UCLA Basketball Injury Report: Star Freshman Unavailable Vs Villanova

Not ideal.

When your 5-2 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team suits up against the 6-3 Villanova Wildcats on Saturday, they'll be doing so without combo forward Berke Buyuktuncel, reports Ben Bolch of The Los Angeles Times.

Buyuktuncel is still dealing with an ankle injury, which he first incurred last week against UC Riverside in a stunningly close 66-65 victory last Thursday, achieved without then-ailing head coach Mick Cronin. Associate head coach Darren Savino started in his stead.

The 6'9" Turkish native, considered a probable first round NBA draft pick next summer should he opt to declare, has had an underwhelming start to his collegiate career. He's currently averaging 5.3 points on 27.3% field goal shooting, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists, and has been toggled between starting and bench roles already.

One wonders how Cronin will opt to handle Buyuktuncel's absence in his rotation. Will he allocate more minutes to reserve big man Kenneth Nwuba, or will he play a bigger wing like Ilane Fibleuil more minutes at the three and perhaps small ball four?

The Villanova matchup is slated to tip off at 4 p.m. PT on Saturday. 

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