A late, deflating night had turned to early morning by the time Eric Dailey Jr. veered into the gym.
After logging a performance impressive in its nothingness — zero points, zero rebounds, zero assists, zero steals and zero blocks in 15 minutes on the road against Washington — the UCLA forward wanted to feel the basketball back in his hands, see it go through the net.
So while his teammates headed home upon the team bus pulling into the practice facility around 3 a.m. Thursday, Dailey got up shot after shot for the next 75 minutes. Then it was on to a quick ice bath before he crawled into a bunk bed inside a locker room foyer for several hours’ worth of sleep.
“I ain’t really care how comfy it was,” Dailey said, laughing, “I could have slept on the floor, honestly.”
The snooze was followed by another 90 minutes of shooting, a nap in his own bed, a nighttime practice with teammates and more shooting afterward.
Finally, on Saturday afternoon, three days after what might have been the worst showing of his career at any level, Dailey put his struggles to bed.
An early spin move leading to a turnaround jumper put him on the board against Oregon, topping his total production from three days earlier less than three minutes into the game.
There was much more to come.
Two free throws after getting fouled on a putback attempt. A three-pointer after coming around a screen from Tyler Bilodeau. Another three-pointer. Another spin move leading to a turnaround jumper.
By then Dailey was well on his way to regaining his old ways during the Bruins’ 74-63 victory over the Ducks at Pauley Pavilion, displaying his usual swagger as well.
“One thing about Eric, man,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said, “he doesn’t lack for confidence.”
Finishing with 14 of his season-high 18 points in the first half and adding a critical offensive rebound in the second, Dailey logged his latest excellent showing against Oregon after having averaged 20 points on 88.2% shooting during the two games between the teams last season.
On an afternoon in which Dailey made six of nine shots, his coach was most pleased with the forward’s eight rebounds, which included five on the offensive end. There also remained room for improvement, Cronin citing a turnover in the second half that helped fuel Oregon’s comeback.
As UCLA (7-2 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) tends to do, it had trouble closing out the Ducks (4-5, 0-2) after building an 18-point lead late in the first half. Oregon was within 61-58 after guard Jackson Shelstad (20 points) pump-faked Bruins counterpart Donovan Dent (13 points, three assists) out of the way and rose for a jumper.
Oregon center Ege Demir (16) puts a hand to the face of UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau (34) while battling UCLA forward Steven Jamerson II for a rebound in the first half of the Bruins’ 74-63 win Saturday at Pauley Pavilion.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
But three consecutive assists from UCLA guard Skyy Clark sparked a 7-1 run that gave his team a more comfortable cushion. A few minutes later, after Bruins center Xavier Booker finished a give-and-go involving Bilodeau with a ferocious dunk, the outcome was no longer in doubt.
Dailey had plenty of help in pushing UCLA to a second consecutive victory while handing Oregon a fifth consecutive loss. Clark continued his fiery streak from long range, making three of six three-pointers on the way to 13 points, and Bilodeau (14 points, eight rebounds) and Booker (12 points, five rebounds) were also productive.
But no one needed to come up big quite like Dailey. The only tangible statistical sign that he had played against Washington earlier this week came in his four fouls, which contributed mightily to his failure to make any impact.
UCLA guard Skyy Clark celebrates after making a three-pointer against Oregon in the first half Saturday.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Cronin said harnessing his emotions amid frustration could help Dailey find the consistency he seeks in his second season as a Bruin. He’s alternated single- and double-digit scoring over his last four games.
“Sometimes with guys that are so intense, they gotta grow into learning how to not let it hurt them,” Cronin said. “For many of us in life, our strength is our weakness. His intensity and passion is his strength, but, at times, it’s his weakness. He’s gotta learn how to control it.”
One thing the Bruins won’t try to corral is Dailey’s legendary work ethic. After his post-practice shooting session late Thursday night, Dailey finally slept in his own bed, allowing himself some momentary comfort. But by the time the team reconvened for its next practice, he had already completed three more shooting sessions.
UCLA forward Eric Dailey Jr., left, gets a hand slap from UCLA guard Donovan Dent after scoring on an offensive rebound against Oregon on Saturday.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
“I mean, that just shows how bad he wants it,” Booker said. “Every day in practice, he’s always giving 100% energy, he’s always the most vocal guy in the gym and that’s what we need. I’m grateful to have a teammate like that, so that definitely shows how bad he wants it.”
Hearing that compliment, Dailey thanked his teammate, took a few more questions and rose from an elevated platform in the interview room. His destination was unknown, though multiple guesses probably weren’t needed.
“Just stay with my routine,” Dailey said, “and keep going.”
