I believe that this is a team that has listened to the positive hype and believe nothing more needs to be don They are lackadaisical at passing and lazy at creating offense.
Yes, I think the victory over Gonzaga had something to do with the team having that sort of (delusional) mentality. So disappointing the Bruins are currently playing and coaching like crap...
By the way, for all of you who aren't still living in the southland, UCLA campus is now as of 9pm Friday under an evacuation warning as the Palisades fire is burning East towards the 405. Campus is now the border of the mandatory evacuation. Keep a good thought.
All great points. The one thing that stands out to me is that UCLA is slow and lacks athleticism. Teams that are quick and strong roast UCLA. Kobe needs to be sat with Clark and Mack. Three slow guys. Kobe doesn’t hustle or want to fight; half effort. Agree with all the other points. Ultimately, this comes down to the administration. In today’s college sports, you have to be willing to pay top dollar for the best, proven coaches. Remember, Cronin wasn’t even in the UCLA radar. He begged for the job, and UCLA hired him after a laughable search of desperation. UCLA is only interested in spending on a beer budget that’s on sale.
Kobe is probably the second best player on the team right now. His length and anticipation are a large part of what forces turnovers, he makes FTs, he moves the ball well/gets to the hoop, and is probably their second most consistent 3 point shoooter
I’m not saying they aren’t playing. I’m saying they are not athletic, quick, or strong. The Big 10 is tough and we are failing the assignment. I think Mic said it right. Our players are delusional. The four letters don’t make you great. You have to earn that. It’s an ok team, not a championship team
You said Kobe, Clark, and Mack should be sat. That leaves Stefanovic, Andrews, and Perry, maybe Dom Harris. I am not sure that makes the team play better. To be honest, guard play has been trash for a month. They're all at fault.
Can’t argue that. Spot on. I think more of giving others more time. We just ain’t getting it done. Mack is streaky, and honestly, I’ve seen too much lack of effort for my liking from Kobe. Anyway, there is no right or wrong. Bottom line, this team needs to toughen up and hustle like that guy at Nebraska (can’t remember his name, but smaller dude with headband) who literally was diving across the floor, diving, tipping the ball, getting up and rebounding the ball to his teammate while our guys stood around thinking the play was over. We’re an ok and functional team so I have to deal with that and manage my own expectations. Lol.
Guerrero was a joke. He offered Calipari less salary per year than what he made at Kentucky. Rick Barnes used UCLA's offer to get Tennessee to give him a fatter paycheck, Guerrero didn't want to pay Jamie Dixon's buyout, Chris Beard and Tony Bennett weren't interested in interviewing, and I don't know if Guerrero pursued Billy Donovan. Cronin was the only one that wanted to come here. If Earl Watson got hired, it would have been worse!
I really don’t see this Trent Perry hype backed by much yet. He is far and away a worse defender than Skyy Clark. It’s not even close. I’ll give you this was a bad Skyy game and it’s nice to see someone who’s not a ball stopper on offense like Mack and who can theoretically shoot/play off ball, but he needs to gain 15lbs and not get lost. Both his fouls in the game led to and-ones because they were weak and on mismatches. I think he’ll grow to be a great player but I just don’t see an inefficient 10 point game being a sign that he needs to jump anyone in rotations.
But yes the bigs are the main issue and they need to find a way to keep Dailey on the court and play Aday/Kyle more, Bilo is really really rough as a 5.
But last year's team had 7 freshmen, and the excuse then was: “The most important thing for a teacher is for his students to have aptitude or they can’t learn, they can’t apply, so your rate of progress and development is way too slow.”
I would predict a contest between last year's team vs. this year's team would go into eternal OT, unless the HC on either side gets himself tossed from the game.
After receiving their public, verbal butt-kicking of being too soft and delusional, the Bruins instead came out and played even worse. After this latest blowout loss, made more embarrassing because it was the only game on TV last night involving a top-25 team (well, at least they used to be ranked that high), the post-game attention was placed on the SBTRs and UCLA's long-distance travel scheduling disadvantage. Wonder what other excuses will be given if they continue this prolonged losing streak...
