LAS VEGAS — The biggest question facing the Bruins entering the postseason was how they would adjust to the loss of Jaylen Clark.
“I think we’re still trying to figure that out,” said senior guard/forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. “He brings so much to our team.”
No. 1 seed UCLA men’s basketball got its first taste of playing without its Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in Clark on Thursday. With the junior guard sidelined for the rest of the season with an Achilles injury, the Bruins opened up their Pac-12 tournament run with a win over No. 9 seed Colorado in the quarterfinals.
Jaquez said while Clark is one of UCLA’s most impactful players on both ends of the floor, the Bruins have other players who can help fill the void.
“He’s our X-factor,” Jaquez said. “With that being said, we got a lot of guys that could step up.”
With Clark’s 30.5 minutes per night absent from the equation in Thursday’s win over Colorado, most of UCLA’s rotation players tallied more minutes on the court than their season averages. Fifth-year guard David Singleton filled in the fifth spot in the starting lineup, playing 35 minutes but shooting just 2-of-8 from the field.
Coach Mick Cronin said he considered inserting redshirt freshman guard Will McClendon into the starting lineup instead of Singleton but settled on Singleton because of his loyalty to the program over the last five seasons.
“Strategically, part of me wants to start Will just because he’s a better rebounder, and I like having Dave come in (off the bench) to make shots,” Cronin said.
While McClendon ultimately didn’t get the nod in the starting lineup, he still played 15 minutes. In the first half alone, the guard had already tallied a career-high-tying three assists and four rebounds.
McClendon was one of a few names mentioned as potential players who will have increased roles with Clark sidelined, alongside freshman guard Dylan Andrews and freshman guard/forward Abramo Canka.
The three combined for just one point, but Cronin said he isn’t just looking at the scoring tally.
“I don’t always put bench production on points. Will McClendon had four rebounds in the first half,” Cronin said. “He gives us a lot of the same attributes (as Clark) as far as toughness and rebounding and things of that nature.”
Freshman guard Amari Bailey, however, stole the show among the rookie contributors. While Bailey has been a regular starter for the Bruins, he tallied a career-high 26 points Thursday, routinely driving to the basket and getting to the free-throw line.
Jaquez said it’s only a matter of time before the rest of the rotation pieces start to click too.
“Amari just had a great night tonight, and I’m sure that guys like DA (Andrews), Will, Abramo, when their number is called, they’re gonna step up just as big,” Jaquez said. “I’m excited to see what we have in store for them.”
The second test for the Clark-less Bruins will come Friday at 6 p.m. when UCLA takes on No. 4 seed Oregon for a spot in the Pac-12 championship game.
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