Yes, UCLA’s first men’s basketball season in the Big Ten has been a grind of major proportions. But Mick Cronin’s teams do develop a survival instinct – you either learn to adapt or go home – and maybe that’s blossoming before our eyes.

Their leading scorer sidelined by an ankle injury, their offense having gone cold, the Bruins pulled out a win over USC.

Eric Dailey Jr. had 16 points, Sebastian Mack came off the bench to score 14 and Aday Mara blocked five shots on his way to a double-double as UCLA beat USC 82-76.