In reality, the Bruins currently seem to be playing as individuals lacking any cohesion and sense of urgency. They look completely lost on offense, while the opposing teams are exposing weaknesses on their previously-elite defense. It also doesn't help being sloppy and lethargic, committing turnovers, shooting bricks, and forcing highly-contested shots in the paint. The roster construction, player development, game preparation and strategy, and player rotations are Coach Cronin's responsibilities--no more excuses please!
The prior 2 games, the Croninistas said that he can't shoot 3fg and ft for them (sound familiar?). I suppose after the Maryland game, he can't pass, defend, rebound and take care of the ball for them, either.
Looks like we have a Ben Howland situation on our hands. Defensive minded coach comes in has some success, Final 4 trip(s), then everything starts to go off. After Jaime left that was the beginning of the end. I know it is a different era, but this is UCLA where are all the 5 stars.
Well, I decided to take awhile to comment. There's a little going on in Los Angeles at the moment and I have had family and friends lose homes, which is a bit more serious than a basketball game. As far as the game, I think Dmitri sums up my thoughts for the most part. I've called for the two bigs to combine for 30-35 minutes per game for some time now. We lack leadership at the guard position. I think the plate was set for Dylan Andrews to take that role and he hasn't been able to do that thus far. I don't blame Cronin for that as he hasn't gone to the quick hook with Dylan. He has displayed a fair amount of patience in that relationship. I wish he would show that level of patience with Mara. Where I differ with Dmitri is on Cronin getting tossed out last night, mainly because of when it occurred in the flow of the game. The game was still in doubt and he threw in the towel giving the Terps 6 points. He would never have tolerated that from a player. I've defended Cronin in spite of certain things I personally have never liked, but the results were there. As a once, slightly above average high school shooting guard, I would not have liked playing for Mick Cronin. If that means I was soft, then so be it. That being said, players need to be allowed a little bit of leeway. Mick seems a.bit inconsistent in his handling of players. He seems to like Mack's competitiveness as do many of us. However, Mack forces the issue way too often and the offense stops as soon as he touches the ball. But, Mick tolerates that. Mack is the perfect example of "don't mistake activity for achievement." He's a guy that can get you back into a game and right back out of it. Our guards, once thought to be a strength, have become the weak link on this squad. Yet, we continue to go with a guard heavy lineup and not play our bigs. It makes no sense to me. I'm not advocation Cronin be fired. I'm hoping he can reflect and make some changes, even as my optimism is waning. I don't like pessimism. Now, Gibby and Tamara. I'm fond of both of you...so Gibby, make nice. I'm assigning you more of the blame in your exchanges! And Tamara, let's all pull for Mick to find his better angel. He might also be concerned about his house burning down while he's away. And what we need at Rutgers is Aday Mara going full Spaniard and saying...."You killled my father, prepare to die!"
My prayers for you and your loved ones amidst such a horrific devastating circumstance. Truth be told, I am more than on edge and I realize my comments reflect all of the emotions I am going through right now - overwhelming grief, despair, and helplessness as I have been the sole family caregiver for my mom, who is now in end stage Alzheimer's and has only a few days to live. I am angry she is leaving me and will miss so many years with my son.
She can't swallow, and aspirates on just a sip of water, she is barely conscious and is dying before my eyes. My mom and I went to every UCLA game together, we traveled together, shopped together, hiked together, did everything together, and she helped me raise my son. She was my best friend.
I can't imagine my life without her. I have saved her life many times across her terrifying dementia journey, but I can't save her now. 😢💔🙏
Thank you for your perspective... and God bless you Army 💙💛
What you are experiencing is tragic. I've lost both my parents and my brother. So many things I miss about them. You never have a family milestone event and not think about them. It sounds like you've truly cared for your mother in her most vulnerable times. Truly admirable. Will keep you and your family in my prayers during this most difficult time.
