Nov 3, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Mick Cronin talks to guard Donovan Dent (2) during the second half against the Eastern Washington Eagles at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Three Bruins Who Must Step Up Against Washington

Originally posted on UCLA Bruins on SI
By Andrew L. Ferguson Jr | Last updated Dec 3, 2025 1:00 PM ET

The Bruins are easily coming off their worst loss this season against California, a loss that would effectively remove them from the new AP rankings.

All around, the Bruins struggled against Cal, aside from a few standout performances. And while March is still four months away, this game could quietly become a turning point — one that determines whether UCLA has what it takes to make a deep run.

Donovan Dent | G

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After an abysmal outing against Cal, this game holds real stakes for Donovan Dent. After an offseason full of hype, his addition had fans hopeful that the Bruins would be at least in the top 10 in the rankings by now.

Dent still has plenty to prove. Against Cal, he shot a rough 12.5%, and Washington presents another challenge with Wesley Yates III — a dynamic guard who, much like Cal’s Dai Dai Ames, will test Dent on both ends. It’s the kind of matchup that could either expose his struggles or push him toward the level UCLA needs from him.

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This season, Dent is averaging 11 points, 6.7 assists, and 2.5 rebounds while shooting 35.8% from the field. The most glaring concern in his game has been his shooting efficiency. In addition to his modest field-goal percentage, he’s hitting just 56.7% from the free-throw line.

Eric Dailey Jr | F

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Eric Dailey Jr. has really stepped up lately, and even Mick Cronin has praised the impact Dailey brings off the court. There’s no doubt he’ll play a major role in any success the Bruins find against Washington.

The only person who could prevent Dailey from having a great outing is Hannes Steinbach, who is averaging 14.5 points and 12.8 rebounds, while shooting a very impressive 56.1%. Dailey needs to figure out how to gain an edge rebounding, or this game can easily shift in Washington's way.

Xavier Booker | F

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Xavier Booker has really come into his own this season, emerging as an important piece for the Bruins. His performance could be make-or-break against Washington, especially with his role as the team’s primary big man.

In Eric Dailey's section, we spoke about how Hannes Steinbeck will be a thorn in the Bruins' side during this one. Booker will also be tasked with closing the rebounding gap for the Bruins. Booker is the Bruins' second leading rebounder, meaning he will need to take it up a notch vs Washington.

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This is the Bruins first conference test of the season. If the Bruins are able to walk out of Alaska Airlines Arena with a win they have a real shot of proving the doubters wrong.

This article first appeared on UCLA Bruins on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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