Latest on Tyler Bilodeau, Donovan Dent for NCAA Tournament Opener vs. UCF

Ahead of the UCLA Bruins’ NCAA Men’s Tournament East Region first-round game against the UCF Knights, injured players Tyler Bilodeau and Donovan Dent appear ready to return.

Bilodeau and Dent had recently been sidelined. Dent sustained a calf injury against Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament last week, while Bilodeau suffered a mild right knee sprain against Michigan State.

Tyler Bilodeau and Donovan Dent Appear Ready for UCLA in NCAA Tournament

Both players are expected to be available as March Madness begins. Bilodeau, a senior forward from Kennewick, Wash., is UCLA’s leading scorer, while Dent directs the Bruins’ offense under head coach Mick Cronin.

Bilodeau is averaging 17.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game, shooting 51.8% from the floor. After learning that UCLA would face Central Florida at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Dent shared his outlook on Monday.

“We feel like we’re at one of the highest points of the team on the whole season,” Dent said, “so we’re just hoping to keep riding that wave and keep flowing.”

Dent, a senior guard from Riverside, Calif., is averaging 13.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 7.6 assists this season. He’s shooting 42.0% from the floor for the Bruins. He sustained a calf strain during the closing minutes of the first half in UCLA’s Big Ten Tournament semifinal loss to Purdue.

MARCH MADNESS: Fill In Your Bracket Now!

Cronin gave his players Sunday off before reconvening in time to watch the NCAA Men’s Tournament bracket release together.

Knowing the Bruins would not play until Friday provided additional recovery time. “It gives him three or four days of getting swelling and soreness out,” Cronin said of Bilodeau. “So hopefully if he can go Wednesday and Thursday, he can be 100%.”

We’re 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝.

On deck? The 𝐁𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐬 are headed to 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐚 for the NCAA Tournament. #GoBruins | #MarchMadness 🏀✈️ pic.twitter.com/bfRdxvgsgm

— UCLA Men’s Basketball (@UCLAMBB) March 18, 2026

The Bruins are the No. 7 seed in the East Region and hold a 23-11 overall record.

UCF enters Friday’s first-round game with a 21-11 overall record as the No. 10 seed in the East Region.

MORE: Is Donovan Dent Playing in NCAA Tournament? Latest on UCLA Guard’s Injury Status vs. UCF

UCLA has a storied history in the NCAA Men’s Tournament. Entering Friday’s game, the Bruins are 116-49 all-time, with 19 Final Four appearances and 11 national championships, many under legendary head coach John Wooden, the “Wizard of Westwood.”

The last time UCLA won the national championship was the 1994-95 season under head coach Jim Harrick.