I know it’s late in the season, but I think I’ve settled on a definitive opinion regarding this UCLA basketball team.
First off, this is not the hyper-talented team that was touted early in the season. I think there are too many instances where players make boneheaded decisions, fail to make the smart basketball play, and generally play at a tempo beyond what they are capable of to say this team is exceptionally talented. I also find they lack an offensive identity beyond “just grind down the opponent until they quit”. The defense comes and goes but really only works at an elite level when their center is on the court. But while they lack high-end talent that can take over games, they are one of the deeper teams in the country, which is how they beat you; this UCLA team can go even five-on-five, but what happens when you have to go to the bench? The Bruins have four players they can call on to provide starter-quality minutes when needed, and that is a recipe for success. Maybe not NCAA Tournament success, but it gives you a chance. That’s exactly what we saw tonight when the Bruins finally got to take the court and ground out a 67-57 victory over Utah to set up a pivotal rubber match with Southern Cal tomorrow.
Oh, you thought I was talking about the men’s team? Yeah, I don’t want to talk about them any more than I have to after sitting in Pauley for another uninspiring performance. Yes, Arizona blew the Bruins off their own court 88-65 in a game that wasn’t even that close, and yes only a few players like Dylan Andrews and Adem Bona even bothered to show up for most of it, but at this point it is what it is. I have a longer post that will come out after that season mercifully comes to an end, so if you’ll permit me, I’m going to talk about a good team now. Call it a mental health break, if you must.
Again, this UCLA team can be so frustrating to watch. They turn the ball over at an insane clip, a problem that hasn’t cost them in recent weeks but is something to monitor in these next few Pac-12 Tournament games against teams that will make you pay for being careless. And there are too many instances of easy misses at or near the rim, which again is not something you would expect from one of the best teams in the country. UCLA actually shot well in this game (48.1% from the field) but I swear if they converted even half of the close layups that they missed this game would have felt much more comfortable.
I also think Charisma Osbourne could stand to hunt for her shot less; her 16 points were second on the team but 8-16 shooting (including 0-6 from three) and no free throw attempts speaks to a player that hit a few early shots and kept chasing the dragon even when it would have been more prudent to spread the offense around (notably absent in this game: Londynn Jones, who finished with six points on only 2-5 shooting). Her offensive play also bogs down the offense - her one assist in 36 minutes is not great considering she had the ball in her hands as often as she did. The team in general is not great at moving the ball around, particularly Lauren Betts who never really seemed comfortable with the constant doubles Utah sent her way and ended up with only one assist on the night, but it really becomes a problem when the guards decide to do too much isolation work instead of working more inside-out.
But again, the strength of this UCLA team is how deep it is with threats. These two teams actually played a few weeks ago in a game that UCLA ran away with, but that game was highlighted by Jones going off for 23 points. This time around, the star turned out to be Angela Dugelic, who finished with a game-high 17 points on 6-10 shooting, including going 3-4 from deep. In the previous meeting, Dugelic finished with a mere seven points in a game UCLA won by 30, so it speaks to how deep this Bruin team can go. Utah planned around stopping the guards as much as possible, but it left Dugelic open enough to make them pay. Coming into the game, I was prepared to call the four spot a weakness for the Bruins, and while I still think it is, Dugelic showed that she can still make teams pay, which makes this team much more dangerous.
I think a win tomorrow over Southern Cal would lock up a potential #1 seed for the Bruins, but I don’t think that will be an easy task. Through two games, UCLA has not really found an answer for Juju Watkins, and they really cannot afford any lapses in play against an opportunistic Southern Cal squad that loves to jump on opponents. In either case, you really should tune in to this game tomorrow.
