UCLA might be getting a major boost just in time for its high-stakes showdown with Michigan this weekend. Sophomore guard Skyy Clark, the Bruins’ most efficient scorer and one of their top perimeter defenders, has been listed as questionable for Saturday’s game after missing more than a month with a hamstring injury. And his potential return couldn’t come at a better time for a team that's been grinding through a tough stretch without him.
Clark hasn’t played since January 3, but he was averaging 13.5 points per game before the injury sidelined him. His absence has been felt on both ends of the floor, especially in UCLA’s second unit. With Clark out, head coach Mick Cronin moved freshman Trent Perry into the starting lineup-a move that’s helped stabilize the first five but left the bench thin and inconsistent.
Perry’s been a revelation in his expanded role. The combo guard has stepped in with confidence, showing off his ability to score, defend, and play with poise beyond his years.
He’s been the kind of spark plug Cronin can count on-whether it’s to swing momentum or steady the offense. But pulling him from the bench has created a vacuum in the second unit, one that’s become more glaring as the Bruins lean heavily on their starters night after night.
So what happens if Clark is cleared to play against Michigan? That’s where things get interesting.
Clark’s return doesn’t just mean getting back a 13.5 PPG scorer-it means reshuffling a rotation that’s still trying to find its rhythm. If Perry stays in the starting five, someone else has to move to the bench.
One possible scenario? Going small and shifting Eric Dailey Jr. out of the starting lineup, which would keep Tyler Bilodeau at the four.
That could work, but it’s not without complications. Bilodeau is much more effective when he’s not asked to anchor the defense at center.
When he has to slide into the five, he burns a lot of energy battling bigger bodies in the paint, which takes away from his offensive impact. And while Dailey Jr. has struggled at times this season, moving him to the second unit could actually give him a chance to reset and reignite his game.
He’s got the tools to be a difference-maker off the bench-something UCLA desperately needs right now.
One thing seems clear: the Bruins can’t keep relying this heavily on their starters. With a critical stretch of the schedule looming, depth is going to matter more than ever. Whether it’s Clark returning to the starting lineup or Dailey Jr. finding his groove off the bench, UCLA needs more production from its full rotation if it wants to stay competitive.
As for Clark, his impact goes beyond the box score. He’s a floor-spacer on offense, a multi-positional defender, and a tone-setter who brings energy and leadership. If he’s healthy enough to go against Michigan, it could be a turning point-not just for this game, but for the Bruins’ season as a whole.
Bottom line: UCLA’s margin for error is slim, and getting Skyy Clark back could be the spark that reignites their push toward March.