The loss of our loved ones is so painful - so heartbreaking you are without your mom and dad and brother 💔😢 I also lost my dad during my first year at UCLA. I can't imagine how empty I will feel when I no longer have my mom by my side. Thank you for all of your beautiful words and prayers 💙💛🙏
When someone says Cronin doesn't understand the game of basketball, they obviously know more than he does and should call Jarmond and apply. Let's go! Make UCLA basketball great again.
I deleted my comment about Cronin not understanding basketball. He has a lot of flaws, imho, but my statement about him not understanding the game was way too broad.
Good thoughts. Mick has always seemed to allow a few of his good iso offensive players really long leashes each year. Jaquez and juzang stick out.
This year it’s Mack and Tyler. Mick realizes that his iso offense ball doesn’t work without players that can do it on their own. Using his schemes Without Tyler and mack would lead to 30 pt losses as the team wouldn’t score more than 50 pts a game without them.
His offensive schemes have always been boring and mostly atrocious for me to watch. I’ve said from the beginning that it’s boring basketball… bring in a team of entirely new players like last year and this year and you now suck not only on offense but also on defense too as it takes too long to teach 7 new rotation players what your defensive schemes are.
College Players will get better on offense without the help of any coaches if they’re driven and have natural talent. Take zach Levine for example. He didn’t need Alfie to teach him anything. This is what cronin hopes will happen under his program. That he can coach defense enough to keep his team in games and that they will learn to play offense on their own by the end of the season. Whoever proves themself to be the natural go to iso player gets the longest leash because they can’t win games without some sort of offensive scoring threat. Because Cronin doesn’t do pick and roles, inside out, or drive and dish to any extent, he has to hope that someone proves they are a natural scorer by the end of the season. When no one shows up, you wind up with a season like last and this where your defense is top 10, but your offense barely sniffs the top 100 by years end. There’s a reason I wasn’t excited about this amazing recruiting class… I warned everyone not to drink the hopium. Being the best scorer on a team that wins 4 games doesn’t mean you’re a good basketball player
Being relevant and a team capable of winning a natty involves being good defensively AND offensively. Cronin has had one season where he was good in both by years end. I don’t believe he’s capable of replicating those results. A team outside the top 100 in either category by years end is considered a failure in my mind. This season is trending like last where the offensive efficiency may end up being outside the top 100 for 2 years running. I’ve said many times that players want to play offense. If the coach can’t figure out how to get a team to play well offensively, they will get burned out by seasons end that all the defense is for not. I think that’s what we get to see… players that get injured, worn down, constantly yelled at, and the game is just no longer fun after a season under someone like cronin. It’s not a sustainable coaching strategy at this level to focus so much on defense and completely forget that a lot of the fun also happens when you score a basket…
And for those that say these players are bad at offense and shot 2-20, yada yada… remember that this is the team that mick picked. He knows that none of these players are consistent enough to have a game where you depend on the 3. He knows that Mara can’t take jump shots and play 20 min a game. So come up with some offensive plans that work with the players you selected! As a head coach you have to have a better plan then just doing the same thing year after year! You can’t carbon copy your offensive game plan from one team to the next, you have to be flexible, creative, and adaptive to what will make your team successful right NOW. Mick has never been able to do this, and he never will, he’s very rigid and incapable of adapting and changing based on the players available to him
The last thing I want to add is that last year cronin complained that the NIL was at fault and everyone jumped in the bandwagon to support him. He seems pretty flush with cash this season to get one of the “best transfer classes” this year. Why are we no longer talking about the NIL this year? Because it was NOT the actual problem. It was an excuse that cronin used to save his ass for one more season. All of you NIL apologists, where are you?
I believe that this is a team that has listened to the positive hype and believe nothing more needs to be don They are lackadaisical at passing and lazy at creating offense.
Yes, I think the victory over Gonzaga had something to do with the team having that sort of (delusional) mentality. So disappointing the Bruins are currently playing and coaching like crap...
By the way, for all of you who aren't still living in the southland, UCLA campus is now as of 9pm Friday under an evacuation warning as the Palisades fire is burning East towards the 405. Campus is now the border of the mandatory evacuation. Keep a good thought.
