The UCLA Bruins are finding themselves in a familiar early-season bind: relying heavily on their starters while searching for answers off the bench. Over the past two games, the Bruins' second unit has combined for just 14 points-a number that not only raises eyebrows but also raises the workload for the starting five, who are logging 35 to 37 minutes a night. That’s a heavy lift, especially in a sport where pace, pressure, and fatigue can swing a game in just a few possessions.
Against Gonzaga, the strain showed. The Bruins couldn’t quite keep up with the Zags’ depth and tempo, and the lack of bench production became a clear vulnerability.
Even in their previous win over Oregon-a 74-63 victory that looked solid on paper-the bench didn’t offer much support. And while beating Oregon is always a good result, it’s worth noting that the Ducks aren’t exactly operating at the level of a Gonzaga or the top-tier Big Ten squads UCLA will soon face.
The margin for error is shrinking, and Mick Cronin knows it.
One name that’s flashed potential off the bench is freshman guard Trent Perry. He’s shown the kind of spark you want in a sixth man, someone who can come in and change the pace or provide a scoring burst.
Earlier this season against Eastern Washington, Perry put up 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting across 11 possessions-an efficient, composed outing that hinted at what he could become. But Perry’s been working his way back from injury, and the Bruins are still waiting for him to fully rejoin the rotation at full strength.
In the meantime, it’s up to players like Brandon Williams and Jamar Brown-both of whom have starting experience-to step up. These are guys who’ve been in the mix before, and now they have a real opportunity to force Cronin’s hand.
If they can string together consistent performances, it creates the kind of “good problem” coaches love: too many players earning minutes. But right now, that problem doesn’t exist.
The Bruins are effectively running a six-man rotation, and that’s just not sustainable-not in December, and definitely not come March.
Because here’s the reality of college basketball: as the season wears on, rotations tighten. By the time you hit the postseason, most teams are rolling with eight, maybe nine guys.
UCLA’s current six-man setup isn’t just thin-it’s risky. The game is fast, the defense is relentless, and the wear and tear is real.
Teams that can’t go to their bench with confidence often find themselves running on fumes in the final minutes. And that’s when leads evaporate and seasons end.
We've seen it happen before. Just look at Kansas earlier this year, when they blew a 21-point lead to Baylor-the largest collapse in program history.
That kind of loss doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Fatigue, mental lapses, and lack of depth all play a role.
And if UCLA doesn’t shore up its second unit, they could find themselves in a similar spot when the stakes are highest.
The Bruins’ season so far has been a bit of a roller coaster. There are stretches where they look like they’re putting it all together-strong defense, smart shot selection, great ball movement.
But then come the lapses, and more often than not, those lapses are linked to the bench. This team has talent.
They have guys who’ve scored at the college level and have the ability to contribute. But potential doesn’t win games-production does.
For UCLA to hit its ceiling, the bench has to be part of the equation. Because if the Bruins want to make a real run in the Big Ten and beyond, they can’t rely on five or six players to carry them the whole way.
The grind is too long, and the competition is too deep. The question now is simple: who’s ready to step up?