25 game check in Donovan Dent looking to continue improved play after rough first half of the season

Donovan Dent has been part of a lot of scrutiny this season for UCLA. Coming over from New Mexico where he was the Mountain West Player of the Year in 2024. There were high hopes that he was going to bring his electric scoring to the Bruins this season. Adding to a team with good talent and returning players in Tyler Bilodeau, Skyy Clark and Eric Dailey Jr. Giving the Bruins a good chance at winning a championship. They were close to the top 10 in preseason odds to hang their 12th banner in school history.

Dent started this season very well with 21 points and nine assists on the opening night versus Eastern Washington. He then went into a funk and struggled for a while. Which include included a three-point effort against Cal and a 0 point against Penn State. Going a combined 1-14 in those two games. His field goal percentage is at 41.7% on the season which is about nine percent lower than his three-year average at New Mexico. Although he has played well over the last few weeks and raised it from the 38% range.

Dent for a bit was shooting sub 10% from the 3-point line as well. But with recent good games, he is now up to 20% from deep now. His game is starting to show some more consistency, and he is catching up to Big Ten play. On the season now he is at 13.7 points per game. That includes seven straight games of at least 13 points. He also is controlling the offense well and is averaging a career high of 7.1 assists per game.

Dent is a crucial part of what identity this UCLA team is going to be the last seven games of the regular season. Then as they move into the Big Ten tournament. The Bruins will need to go at least 4-3 down the stretch here to make the NCAA tournament. That will include one upset win over a ranked opponent and taking care of business twice against USC and then Minnesota. Dent will need to continue to play his most efficient basketball of the season during the stretch.