PHILADELPHIA — There was no consensus when it came to Xavier Booker’s greatest impact.
His four blocks in leading UCLA’s rim protection during its NCAA Tournament opener?
“I would say the blocks, for sure,” Booker said late Friday.
His work on the boards against UCF?
“I was mostly happy with his eight rebounds,” Bruins coach Mick Cronin said, referring to a total that matched Booker’s season high.
His determination to stay with every Knights player step for step, preventing them from getting to the basket?
“Just to see his activity tonight, especially in a game like this, it’s huge for us,” UCLA guard Trent Perry said.
There were no wrong answers in assessing Booker’s across-the-board impact as a fill-in starter for Tyler Bilodeau during the Bruins’ 75-71 victory at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Booker provided a burst of offense with 15 points to go with those rebounds and blocks, every one of the center’s contributions powering his short-handed team. Between Booker and backup Steven Jamerson II (two points), the Bruins big men matched Bilodeau’s average of 17 points.
“I feel like I just stayed within myself,” Booker said. “Obviously, Coach wants me to rebound a lot better, and I feel like that’s my main focus going into these games — just rebounding, defending and blocking shots.”
Booker said he found out early in the day that he was going to start after Bilodeau experienced soreness in his injured right knee, prompting Cronin to hold him out as a protective measure.
The big man stuck with his normal pregame routine of listening to music in an attempt to calm his mind.
“I feel like sometimes I get too excited and I overthink things,” Booker said, “but I feel like today, you’ve got to know what you’ve got to lock in on, and you can’t overthink it. You’ve just got to go out and play at the end of the day.”
Booker was especially dominant in the second half, making 4 of 5 shots. He scored his team’s first two baskets on a jump hook and a short jumper. Taking advantage of the Knights’ small lineup, he grabbed a lob in transition for a dunk and later added a 3-pointer.
“We threw it to him,” Cronin said. “We need that. He’s an offensive player. He can play on that end.”
Cronin said he had joked with Bilodeau that the Bruins might have been better defensively without him. Booker might have made the wisecrack come true with his ability to lock in on that side of the court.
With Bilodeau’s status for his team’s second-round game against UConn on Sunday uncertain, the Bruins can remain confident they have an excellent alternative.
Even though he can also score and rebound, there’s no question where Booker’s focus will be when he enters his next game.
“Just being able to defend,” Booker said, “that’s kind of the main thing that Coach wants from me and I want from myself, too.”
