UCLA's Bruins Face UConn Without Injured Star

0:00On March 23rd, UCLA's seventh-seated Bruins headed into their second-round NCAA tournament matchup against second-seated Yukon without leading score. Tyler Bilado for the second game in a row. The forward sprained his right knee last week during the Big Ten tournament, and he's averaging 17.6 points and 5.6 rebounds. A. Gang. Earlier this week, things looked promising for Bilado, after he returned to practice with no structural damage to the knee. But Coach Mick Cronin decided to keep him out of Friday's first round win over UCF, prioritizing long-term health over a quick return. Cronin explained he needs to see Balodo moving confidently, without any doubt about his knee stability. The protective call helped UCLA edge out the nights, but it leaves a big gap against the powerhouse like Yukon. Bilado joined the morning shoot-around before tip-off at Exfinity Mobile Arena, yet the staff held firm on sitting him. This marks his second-straight tournament absence as the Bruins adapt on the fly.

1:00With Bilado watching from the bench, UCLA faces a tough test of its depth and resilience in this high-stakes clash.