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UCLA men's basketball point guard Tyger Campbell spoke with reporters ahead of Tuesday morning's practice session at the Mo Ostin Basketball Center. Campbell talked about making the All-Pac-12 First Team for the third year in a row, Jaylen Clark missing the conference tournament, who could step up in his place and what the games out in Las Vegas mean to the program.

Three-time All-Pac-12?

Well, you know, it's an honor to get in this league. I'm thankful to win the award for a third year and, of course, great that Jaime won it, and that he won Pac-12 Player of the Year, Adem winning freshman of the year, Jaylen winning defensive player of the year, coach winning coach of the year. It's great, but, you know, we still got a lot to go and still a lot of season left.

Celebrate awards?

Yeah, just like some congratulations, you know. I mean, awards are cool, but you know, it's not why we do it. We just want to win. Trying to prepare for Thursday, honestly. But of course you stop and take a second to tell the guys congratulations and certain things like that. But there's still more things to get done this year.

Jaylen out?

Well, you know, he's such a, you know, great defensive player, and he's been hitting his threes and, you know, making things happen on offense. So, you know, the guys are just gonna have to step up – guys like, Will, Dylan, Abramo, you know, we got guys that practice really hard, they're always ready. They're just gonna have to give us good minutes this week in Vegas.

Winning conference tournament important?

Yeah, it's important, it would be good to win that. But yeah we just want to take it one game at a time and make sure we're ready by the time we get out there, have some good practices this week.

Biggest adjustment without Jaylen?

You know, obviously, he just won defensive player of the year so it's hard to replace that. But we got a lot of guys that I think they're willing to step up. I think that they can be ready. But yeah, it's gonna be hard to replace that of course.

Anyone in particular stepping up?

Well, like I said, we got a lot of good guards coming in off the bench that you know, I think are ready. Will, Dylan, Abramo, couple other guys I'm probably not mentioning. But yeah, I think that those guys are ready to step up and do what we need them to do this week until Jay's back.

Special moment in Vegas?

Yeah, of course I want to go to Vegas and and win. I don't want to think about really the losses in the past. Those are all behind us now. You know, we had a pretty good year. We just want to keep it going and, you know, this is a new tournament. And so we're looking at it that way. We're not really worried about the past.

This article first appeared on FanNation All Bruins and was syndicated with permission.

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