🙏🙏🙏💙💛
All great points. The one thing that stands out to me is that UCLA is slow and lacks athleticism. Teams that are quick and strong roast UCLA. Kobe needs to be sat with Clark and Mack. Three slow guys. Kobe doesn’t hustle or want to fight; half effort. Agree with all the other points. Ultimately, this comes down to the administration. In today’s college sports, you have to be willing to pay top dollar for the best, proven coaches. Remember, Cronin wasn’t even in the UCLA radar. He begged for the job, and UCLA hired him after a laughable search of desperation. UCLA is only interested in spending on a beer budget that’s on sale.
Kobe is probably the second best player on the team right now. His length and anticipation are a large part of what forces turnovers, he makes FTs, he moves the ball well/gets to the hoop, and is probably their second most consistent 3 point shoooter
Then who is playing?
I’m not saying they aren’t playing. I’m saying they are not athletic, quick, or strong. The Big 10 is tough and we are failing the assignment. I think Mic said it right. Our players are delusional. The four letters don’t make you great. You have to earn that. It’s an ok team, not a championship team
You said Kobe, Clark, and Mack should be sat. That leaves Stefanovic, Andrews, and Perry, maybe Dom Harris. I am not sure that makes the team play better. To be honest, guard play has been trash for a month. They're all at fault.
Can’t argue that. Spot on. I think more of giving others more time. We just ain’t getting it done. Mack is streaky, and honestly, I’ve seen too much lack of effort for my liking from Kobe. Anyway, there is no right or wrong. Bottom line, this team needs to toughen up and hustle like that guy at Nebraska (can’t remember his name, but smaller dude with headband) who literally was diving across the floor, diving, tipping the ball, getting up and rebounding the ball to his teammate while our guys stood around thinking the play was over. We’re an ok and functional team so I have to deal with that and manage my own expectations. Lol.
That was Hoiberg, the Nebraska coaches son. He made some UCLA players look silly with their lack of effort.
Thank you. He showed them what hustle and grit looks like.
Guerrero was a joke. He offered Calipari less salary per year than what he made at Kentucky. Rick Barnes used UCLA's offer to get Tennessee to give him a fatter paycheck, Guerrero didn't want to pay Jamie Dixon's buyout, Chris Beard and Tony Bennett weren't interested in interviewing, and I don't know if Guerrero pursued Billy Donovan. Cronin was the only one that wanted to come here. If Earl Watson got hired, it would have been worse!
I really don’t see this Trent Perry hype backed by much yet. He is far and away a worse defender than Skyy Clark. It’s not even close. I’ll give you this was a bad Skyy game and it’s nice to see someone who’s not a ball stopper on offense like Mack and who can theoretically shoot/play off ball, but he needs to gain 15lbs and not get lost. Both his fouls in the game led to and-ones because they were weak and on mismatches. I think he’ll grow to be a great player but I just don’t see an inefficient 10 point game being a sign that he needs to jump anyone in rotations.
But yes the bigs are the main issue and they need to find a way to keep Dailey on the court and play Aday/Kyle more, Bilo is really really rough as a 5.
Adem? You mean Aday? Adem is in the pros.
yes i meant aday
This team, supposedly an upgrade, would not defeat last year's team.
But last year's team had 7 freshmen, and the excuse then was: “The most important thing for a teacher is for his students to have aptitude or they can’t learn, they can’t apply, so your rate of progress and development is way too slow.”
:-)
Always an excuse, but there has been one constant.
I would predict a contest between last year's team vs. this year's team would go into eternal OT, unless the HC on either side gets himself tossed from the game.
Bullshit.
After receiving their public, verbal butt-kicking of being too soft and delusional, the Bruins instead came out and played even worse. After this latest blowout loss, made more embarrassing because it was the only game on TV last night involving a top-25 team (well, at least they used to be ranked that high), the post-game attention was placed on the SBTRs and UCLA's long-distance travel scheduling disadvantage. Wonder what other excuses will be given if they continue this prolonged losing streak...
