In mid-February, UCLA hit one of its worst lows of the season.
In a game the team lost by 23 points to a powerful Michigan State team, head coach Mick Cronin ejected his own players and then lashed out at a reporter for “raising” his voice.
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Just one month later, the Bruins (23-10, 13-7 Big Ten) defeated the Spartans (25-7, 15-5 Big Ten) 88-84 in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals.
But this time brought its own challenges, with forward Tyler Bilodeau exiting the first half with a sprained knee and Cronin saying it would take a “miracle” to recover for the next game.
Regardless, UCLA got the job done and the team is going in a completely different direction, winning six of its last seven games
“These guys are not backing down,” Cronin said. “I’m proud of them for that.”
Guard Trent Perry made all four of his free throws in the final minute, and the Spartans fouled out and failed in an attempt to extend the game that the Bruins had just exceeded. He ended up with 22 points.
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Guard Donovan Dent had his first triple-double in Big Ten Tournament history against Rutgers on Thursday, and he was within striking distance of doing it again, finishing with a team-leading 23 points, 12 assists and six rebounds. In the past seven games, he has dished out 77 assists and committed just six turnovers.
Forward Eric Dailey Jr. had a double-double with 14 points and seven rebounds, but perhaps more importantly was his team-leading 12 interceptions and two blocks.
“He’s great,” Dent said of Daley. “He actually beat me by one point on our deflection; I was a little pissed off about that. He barely got it, but we’ll ignore that.”
Daley scratched Dent’s head as they complemented each other and were the last players left in the locker room after the game until Cronin popped up to tell them they’d answered enough questions.
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It’s time to go. The next day, the Bruins will face seventh-seeded Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals.
UCLA earned this spot with a stellar shooting performance, shooting 53.8% from 3-point range in the first half and leading 44-33 at halftime. Perry scored 10 of the first 22 points.
Just five minutes into the second half, the Bruins’ advantage expanded to 54-39. The Spartans launched a 7-0 counterattack. But the Bruins responded, reestablishing their double-digit lead multiple times over the next few minutes.
Even as the Spartans cut their lead to two, even as Bilodeau sat on the bench with his knees frozen, and even as the Michigan fans cheered, they finished the game.
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Reserve guard Brandon Williams scored 9 points and 4 rebounds, while reserve guard Eric Freeney added 3 rebounds.
“We have so much depth,” Dent said, “that the next guy can step up at any time.”
Dent said UCLA’s changed defensive mentality has led to recent success, as evidenced by Friday. After a while, Perry largely ignored questions about offensive improvements and instead discussed defensive growth.
While the Bruins gave up 84 points on Friday, they gave up 33 in the first half, giving them an undefeated advantage.
“They were rolling, but we kept responding,” Cronin said. “We showed composure and made great shots.”
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For a team starting with three guards, rebounding continued to be an issue as the Spartans grabbed 34 rebounds to the Bruins’ 26. But it’s just something they have to live with, Cronin said, and they do it by shooting the ball and running the offense at a high level.
UCLA is projected to enter the game as the No. 8 seed in ESPN’s Joe Lunardi’s predictions, and who knows where UCLA will land if it keeps this momentum going. No. 7? No. 6? Maybe, better?
Neither forward Xavier Booker, who fouled out in just 14 minutes, nor forward Steven Jamerson II, who fouled out with a flagrant foul before halftime, met Cronin’s standards.
But those concerns are much better than the last time Cronin kicked Jamerson out of the game after chasing a foul.
The Bruins may have some insight into this team.
“It’s March,” Dent said. “That’s what we get paid for.”