WATCH: Tim Skipper looks ahead to UCLA's matchup with No. 2 Indiana
Tim Skipper‘s UCLA squad has reeled off three straight wins and now prepares to take on No. 2 Indiana this week. The Bruins edged out Maryland on Saturday night, 20-17, to keep their momentum going. It was far from a perfect game for the Bruins, but they made the meaningful plays when it mattered most against the Terrapins.
Now Skipper and his Bruins will shift gears and hit the road to face the undefeated Hoosiers. It will be the toughest test of the season for UCLA, which suddenly finds itself halfway to bowl eligibility with five games to play.
The interim head coach has found a way to rally a group that started off the season 0-4. UCLA has gained plenty of traction since upsetting Penn State a few weeks ago. The Hoosiers are proving to be a different beast, and Skipper is treating the week as an opportunity to see his team continue to climb.
“I don’t really think anything from the past is going to do anything for this game,” he said Monday. “I’m one of those people that thinks every single game has its own history, its own identity. So, we’re going to have to go out there, we’re going to have to play Bruin football, and we’re going to have to win the situations.
“There’s always going to be critical situations that come up. We’re going to have to win the situations. I think the most important thing leading up to the game is how we’re gonna practice this week. We need to have a good week of practice and be ready to go.”
Latest injury updates following Week 8
Among the notable injuries that took place Saturday against Maryland was the apparent knee injury to starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava. The captain returned to the field to close out the game. Skipper did not have an update on Iamaleava, or any other players, when speaking to reporters Monday morning.
“Today is a major day for us as far as treatment, rehabbing and getting MRIs, and all of that type of stuff,” he said. “So that’s what we’re doing right now, we’re in that process. Saw everybody yesterday with the meeting, guys were sore, which understandable. But we’ll have more of an update after we see the guys later on this evening.”
Iamaleava grabbed his knee after being tackled and falling awkwardly with 2:09 to play in Saturday’s win. He had to be helped off the field but returned to lead a game-winning drive.
