The team with better depth may decide the winner when UCLA plays Ohio State on Saturday in Columbus.
The potential for key injury absences on both sidelines could force others to step up.
UCLA (12-5, 4-2 Big Ten) has been without second-leading scorer Skyy Clark since he sustained a hamstring injury against Iowa on Jan. 3. He averages 13.5 points and 2.8 rebounds and has made 48.6% of his 3-pointers.
The Bruins are 2-1 without him, and he is unlikely to return against the Buckeyes (11-5, 3-3 Big Ten) even though Clark was on the court prior to the Bruins’ game at Penn State on Wednesday.
“I’d put him on the doubtful (list), but he looked good in the shootaround,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said.
Trent Perry picked up the slack with a career-high 30 points in the 71-60 win over Penn State, surpassing his previous best by 13.
In addition to the Clark injury, the Bruins also had several players sidelined by illness for the Nittany Lions game.
“You’ve got to push through,” Cronin said. “You’ve got to get five guys out there and find a way to win the game. I mean, it’s tough. Especially in this era because you’re not going to be that deep because of the portal.”
The Buckeyes have their own problems. Center Christoph Tilly exited an 81-74 loss at Washington on Sunday with 15 minutes left due to a head injury.
Ohio State coach Jake Diebler was unsure Thursday if Tilly (12.4 points, 5.4 rebounds per game) would be available.
“Hopeful, I think, is the best way to describe it,” Diebler said. “No determination yet as far as status on Saturday. Him and a couple of other guys, we tried to give them as much rest as we could this week. We’ll see.”
With Tilly out and forward Brandon Noel (foot) sidelined indefinitely since Jan. 5, Diebler called on freshman forward Amare Bynum for spot duty at center in the closing stages at Washington. He had 20 points.
“I had to learn plays on the fly,” Bynum said.
–Field Level Media