In reality, the Bruins currently seem to be playing as individuals lacking any cohesion and sense of urgency. They look completely lost on offense, while the opposing teams are exposing weaknesses on their previously-elite defense. It also doesn't help being sloppy and lethargic, committing turnovers, shooting bricks, and forcing highly-contested shots in the paint. The roster construction, player development, game preparation and strategy, and player rotations are Coach Cronin's responsibilities--no more excuses please!
Go Bruins...
The prior 2 games, the Croninistas said that he can't shoot 3fg and ft for them (sound familiar?). I suppose after the Maryland game, he can't pass, defend, rebound and take care of the ball for them, either.
Tamara why don't you call Martin and apply? Since you know everything.
Looks like we have a Ben Howland situation on our hands. Defensive minded coach comes in has some success, Final 4 trip(s), then everything starts to go off. After Jaime left that was the beginning of the end. I know it is a different era, but this is UCLA where are all the 5 stars.
Well, I decided to take awhile to comment. There's a little going on in Los Angeles at the moment and I have had family and friends lose homes, which is a bit more serious than a basketball game. As far as the game, I think Dmitri sums up my thoughts for the most part. I've called for the two bigs to combine for 30-35 minutes per game for some time now. We lack leadership at the guard position. I think the plate was set for Dylan Andrews to take that role and he hasn't been able to do that thus far. I don't blame Cronin for that as he hasn't gone to the quick hook with Dylan. He has displayed a fair amount of patience in that relationship. I wish he would show that level of patience with Mara. Where I differ with Dmitri is on Cronin getting tossed out last night, mainly because of when it occurred in the flow of the game. The game was still in doubt and he threw in the towel giving the Terps 6 points. He would never have tolerated that from a player. I've defended Cronin in spite of certain things I personally have never liked, but the results were there. As a once, slightly above average high school shooting guard, I would not have liked playing for Mick Cronin. If that means I was soft, then so be it. That being said, players need to be allowed a little bit of leeway. Mick seems a.bit inconsistent in his handling of players. He seems to like Mack's competitiveness as do many of us. However, Mack forces the issue way too often and the offense stops as soon as he touches the ball. But, Mick tolerates that. Mack is the perfect example of "don't mistake activity for achievement." He's a guy that can get you back into a game and right back out of it. Our guards, once thought to be a strength, have become the weak link on this squad. Yet, we continue to go with a guard heavy lineup and not play our bigs. It makes no sense to me. I'm not advocation Cronin be fired. I'm hoping he can reflect and make some changes, even as my optimism is waning. I don't like pessimism. Now, Gibby and Tamara. I'm fond of both of you...so Gibby, make nice. I'm assigning you more of the blame in your exchanges! And Tamara, let's all pull for Mick to find his better angel. He might also be concerned about his house burning down while he's away. And what we need at Rutgers is Aday Mara going full Spaniard and saying...."You killled my father, prepare to die!"
Love you Army 💙💛
My prayers for you and your loved ones amidst such a horrific devastating circumstance. Truth be told, I am more than on edge and I realize my comments reflect all of the emotions I am going through right now - overwhelming grief, despair, and helplessness as I have been the sole family caregiver for my mom, who is now in end stage Alzheimer's and has only a few days to live. I am angry she is leaving me and will miss so many years with my son.
She can't swallow, and aspirates on just a sip of water, she is barely conscious and is dying before my eyes. My mom and I went to every UCLA game together, we traveled together, shopped together, hiked together, did everything together, and she helped me raise my son. She was my best friend.
I can't imagine my life without her. I have saved her life many times across her terrifying dementia journey, but I can't save her now. 😢💔🙏
Thank you for your perspective... and God bless you Army 💙💛
Sorry about your mother. That's got to be tough.
Thank you, Gibby.
So sorry for you and your mother. Praying for Gods peace for you.
