COLUMBUS, Ohio — It is perhaps time for UCLA to contemplate some prospects about its basketball workforce, beginning with the apparent: It’s simply not shaping as much as be all that good.
The Bruins can’t defend for lengthy stretches, and once they do they typically surrender an offensive rebound. Xavier Booker’s transition to heart isn’t understanding. Tyler Bilodeau can’t appear to seek out sufficient constant offensive assist. Donovan Dent seems to be a mean level guard on the Massive Ten degree.
UCLA’s limitations had been on full, irritating show as soon as extra Saturday afternoon throughout an 86-74 loss to Ohio State on the Schottenheim Heart.
The Bruins received hammered on the boards, gave up too many large runs and couldn’t generate constant offense in having their two-game successful streak damaged.
Some would possibly say it’s powerful to win on the highway on this convention — particularly with guard Skyy Clark sidelined as soon as extra by a hamstring damage — however the Bruins fell quick within the power and toughness departments whereas falling behind by as many as 19 factors.
After giving up 12-0 and 8-0 runs early within the second half, UCLA (12-6 general, 4-3 Massive Ten) was additional deflated when it gave up two offensive rebounds on the identical possession after which dedicated a foul to ship a Buckeyes participant to the free-throw line.
Ohio State (12-5, 4-3) shot 52.8% from the sector and received the rebounding battle, 37-27, with 12 offensive rebounds resulting in 17 second-chance factors. Buckeyes guard John Mobley Jr. (28 factors, six three-pointers) and ahead Devin Royal (22 factors, 9 rebounds) had been a significant nuisance for a protection incapable of offering greater than token resistance.
Bilodeau’s 30 factors weren’t almost sufficient on a day that Dent added 13 and ahead Eric Dailey Jr. fouled out with almost 9 minutes left after tallying 12 factors and 4 rebounds. Three days after he had a career-high 30 factors, UCLA guard Trent Perry may handle solely seven whereas making two of 9 pictures.
Nearly nothing went the Bruins’ far more than midway throughout the nation.
A primary half that was one thing of an train in frustration for UCLA resulted in becoming trend.
Mobley curled round within the backcourt to take the inbounds cross and dribbled his method into an open three-pointer that pushed the Buckeyes right into a 42-36 lead. Mobley was as much as 18 factors by then, the Bruins unable to gradual him irrespective of who tried to defend him.
As he walked off the courtroom towards the locker room, UCLA coach Mick Cronin had some phrases for Dent, who prolonged his arms in frustration.
The Bruins remained inside placing distance thanks largely to Bilodeau, whose 15 factors got here largely on the energy of constructing three of 4 three-pointers. Dent made two of three three-pointers, which was noteworthy contemplating he entered the sport having made simply two of twenty-two this season.
UCLA performed a fourth consecutive recreation with out guard Clark, who continues to shut in on a return from the damage he suffered within the second half of his workforce’s loss to Iowa earlier this month.
In the meantime, Cronin is perhaps closing in on one other determination — what to do about Booker. The large man received one other begin Saturday earlier than offering little or no in return. He received yanked after solely two minutes, by no means to return after Cronin pointed to the spot of an obvious defensive breakdown as Booker walked previous him on his technique to taking a seat on the bench.
Steven Jamerson II began the second half in Booker’s place. It made no distinction for a workforce with too many deficiencies.
