LOS ANGELES — Tyler Bilodeau and Skyy Clark each play a malleable brand of basketball. Neither needs an array of dribbles to create his shot or a heavy volume of touches to make an impact. Both fit Mick Cronin’s offensive system, which prioritizes ball movement and quick decision-making.
And in each of their second years in that scheme, Bilodeau and Clark are flourishing.
Through 13 games, Bilodeau is averaging a career-high 19 points a game, shooting 54% from the field, 46.7% from 3-point range and 92.9% from the free-throw line. Clark is averaging a career-high 14.2 ppg, shooting 48.1% from the field, 49.3% from 3 and 89.3% at the line.
Their improvement in scoring is impressive, and a result, both explained, of keeping things simple and a better understanding of Cronin’s system. But that production is one thing during a stretch where UCLA (10-3, 2-0) played only five power-conference opponents, and it’s another to carry it into Big Ten play, which resumes with road games at No. 18 Iowa (11-2, 1-1) on Saturday and Wisconsin (9-4, 1-1) on Tuesday.
“The Big Ten is super physical,” Bilodeau told the Southern California News Group on Tuesday. “I remember getting a little sped up, thinking too quick. It’s important to remember those things and learn from them.”
In conference play, the competition level increases and the scouting reports become more stringent. For Bilodeau and Clark to maintain their scoring outputs against Big Ten opponents, both said they must continue to simplify things.
Much has been made of Bilodeau’s move to the four spot, but he doesn’t have a preference of position, rather his production correlates to his comfortability in Cronin’s system.
“I can just do so many things in the offense,” Bilodeau said. “Whether it’s spacing out and shooting the 3, pick and pop, mid-range getting in the pocket, getting the ball and facing up or around the rim, posting up or getting to the basket.”
He required minimal dribbles to score a season-high 34 points against UC Riverside on Dec. 23. He hit four 3-pointers, each off passes from his teammates. He needed just three dribbles to find space for a 10-footer to open the second half. He dribbled once before spinning into a fadeaway and faded for another jumper right after catching a pass from Clark. To top it off, he was 6 of 6 from the free throw line.
Bilodeau’s efficiency from the line has helped buoy his scoring numbers. He went from 71.7% last season to leading the Big Ten this season after changing his routine. He would bend his knees for a beat too long, throwing off his balance. Now he has one fluid motion, starting with a breath to reset before flowing into his shot. He didn’t make significant changes to his in-game shooting form, but worked on his footwork in the offseason and has been jumping into his shot.
In Big Ten play, defenses will hone in on Bilodeau because he’s the Bruins’ leading scorer. It’s crucial he remains sharp on those small details.
“It comes down to just staying composed and telling myself, ‘I’m in control’ when I have the ball,’” Bilodeau said. “Make them react off of me, not the other way around.”
Clark sees it the same way. His success has come from simplifying his game. Cronin brought him to UCLA mainly because of his defense. Excelling on that side of the ball sparks his energy on offense. But last season, without a consistent fellow guard, Clark felt a heavier onus to score and less space to do so. It showed up in his percentages, but Cronin remained insistent Clark was a dynamic shooter.
Glimpses cropped up in the second half last season as he shot 43.6% from 3 and 48% from the field across the final 17 games. Those numbers trended into this season as Donovan Dent alleviated the majority of Clark’s ball-handling responsibilities. As a result, Clark’s understanding of when UCLA needs his offense has continued to grow.
“Just staying at a place and having a coaching staff that trusts me and are pouring into me, I think that’s been huge,” Clark said after UCLA defeated Cal Poly on Dec. 19.
Clark’s hopping around the court like a player does when they’re in a groove. He’s flowing from his lethal in-and-out to his hesitation dribble to his hard crossover.
Against Cal Poly, he scored his Bruins career high of 30 points. He shook a defender with a between-the-legs dribble for a 3-pointer on the opening possession. He dribbled into a step-back for a long 2. He drove for a scooping left-handed layup. He went coast-to-coast with two in-and-out dribbles before hanging for a right-handed finish.
He ended the game with six 3-pointers for the second time this season.
“It’s just coming really easy and really natural to him,” said Paul Tait, Clark’s coach at Heritage Christian High. “Skyy’s development over the past few years is really – simplifying it. Keep things simple. Go to your move. If it’s not there, go to your counter. End of story.”
Tait’s advice for Clark to handle Big Ten opponents: Keep doing exactly that.
“Just continue to simplify it more, and not be a gambler,” Tait said. “If they take one thing away, they’ll expose something else. So take advantage in that area. I think his greatest asset that he has going for him right now is familiarity and maturity.”
Much of Bilodeau and Clark’s success has also come from playing off one another, and benefitting from Dent pushing UCLA’s tempo and creating open shots for everyone. Toward the end of December, Cronin leaned into that trio’s strengths and it unleashed the Bruins’ offense.
For a traditionally defensive-oriented coach, Cronin must get out of his comfort zone, prioritize offense and find ways to make the Bruins’ strength stronger. That’s the coach’s New Year’s resolution.
As for Bilodeau and Clark, their goal is to keep things simple.
UCLA at No. 25 Iowa
When: 3 p.m. PT Saturday
Where: Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City, Iowa
TV/radio: Peacock/AM 790
UCLA at Wisconsin
When: 6 p.m. PT Tuesday
Where: Kohl Center, Madison, Wisc.
TV/radio: Peacock/AM 790
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