(OK fine here’s a little more on the men’s team before I bow out: I think you’re looking at upwards of six players transferring out after this season, which is not a bad thing by any stretch. The Euro experiment has proven itself to be a disaster, and I think Mick Cronin is well aware that he needs to load up on more experienced players through the transfer portal going forward. The team also needs to get way more athletic; I cannot sit through another game of watching Will McClendon getting blown by on defense because he cannot move his feet anymore, and he’s not alone on that front. Dylan Andrews is the only player on the team who has shown a huge amount of growth this year, which is great to see, but he’s also one of only a few players who have seen what a good Cronin UCLA team looks like up close. Adem Bona has also gotten better but he’s putting too much on himself late in the season to try and pick up his floundering teammates and it shows. Finally I apologize for ever telling you Berke Buyuktuncel could be a difference-maker on this team; I watched him repeatedly pass up open looks tonight to the point where I was convinced he was trying to see how long it would take Cronin to bench him for the rest of the season.)
Go Bruins.
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Had me fooled for half way through the first paragraph, you clever fox.
Is instant age/experience via the portal with players who have to learn a new system and then gel v developing youth/inexperience a viable path going forward? Or is it just a short term course correction to this mess?
Whatever, next year is another rebuilding year. Putting all your transfers into the egg basket in lieu of offers who aren't coming.
The overall lack of competitiveness displayed by the Bruins during their latest losing streak seems more disappointing than the actual losses that they've been compiling. Their tough defense has gone AWOL. Oh well, at least the women's team will be participating in March Madness. Go Bruins!
They didn't show up because they've given up on the season, themselves, CMC, the promise of the Four Letters, and even the opportunity to showcase their "talent" for another coach in the portal. They're sabotaging the team and themselves--part of their youth and immaturity?
Don't really know for sure if they finally quit, lost their confidence (again), or are just facing much tougher challenges as the season winds down, but yes, I think the level of youth/immaturity (inexperience) and lack of veteran leadership have contributed greatly to this down year.
I had originally expected this season's performance to end up being simliar to Coach Cronin's Year-1, but they've been much worse. But he commented over a month ago why that wasn't a good comparison to make: “That team was bigger and stronger and older. Because even Jalen [Hill] and Cody [Riley], they were older because they had to sit that one year. So, they were a little more physical. But, look, we lost our five leading scorers from last year and replaced them with Lazar Stefanovic. We’re figuring it out." In any case, there's still a lot more figuring out to do this offseason...
To find the Bruins at end stage Lavin (love that medical diagnosis) in CMC's 6th year is alarming, and requires immediate attention. Given the condition of the patient and limited options available, what treatment do you recommend? Dr. Baskets thinks the current course is fatal.
Honestly I want to be thoughtful in my response and I'd certainly defer to Dmitri's expertise regarding individual players and inside info... But I'd start by saying I don't care about pace - or at least it's not the major problem since there are different ways to win - I mean, Houston might very well be the overall #1 seed in the dance and they are currently #348 in pace...
Granting that the coaches are responsible for the makeup of the roster, I think the diagnosis has to start with player-led leadership and character. If adversity reveals character, it seems pretty clear that the reaction to the heartbreaker loss to Utah at Pauley - the worst week of practice all season and the quick collapse in the 2nd half at home against just $c revealed a lack of character and leadership within the group - which I think is what Mick was trying to say by saying "fight". It's why a reset is needed and likely why the coaches are so frustrated...
Can a winner be built around Andrews and Mack as they gain experience, more control and consistency, with Bona if he stays and further develops his game, with BWill in the rotation as a good instinctual rebounder who has to grow a lot? Yes - with bringing in guys like Keshon Johnson from places like SDSU - don't underestimate how important he is to zona - who may not be flashy but are winners and - I hate saying this - don't cost as much as the Caleb Loves of the world, argumented by winning more often in recruiting and focusing on player-led leadership and character - more Jaime's and fewer Shabazz's I suppose.
disagree. everyone in college basketball knows the youth of this team. sophomores play better than freshmen, but frankly most of these kids won't be invited back. will be a totally new group next year , for better or worse.
"Forever" sounds extreme (except for my moniker!), as there have been other awful, lackluster teams in past seasons at UCLA before the program got turned around (at least temporarily). Coach Cronin rode the same core group of players successfully for the past 4 seasons, then had to replace them all at once, and was just unable (apparently due to lack of NIL funding) to do a good job of recruiting and reloading the roster with a highly competitive group of players. And regarding the youth of this year's team, according to one analytics site (https://www.barttorvik.com), the Bruins have the 4th least-experienced team in all of Div. I basketball, so the players were all being thrown into the fire pretty early. Anyway, it'll be interesting to see if the coaching staff can improve the roster for their inaugural season in the Big-10 and whether lack of NIL funding will be used as an excuse if his new batch of recruits (or the entire team) doesn't end up performing well again.
