25 game check in UCLA needs Eric Dailey Jr. to score and defend down the stretch

Eric Dailey Jr. began this season back at his natural position of small forward. It was seen as a great thing for him as he could now size down. With UCLA no longer running a three-guard set like they did in 2024. Giving Dailey Jr. the opportunity to be able to use his size and ability to handle the ball. He is a lanky wing that can score the ball well in spurts and help the offense flow smoothly by also spacing the floor well. As he shot 37.8% from 3-point range in the 2024 season.

Dailey Jr. similar to Xavier Booker has seen inconsistencies in his game this season. His 3-point shooting is down to 26.2% and he has struggled to find his shot. His game had picked up as of late with seven straight double-digit scoring games. Before the Michigan game, where he struggled early with without trouble and finished with only three points. You cannot look too deep into that as UCLA as a whole struggled as a team.

Dailey Jr. has had four games this season scoring between 0-4 points. Which is tough as he is a big contributor for what UCLA is trying to accomplish. On the season he averages 11.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Doing so on 47.1/26.2/75 shooting splits. His presence will be largely needed in the last six games as the Bruins try to make a push towards March Madness with the currently on the bubble.

Dailey Jr. is more than capable of being a third scorer for this team as he has scored at the Division I level for all three years of his career. Which was a year at Oklahoma State and the last two years at UCLA. His length on defense can also help deflect passing lanes and help in man and zone. The Bruins will need him to shake off the tough game against Michigan. Then bounce back for the tough two game set against Michigan State and Illinois.