Donovan Dent's NCAA Tournament Surge

0:00On March 16, UCLA point guard Donovan Den had a rough start to his senior year after transferring from New Mexico. Coach Mick Cronin pushed him hard on defense and ball handling, leading to early struggles with turnovers and frustration on the court. Over the past two months, Den made a stunning turn around. In his last six games, he dished out 65 assists with just four turnovers, a huge improvement from his 3.1 average per game at his. Old school. Den sent him harsh messages after bad games, including threats, but Den brushed it off as part of the gambling era in sports. His high school coach noticed the abuse, and teammates now rave about how his play lifts the whole team's energy. Den's recent highlights include a triple double in the big 10 tournament against Rutgers, with 12 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds, the first ever there. He's also stepped up his defense, earning praise from Cronin for finally embracing the tough coaching style. With the minor calf injury behind him, Den heads into the Bruins NCAA tournament opener,

1:03smiling and confident, fueling a team surge that could take them deep.