Two more games and the season will be mercifully over.
Question for Dimitri--which six plus players do you believe will transfer out--all of the freshman Euro players and perhaps other non Euro players? Could Bona transfer to a school that can showcase his skills (I think his stock sank this year) or does he try the NBA?
If you're looking at the roster as it stands right now, there's really only one guy on it that I think has a spot going into next year in Dylan Andrews (obviously Kenny Nwuba is gone because he graduated). Devin Williams might also be locked in if only because the staff was clear he was a development guy this year, and they likely didn't see enough to determine if he's part of the future plans. After that there are questions.
Bona's decision is between returning to UCLA and heading to the NBA, and I don't think its an obvious one. The problem for Bona is he doesn't have a natural position at the next level - he's not big enough to be a true center and he doesn't have enough outside game to be a wing. You could see some development for him as a big this year and I think being on a more veteran squad next year would help him more than being a likely 2nd-round pick and languishing in the G-League. I don't think he transfers to another school, though - he seems to like UCLA and Cronin too much to do that.
Easy transfers would be most of the Euros. I think Berke is gone - the fact that he could never supplant Brandon Williams in the lineup speaks to how out of his element he was - and Fibleuil is likely gone as well (if you can't get playing time in a blowout, its a pretty good indicator that you're not sticking around). Jan Vide is someone the staff raves about in practice but the Arizona game was also a good example of how he's just not athletic enough to provide meaningful minutes against a quality opponent, as he gets blown by constantly on defense. Aday Mara is the one question mark here, in that I think the staff really like him and have actually developed him a surprising amount this season, but I think it will depend on whether he's willing to spend the summer here instead of going back to Spain in the offseason. He needs a weight program in the worst way.
Will McClendon feels gone. He's an easy kid to root for but it's pretty obvious that the knee injury a few years ago sapped him of athleticism, and now he really does not belong in a high-major game against that quality of talent. He'd benefit from dropping down to the Mountain West or even Big West.
And now for the fun ones. First, I think Brandon Williams will be one to watch for. He got way more playing time than anyone anticipated this year, but it also exposed him in a way that I think makes him expendable. He's also from New York, so the distance home could be a factor.
Second, I stated before the season that the best version of UCLA would involve Lazar Stefanovic coming off the bench, and that sadly proved to be the case. This is not to say Stefanovic was bad this year, but he should probably not be the third-best player on a good UCLA team, and he's too hit or miss to have the role he did this year. I think Cronin recruits over him in the transfer portal, and it's a question of whether he's willing to come off the bench next year or not.
Last one: I think Sebastian Mack is a transfer candidate, but not a strong one. For one, he does seem to really like Cronin and playing for him, and he is clearly playing injured in these games. But his lack of focus and effort during games is a huge concern, and I don't think Cronin wants to ride with him as a potential starter next year considering he has kept starting McClendon down the stretch despite Will being a worse player than Mack. When Mack is locked in he absolutely looks like he belongs, and he got a leash hereto unseen in the Mick Cronin era for a freshman, but he never really grew or figured out how to better pick his spots, and that might make things an open question as to whether he returns.
One thing to add for people wondering if UCLA has the money to go heavy into the transfer portal: UCLA actually used a good amount of NIL money last year on the Euros. If they're gone, that frees up a ton of money that combines with increased NIL donations this year to give UCLA enough to be competitive in the market.
TMB voices that unknown targets in the portal will be the salvation of this program. Joe has exhaustively pointed out that the portal can supplement a program in football, but cannot supplant recruiting elite talent. The same holds true for basketball. And the recruits are not coming.
the same does not really hold true for basketball because of roster size. 3-4 players can transform a college basketball team. 3-4 players cannot transform a college football team. Just look at all the teams in the top 10 right now. Look at Arizona.
