into play.
The homecourt overtime loss to Indiana would fall into that same category. But UCLA has a chance to erase all bubble talk with a strong finish to the regular season.
Each of the final three games on the schedule would be Quad 1 wins today.
Trips to Minnesota and USC sandwiched around a visit from Nebraska give UCLA the chance to make a statement before they head to Chicago for the Big Ten Tournament.
The Bruins need to continue their current surge. They are right smack dab in the midst of the huge NCAA bubble, but the opportunity is there to separate themselves from the pack.
UCLA had high expectations heading into the season, and they still have time to deliver on them. This is a talented team with the potential to make a lot of noise in March if they click.
The Bruins seem to be getting hot at the right time, but just how hot remains to be seen.
writes about various topics for SuperWest sports, including stats and records, college sports, and motorsports. He also founded and runs the Sports and Entertainment Research Center (SERC).
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