The good times couldn’t last. After two short games, the UCLA Bruins are back to their old ways. UCLA dropped a crushing game to Minnesota on Saturday 78-73 to drop to 11-7 in the Big Ten Conference.
It was the Tyler Bilodeau Show on Saturday
After the win over USC earlier this week, UCLA head coach Mick Cronin knew that the Bruins couldn’t solely rely on Tyler Bilodeau and that his team would need production from other players.
“It can’t just be Tyler Bilodeau and pray for rain.” Cronin said earlier this week.
UCLA’s defense didn’t show up
On Saturday, it was Tyler Bilodeau, who scored 32 points and other than that, UCLA was forced to pray for rain. And that rain didn’t come. Skyy Clark knocked down four threes and scored 17 points, Eric Dailey Jr. added 18 points but the Bruins could not string together stops. Minnesota shot 58% from the field and 52% from three.
Bobby Durkin left UCLA hurting
UCLA showed the defensive effort that Cronin had been seeking against USC but that didn’t travel with the Bruins to Minnesota. Bobby Durkin buried seven threes for the Golden Gophers and sealed the game late at the free throw line.
Donovan Dent’s shot went missing again
Donovan Dent appeared to be turning a corner over the past two games but his shot inconsistencies re-appeared on Saturday. Dent totaled an impressive 15 assists but had only three points on 1-6 shooting.
UCLA can’t stay consistent
The loss complicates UCLA’s NCAA tournament outlook, after the wins over Illinois and USC greatly helped their case, the loss to Minnesota nullifies some of that.
This is who the Bruins are
At a certain point, you have to accept this UCLA team for what it is. Extremely inconsistent. The Bruins can lose to any team on any given night and they can compete with any team too. Saturday’s showing was a slap back to reality for the Bruins.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Smacked back to reality: UCLA falls on the road to Minnesota
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