UCLA is certainly not a lock to get 3-4 elite transfers. Just don't have the money. But you are wrong about the portal. Just as important as hs rercruiting now and will pass it in importance if it has not already done so.
Hmmm. I'm rethinking this. A means to gain instant experience without the growing pains. But UCLA is not a player in that market anyway. Most likely will fill the roster this March with multiple Lazars.
honestly multiple Lazars is much better than the crop of inexperienced and raw high ceiling with the ceiling like 5 years away freshmen. but i think people underestimate how much availability there will be. virtually every college bball player now playing on a 1 year contract.
Arizona had ballo, Larson, and Boswell that were already a solid foundation for transfers to come play with. UCLA has absolutely nobody that anybody wants to play with.
Yes Arizona has good players, but Arizona was doing just fine before those guys got there and didn’t need those transfers to transform the program. UCLA is looking for not just transfers, but transfers that will completely change the program.
And when is the last time cronin got 3-4 elite transfers?!? Seriously
CMC faces the biggest challenge of his career to return this program onto the right footing quickly, or find UCLA recast as a has-been. The Pandora's Box of the NIL is not in his corner.
I agree with you about the NIL. I also agree with you that the portal is not going to instantly produce an amazing team... So many factors go into creating greatness - tangible and intangible. Skill level, athleticism, natural gifts, toughness, chemistry, character (respect, selflessness, discipline, dedication, work ethic, integrity) the list goes on...
Cronin has big problems (recruiting and otherwise) and we shall see how everything plays out. But here are my thoughts on the recruiting front...
If tons of money was thrown at the Euros then my question is why? How could the evaluation process result in so many misses with so much money expended? Multiply that with the fact we are simply not getting the high school recruits. We are getting out recruited on so many levels by the bluebloods.
Cronin's making millions and he should have the skills to at least assess recruits with some accuracy. And why aren't we getting the best high school recruits? Why are we losing out again and again? If we had tons of money to throw at the Euros, why couldn't that money have gone to high school recruits? High school recruits are going elsewhere and it's not just about the money cause it sounds like we had the money and it went overseas.
Losing recruits to Blue Bloods? CMC is losing recruits...to Andy! And now Tommy, too. Baskets had a hilarious but accurate post from a player's perspective on why that is so.
CMC chased the Euros after striking out on 2 dozen offers. He was desperate to fill the roster. And, oh, how they were hyped. I fell for it hook, line and sinker.
The easy and obvious is to blame lack of NIL. True. But what we don't know is the "something else."
To your point, it does make me question the team brain trust.
You know something is terribly wrong when suc is outrecruiting you. Desperation does indeed lead to mistakes and I also fell for the Euro hype thinking Mara was going to wow us and be an insta leader...
Sure wish I was making millions for that kind of mistake. Where did I go wrong 🤣
How many basketball players wake up each day and say… omg omg omg! Today is the day I finally do it! Personal best coming today… 6 deflections mother f’n a!!!! And after each one I’m a signal to the bench to write that in our book!!! Let’s F’ing go!!!!
News flash, they don’t because CMC might be the only coach in the country that gives a damn about deflections.
Imagine trying to sell a potential recruit:
“So Johnny, do you know what deflections are? Well, here at ucla, we track that ish! If you get to 10 deflections in a game you get the hungry dog award my man! You get to sign your name on a bone and that’s what it’s all about here. Nobody else in the country, and I mean nobody is even looking at deflections the way that we do. What do you think Johnny!? Are you in….”
There’s a reason that it isn’t a common metric in the nba because NOBODY CARES! It’s not going to get you into the hall of fame
I want to address the NIL again. How come Coach DeShaun Foster is not using the NIL as an accuse. From Day 1 he was out there meeting with donors and MOW, hiring an anazing skilled staff that is alligned in philosophy, brings NFL success, and will have great chemistry moving forward.
Coach Foster is hitting the high school recruiting trail and has multiple offers out already. There is more BUZZ and excitement about our Football team than I have ever seen. None, and I mean Nada, Zero, Zilch of our football teams have transferred and we have talented players.
No excuses. Just a man keeping to his word and growing a culture of greatness and giving in a matter of weeks. The results are clear. Now, obviously we will see how the wins and losses add up by Coach Foster is giving us a great great chance to succeed.
