UCLA spent the offseason with one obvious question hanging over the frontcourt: could this group rebound well enough to hold up in the Big Ten?
For one night at least, the answer looked a lot better. In an exhibition against Cal Baptist, the Bruins turned that concern into a strength, controlling the glass in a way that stood out from start to finish. UCLA finished with a massive 57-29 edge in rebounds, and several players chipped in to make that happen.
Xavier Booker, whose rebounding has been an issue early in his career, gave UCLA exactly the kind of showing the staff and fans wanted to see. In 20 minutes, he pulled down nine rebounds while also contributing on the offensive end. That kind of production could become the standard for him this season.
Booker wasn’t carrying the load alone. Eric Dailey Jr. filled the box score in multiple ways, scoring 25 points and grabbing seven rebounds, including six on the defensive side.
Nikola Kusturica used his length to collect eight boards, and his ability to make rebounding look natural was a major part of the Bruins’ success. Auburn transfer Filip Jovic matched him with eight rebounds in just 18 minutes, while freshman Joe Philon added seven boards in 18 minutes as well.
That made Philon the fifth UCLA player to finish with at least seven rebounds.
It should be noted that this came against a lower-level opponent in an exhibition setting. Still, Wednesday night offered a clear sign of what UCLA can look like if its size and effort translate into the season. The Bruins’ next test is a major one against Arizona, which has one of the best frontcourts in the country, and UCLA will need that same collective work on the boards to keep this early concern from resurfacing.
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UCLAs Playoff Push Now Rests On Three Bruins Against Michigan State
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A big part of that next step will come from the supporting cast around Dieffenbach, especially Jalen Saint Paul and Wayne Knight. Saint Paul gave the quarterback a dependable outlet in the last game, while Knight is looking to put a rough outing behind him and remind UCLA what he can add to the attack. With the Bruins trying to keep their College Football Playoff push alive, this feels like one of those games where the offense has to show it can keep building instead of just surviving. [Read more 🡒]