Thank you dear Terry 💙💛🙏
What you are experiencing is tragic. I've lost both my parents and my brother. So many things I miss about them. You never have a family milestone event and not think about them. It sounds like you've truly cared for your mother in her most vulnerable times. Truly admirable. Will keep you and your family in my prayers during this most difficult time.
The loss of our loved ones is so painful - so heartbreaking you are without your mom and dad and brother 💔😢 I also lost my dad during my first year at UCLA. I can't imagine how empty I will feel when I no longer have my mom by my side. Thank you for all of your beautiful words and prayers 💙💛🙏
When someone says Cronin doesn't understand the game of basketball, they obviously know more than he does and should call Jarmond and apply. Let's go! Make UCLA basketball great again.
I will 💯agree with Let's Make UCLA Basketball Great Again!
I deleted my comment about Cronin not understanding basketball. He has a lot of flaws, imho, but my statement about him not understanding the game was way too broad.
Good thoughts. Mick has always seemed to allow a few of his good iso offensive players really long leashes each year. Jaquez and juzang stick out.
This year it’s Mack and Tyler. Mick realizes that his iso offense ball doesn’t work without players that can do it on their own. Using his schemes Without Tyler and mack would lead to 30 pt losses as the team wouldn’t score more than 50 pts a game without them.
His offensive schemes have always been boring and mostly atrocious for me to watch. I’ve said from the beginning that it’s boring basketball… bring in a team of entirely new players like last year and this year and you now suck not only on offense but also on defense too as it takes too long to teach 7 new rotation players what your defensive schemes are.
College Players will get better on offense without the help of any coaches if they’re driven and have natural talent. Take zach Levine for example. He didn’t need Alfie to teach him anything. This is what cronin hopes will happen under his program. That he can coach defense enough to keep his team in games and that they will learn to play offense on their own by the end of the season. Whoever proves themself to be the natural go to iso player gets the longest leash because they can’t win games without some sort of offensive scoring threat. Because Cronin doesn’t do pick and roles, inside out, or drive and dish to any extent, he has to hope that someone proves they are a natural scorer by the end of the season. When no one shows up, you wind up with a season like last and this where your defense is top 10, but your offense barely sniffs the top 100 by years end. There’s a reason I wasn’t excited about this amazing recruiting class… I warned everyone not to drink the hopium. Being the best scorer on a team that wins 4 games doesn’t mean you’re a good basketball player
Being relevant and a team capable of winning a natty involves being good defensively AND offensively. Cronin has had one season where he was good in both by years end. I don’t believe he’s capable of replicating those results. A team outside the top 100 in either category by years end is considered a failure in my mind. This season is trending like last where the offensive efficiency may end up being outside the top 100 for 2 years running. I’ve said many times that players want to play offense. If the coach can’t figure out how to get a team to play well offensively, they will get burned out by seasons end that all the defense is for not. I think that’s what we get to see… players that get injured, worn down, constantly yelled at, and the game is just no longer fun after a season under someone like cronin. It’s not a sustainable coaching strategy at this level to focus so much on defense and completely forget that a lot of the fun also happens when you score a basket…
And for those that say these players are bad at offense and shot 2-20, yada yada… remember that this is the team that mick picked. He knows that none of these players are consistent enough to have a game where you depend on the 3. He knows that Mara can’t take jump shots and play 20 min a game. So come up with some offensive plans that work with the players you selected! As a head coach you have to have a better plan then just doing the same thing year after year! You can’t carbon copy your offensive game plan from one team to the next, you have to be flexible, creative, and adaptive to what will make your team successful right NOW. Mick has never been able to do this, and he never will, he’s very rigid and incapable of adapting and changing based on the players available to him
The last thing I want to add is that last year cronin complained that the NIL was at fault and everyone jumped in the bandwagon to support him. He seems pretty flush with cash this season to get one of the “best transfer classes” this year. Why are we no longer talking about the NIL this year? Because it was NOT the actual problem. It was an excuse that cronin used to save his ass for one more season. All of you NIL apologists, where are you?
You nailed it once again, Dimitri