UCLA’s Tyler Bilodeau expected back for NCAA Tournament after injury

In a welcome development, UCLA learned Saturday that leading scorer Tyler Bilodeau only has a mildly sprained right knee.

Tests revealed no structural damage, and the star forward is expected to return next week when the Bruins play their first game in the NCAA Tournament after being held out of the remainder of the Big Ten Tournament as a precaution.

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Bilodeau went down late in the first half of the sixth-seeded Bruins’ 88-84 victory over third-seeded Michigan State on Friday at the United Center, grabbing his right knee in anguish. He needed assistance as he left the court but returned for the second half with a wave to fans as he walked to the bench with ice wrapped around his knee.

Bilodeau’s absence means that his team will increasingly rely on others against seventh-seeded Purdue in a Big Ten Tournament semifinal on Saturday afternoon.

UCLA coach Mick Cronin will likely go with either Xavier Booker or Brandon Williams as the starter against the Boilermakers. At 6-foot-11, Booker has superior size to the 6-7 Booker, but the latter player had a stronger showing against Michigan State with nine points, four rebounds and three steals in 19 minutes.

Booker went scoreless with one rebound in 14 minutes before fouling out. UCLA will also probably increasingly rely on backup center Steven Jamerson II, who logged two fouls in his two minutes against the Spartans.

“Obviously,” Cronin said after the game, “we’ve got to get more out of Xavier Booker and Steve Jamerson next couple days.”

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