Now compare this with Cronin... rants and throwing HIS recruits, HIS players under the bus with public shaming. A shameful offense - and it is not the youth... Kentucky has 8-9 freshmen and only one player with prior experience and they have had a very good season. And ehen defense isn't stellar, the wheels fall off and we have no way to come back.
Honestly if Cronin thinks the NIL is such a huge problem and I do agree it sucks but he needs to embrace it snd make it work. Perhaps a power lunch is in order with Coach Foster - maybe ole OSU happy go lucky Chipster Alfraud can even pay for the catering 🤣
Yes... Multivariate analysis is a beautiiful thing and absolutely vital when looking at the layers that comprise the well lit dumpster fire we are experiencing. I am always in the game day thread hoping for our players to succeed and to come out with a win. But the multiple factors that are causing our demise cannot be crushed into one muddy entity called NIL. There is so much more at play.
It’s because euros don’t know what they’re getting into. Other coaches are selling flash and cronin doesn’t sell flashy. The euros have no clue what they’re getting into
Gib?! You’re echoing what I’ve been saying ALL season. Where are the replacements going to come from? I agree that all of the players could leave, but if you’re just replacing them with more of the same or WORSE potential, how do you expect next year to look any better? I’m baffled by the fact that others around here keep raving about all the 5 star transfers ucla is anticipating in the portal when that’s NEVER happened under CMC. UCLA has yet to have meaningful transfers outside of juzang who transferred back to ucla because he was home sick at Kentucky apparently
Had me fooled for half way through the first paragraph, you clever fox.
Is instant age/experience via the portal with players who have to learn a new system and then gel v developing youth/inexperience a viable path going forward? Or is it just a short term course correction to this mess?
Whatever, next year is another rebuilding year. Putting all your transfers into the egg basket in lieu of offers who aren't coming.
The overall lack of competitiveness displayed by the Bruins during their latest losing streak seems more disappointing than the actual losses that they've been compiling. Their tough defense has gone AWOL. Oh well, at least the women's team will be participating in March Madness. Go Bruins!
They didn't show up because they've given up on the season, themselves, CMC, the promise of the Four Letters, and even the opportunity to showcase their "talent" for another coach in the portal. They're sabotaging the team and themselves--part of their youth and immaturity?
Don't really know for sure if they finally quit, lost their confidence (again), or are just facing much tougher challenges as the season winds down, but yes, I think the level of youth/immaturity (inexperience) and lack of veteran leadership have contributed greatly to this down year.
I had originally expected this season's performance to end up being simliar to Coach Cronin's Year-1, but they've been much worse. But he commented over a month ago why that wasn't a good comparison to make: “That team was bigger and stronger and older. Because even Jalen [Hill] and Cody [Riley], they were older because they had to sit that one year. So, they were a little more physical. But, look, we lost our five leading scorers from last year and replaced them with Lazar Stefanovic. We’re figuring it out." In any case, there's still a lot more figuring out to do this offseason...
The lack of fight has effects beyond this season. It forever has shattered the intimidation of the UCLA name and home court invincibility.
End stage Lavin did that and it was reestablished - not at Coach's level (which is basically impossible today) so it doesn't have to be forever
To find the Bruins at end stage Lavin (love that medical diagnosis) in CMC's 6th year is alarming, and requires immediate attention. Given the condition of the patient and limited options available, what treatment do you recommend? Dr. Baskets thinks the current course is fatal.
Honestly I want to be thoughtful in my response and I'd certainly defer to Dmitri's expertise regarding individual players and inside info... But I'd start by saying I don't care about pace - or at least it's not the major problem since there are different ways to win - I mean, Houston might very well be the overall #1 seed in the dance and they are currently #348 in pace...
Granting that the coaches are responsible for the makeup of the roster, I think the diagnosis has to start with player-led leadership and character. If adversity reveals character, it seems pretty clear that the reaction to the heartbreaker loss to Utah at Pauley - the worst week of practice all season and the quick collapse in the 2nd half at home against just $c revealed a lack of character and leadership within the group - which I think is what Mick was trying to say by saying "fight". It's why a reset is needed and likely why the coaches are so frustrated...
