In a challenging turn of events for the UCLA Bruins men’s basketball team, starting point guard Dylan Andrews suffered an injury during their matchup against the nationally-ranked Marquette Golden Bears. The injury raised concerns as Marquette capitalized on Andrews’ absence, mounting a significant run to take control of the game.
The injury occurred during the second half of the game, prompting Andrews to leave the court under the supervision of strength and conditioning coach Tyler Lesher. Initial reports indicated that Andrews focused on his knees, utilizing ice therapy before switching to an oversized ice bag on his back. The scene on the sidelines painted a worrisome picture for UCLA fans.
Upon Andrews’ departure, Marquette swiftly went on a 9-0 run, seizing control of the game. Despite Andrews eventually returning to the floor, the Golden Eagles continued their dominance, extending the run to an alarming 17-0. As a result, Marquette took the lead with a score of 57-54 and 8:40 remaining in regulation. The Bruins, who had led by as many as 12 points in the second half, faced a challenging situation.
The article suggests the possibility of utilizing 7’3″ five-star freshman center Aday Mara more frequently to bolster the team’s performance. The mention of Mara, recently demoted to the bench, raises questions about potential strategic adjustments by head coach Mick Cronin.
Dylan Andrews, a 6’2″ sophomore from Gardena, has had a mixed start to the 2023-24 NCAA season, showing inconsistency as a scorer. Off the court, there have been indications of tension with Coach Cronin, as Andrews was a healthy scratch in a previous game against Long Island University Sharks. Despite the challenges, Andrews demonstrated efficiency in the Maui Invitational contest against Marquette, contributing eight points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting line, along with four assists, two steals, and a rebound.
As the game heads into the home stretch, fans are urged to tune in to Luke Walton’s color commentary on ESPN2 for updates on the unfolding situation. The injury to Andrews adds a layer of uncertainty to UCLA’s performance, and how they navigate this setback will be crucial in determining the outcome of the game.
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