UCLA's March Madness Hopes Hinge on Depth

0:00On March 21st, UCLA heads into the men's NCAA tournament missing its leading score. Forward Tyler Bilado sprained his right knee during a Big Ten tournament win over Michigan State earlier this month. The senior was listed as questionable, but ultimately ruled out for the seven-seated Bruins' first-round match-up against 10th-seated UCF on March 20th. The six-foot-9 forward averages 17.6 points per game and earned 13 all Big Ten honors this season. Without him, UCLA turns to guards like Donovan Dent, Trent Perry, Sky Clark and Eric Daily Junior, all scoring more than 10 points per game. The Bruins finished the year 23 wins and 11 losses, placing 6th in the Big Ten. Reactions poured in from across the bracket as early exits hit hard. North Carolina lost an overtime to VCU. Ohio State fell to TCU and teams like Sienna, Mignice, North Dakota State, and others walked off courts in. Disappointment during first-round action on March 19th. Bilado spent his first two college seasons at Oregon State before transferring to UCLA in 2024.

1:06Last year, the Bruins beat Utah State in the first round, but lost to Tennessee in the second. Meanwhile, upsets keep the tournament wide open, and UCLA hopes its depth carries them deeper into March madness.