Two Big Ten teams riding a wave of momentum will clash in Los Angeles on Saturday, as UCLA hosts Indiana in a matchup that suddenly carries real weight in the conference standings.
Indiana (14-7, 5-5 Big Ten) is fresh off a statement win over No. 12 Purdue, knocking off their in-state rivals 72-67 in a game that could serve as a turning point for the Hoosiers. After a rough four-game skid earlier this month, Indiana has now won two straight, and they’re starting to look like the team many expected them to be.
Meanwhile, UCLA (15-6, 7-3 Big Ten) is quietly putting together one of the more impressive stretches in the conference. The Bruins have won three in a row and five of their last six, with their latest victory-a convincing 73-57 road win over Oregon-showcasing just how dialed in this team is on both ends of the floor.
Tyler Bilodeau led the way against the Ducks with 18 points, while Eric Dailey Jr. chipped in 14 points and matched a career high with 11 rebounds. But it was UCLA’s defense that told the story.
The Bruins held Oregon to just 35.6% shooting from the field and a chilly 28.1% from beyond the arc. That kind of defensive intensity has become a hallmark of this current stretch-UCLA hasn’t allowed more than 67 points in any game during its winning streak.
Still, the Bruins are doing all this without one of their top offensive weapons. Guard Skyy Clark, the team’s second-leading scorer at 13.5 points per game, has missed the last seven games with a left hamstring injury. His status remains up in the air heading into Saturday, and his absence has forced others to step up-most notably Donovan Dent.
Dent has taken on a larger scoring role and responded with a 15-point outing against Oregon. He’s averaging 13.1 points per game, third-best on the team, and head coach Mick Cronin wants him to keep his foot on the gas.
“You can’t be a reluctant shooter in this game. You can’t,” Cronin said.
“You gotta believe in yourself. We’re gonna go rebound it.
When you get to 15 feet, 12 feet, jump up and shoot it. You can’t worry about a miss.”
That mindset will be critical against an Indiana squad that’s starting to find its rhythm offensively. In the win over Purdue, it was Lamar Wilkerson who stepped up with 19 points. Nick Dorn added 18, including four 3-pointers, while Tucker DeVries pulled down 10 boards to help the Hoosiers secure their first ranked win of the season.
Dorn, in particular, has become a real weapon from deep. He’s shooting a blistering 44.9% from three in Big Ten play (22-for-49), and his confidence is growing with each game.
“He’s finding his spots where he fits in our offense,” Indiana head coach Darian DeVries said. “And our guys know where he is, too, so he’s gotten very comfortable.
As you can see, he’s not afraid. He’ll let them go, and that’s another great option for us to continue to utilize, and even grow, into finding more ways to get him free.”
Both teams come into Saturday with something to prove-UCLA looking to continue its defensive dominance and stay near the top of the Big Ten standings, and Indiana aiming to prove that its win over Purdue wasn’t just a flash in the pan.
If recent form is any indication, we’re in for a battle between two programs that are heating up at just the right time.