Why Losing Donovan Dent May Not Hurt UCLA Basketball

With the news that Donovan Dent recently transferred to LSU, I took a closer look at last season’s stats and the structure of Mick Cronin’s style to see just how important he was to this UCLA team.

Donovan Dent was an enormous addition last season. Coming to Westwood as the reigning Mountain West Player of the Year after averaging 20.4 points and 6.4 assists at New Mexico, he saw his numbers take a slight dip at UCLA.

Mar 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Donovan Dent (2) reacts UConn Huskies in the first half during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

He ultimately averaged 13.3 points and 7.6 assists for the Bruins last season and was an integral part of the team, playing just over 34 minutes a night. With the ball always in Dent’s hands, it allowed him to be one of the best facilitators in the country, as his 7.6 assists per game suggest.

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UCLA’s offense relied heavily on his ability to create for others, but with the roster that Mick Cronin has built for the 2026-27 season, the Bruins may actually be better equipped to replace what Dent provided than many fans realize.

UCLA Isn’t Looking for a New Donovan Dent

Mar 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Donovan Dent (2) dribbles there ball against the UCLA Bruins in the first half during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Dent was not the leading scorer for this Bruins team last season, but he played a major role in helping everyone around him score. Replacing Dent’s 7.6 assists per game is no easy task, and UCLA will indeed struggle to find someone to match that loss.

But that may not be what Mick Cronin needs this season. Instead of finding one player to fill Dent’s shoes, the Bruins have the ability to distribute those same responsibilities over multiple…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/why-losing-donovan-dent-may-113001944.html

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Publish date : 2026-08-24 11:30:00

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