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Mick Cronin freezes time for his players throughout UCLA’s busiest stretch

Profitable massive has its privileges.

UCLA’s 39-issue blowout of Oregon State on Saturday permitted Bruins mentor Mick Cronin to go deep into his bench even though offering his starters a scarce breather.

No starter performed extra than Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s 27 minutes, and Jaylen Clark logged just 20.

It was just what the No. 12 Bruins essential as they ready to finish a extend of 6 games in 12 times Monday from Washington at Alaska Airways Arena.

Mentor Mick Cronin has finished all the things he can to maintain his players’ bodies limited of encasing them in bubble wrap. He has shortened or eradicated tactics, focusing on mental preparing and film periods over nearly anything that would include to the present burden on weary legs.

Starting lineups have been in flux for the reason that of injuries and oddities. Stage guard Tyger Campbell sat out one match due to the fact of a disciplinary issue and a different since of a bothersome shoulder. Top scorer Johnny Juzang skipped one particular game with a sore hip soon after slipping off a scooter and another sport simply because of a sprained ankle.

Cronin also borrowed a page from the NBA coaching playbook when he rested forward Cody Riley for a single sport, contacting it load administration.

Those absences authorized Clark to commence every single of the last five online games although supplying more minutes for reserve guards David Singleton and Jake Kyman. Singleton relished a modest uptick of 20.6 minutes for every recreation more than the the latest extend, in contrast to 18.1 minutes earlier, although Kyman’s enjoying time went up from 7.9 minutes for each sport to 11.2 minutes over the past five game titles.

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Riley’s time share with Myles Johnson in the write-up has resulted in a workable workload for just about every player. Riley, who moved back again into the setting up lineup against the Beavers, has averaged just 21.5 minutes in the four game titles he has played more than this active extend Johnson has averaged an even more modest 19.2 minutes while starting four of the previous 5 video games.

UCLA head mentor Mike Cronin calls out to gamers during the second 50 percent against Oregon Condition on Saturday in Corvallis, Ore.

(Amanda Loman / Linked Press)

Meanwhile, Jaquez’s troublesome ankles have gotten some rest whilst he has averaged 25.8 minutes above the past 5 online games. Campbell has averaged just 25.7 minutes in the three game titles he has played in excess of this stretch when Clark has led the way with an common of 29.2 minutes per match.

Cronin stated he regarded as Juzang uncertain for the activity against Washington on Monday, adding just one caveat.

“You hardly ever know,” Cronin claimed Saturday afternoon. “He places a great deal of work in on his physique with versatility and things like that, so he’ll shock you at periods.”

Soon after the Bruins engage in the Huskies, they will take pleasure in a welcome shock to their program: four days off ahead of experiencing USC in the ultimate recreation of the frequent season.

TONIGHT

AT WASHINGTON

When: 8 p.m. Monday.

The place: Alaska Airways Arena, Seattle.

On the air: Tv: ESPN2 Radio: 570.

Update: UCLA (21-6 over-all, 13-5 Pac-12) has clinched a bye in the initial round of the meeting match, but the Bruins have some lingering ambitions to fulfill over the upcoming week. They want to earn their last two frequent-period game titles to have any opportunity to overtake USC for 2nd put in the Pac-12 standings. Even in a down time, Washington (14-13, 9-8) has been formidable at house, successful 6 of seven meeting games.

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