The Trent Perry for Donovan Dent lineup swap that is needed

Trent Perry is turning into an unsung hero in the Bruins starting lineup. He is also putting the team in a predicament once Skyy Clark returns from his injury. Should Perry stay in the starting lineup or move back to the bench? On one hand, you think of the possibilities of his scoring and defense as a starter. On the other hand, you think the bench is going to take a hit because they are not receiving as much production. Could a possible move to the bench by Donovan Dent be what kickstarts him?

Dent has struggled in his first year as a Bruin. He has not shown the same scoring abilities as he did at New Mexico. One that made him the Mountain West Player of the Year last season. His stats are down across the board, not just by a little either. He has gone from shooting 49% from the floor to only 41%. Most importantly is he has lost all confidence in his jump shot. Going from being a 40% 3-point shooter to a 9% shooter. Something needs to change to try and get him on track.

Swapping Perry for Dent could be something to look into. Dent is still a very important part of what UCLA needs to make any sort of run. There needs to be confidence that is gained in some way. Possibly playing against bench players is what is needed. 17 games into the season it’s more than 50% through the season. There is no turning back now, so a new approach is something that is worth taking a look at.

Perry is averaging 20.3 points per game over his last three games. He can create his own shot and is playing good defense. Displaying his hustle mentality that earned him minutes as a freshman last season. He doesn’t quit on plays and is an energy spark guy. This could be a good change for both players and help UCLA in the long run. Dent was the big transfer that UCLA brought in this offseason. So, they need to do whatever needs to be done for him to get his confidence back. Because like it or not, they need him to make any sort of noise.