Can a winner be built around Andrews and Mack as they gain experience, more control and consistency, with Bona if he stays and further develops his game, with BWill in the rotation as a good instinctual rebounder who has to grow a lot? Yes - with bringing in guys like Keshon Johnson from places like SDSU - don't underestimate how important he is to zona - who may not be flashy but are winners and - I hate saying this - don't cost as much as the Caleb Loves of the world, argumented by winning more often in recruiting and focusing on player-led leadership and character - more Jaime's and fewer Shabazz's I suppose.
Go BRUINS
Oh, and for goodness gracious sakes alive - find someone who can hit the ocean consistently from a 22'-1-3/4" boat!
disagree. everyone in college basketball knows the youth of this team. sophomores play better than freshmen, but frankly most of these kids won't be invited back. will be a totally new group next year , for better or worse.
"Forever" sounds extreme (except for my moniker!), as there have been other awful, lackluster teams in past seasons at UCLA before the program got turned around (at least temporarily). Coach Cronin rode the same core group of players successfully for the past 4 seasons, then had to replace them all at once, and was just unable (apparently due to lack of NIL funding) to do a good job of recruiting and reloading the roster with a highly competitive group of players. And regarding the youth of this year's team, according to one analytics site (https://www.barttorvik.com), the Bruins have the 4th least-experienced team in all of Div. I basketball, so the players were all being thrown into the fire pretty early. Anyway, it'll be interesting to see if the coaching staff can improve the roster for their inaugural season in the Big-10 and whether lack of NIL funding will be used as an excuse if his new batch of recruits (or the entire team) doesn't end up performing well again.
Two more games and the season will be mercifully over.
Question for Dimitri--which six plus players do you believe will transfer out--all of the freshman Euro players and perhaps other non Euro players? Could Bona transfer to a school that can showcase his skills (I think his stock sank this year) or does he try the NBA?
(Consider this a preview of the post-mortem)
If you're looking at the roster as it stands right now, there's really only one guy on it that I think has a spot going into next year in Dylan Andrews (obviously Kenny Nwuba is gone because he graduated). Devin Williams might also be locked in if only because the staff was clear he was a development guy this year, and they likely didn't see enough to determine if he's part of the future plans. After that there are questions.
Bona's decision is between returning to UCLA and heading to the NBA, and I don't think its an obvious one. The problem for Bona is he doesn't have a natural position at the next level - he's not big enough to be a true center and he doesn't have enough outside game to be a wing. You could see some development for him as a big this year and I think being on a more veteran squad next year would help him more than being a likely 2nd-round pick and languishing in the G-League. I don't think he transfers to another school, though - he seems to like UCLA and Cronin too much to do that.
Easy transfers would be most of the Euros. I think Berke is gone - the fact that he could never supplant Brandon Williams in the lineup speaks to how out of his element he was - and Fibleuil is likely gone as well (if you can't get playing time in a blowout, its a pretty good indicator that you're not sticking around). Jan Vide is someone the staff raves about in practice but the Arizona game was also a good example of how he's just not athletic enough to provide meaningful minutes against a quality opponent, as he gets blown by constantly on defense. Aday Mara is the one question mark here, in that I think the staff really like him and have actually developed him a surprising amount this season, but I think it will depend on whether he's willing to spend the summer here instead of going back to Spain in the offseason. He needs a weight program in the worst way.
Will McClendon feels gone. He's an easy kid to root for but it's pretty obvious that the knee injury a few years ago sapped him of athleticism, and now he really does not belong in a high-major game against that quality of talent. He'd benefit from dropping down to the Mountain West or even Big West.
And now for the fun ones. First, I think Brandon Williams will be one to watch for. He got way more playing time than anyone anticipated this year, but it also exposed him in a way that I think makes him expendable. He's also from New York, so the distance home could be a factor.
Second, I stated before the season that the best version of UCLA would involve Lazar Stefanovic coming off the bench, and that sadly proved to be the case. This is not to say Stefanovic was bad this year, but he should probably not be the third-best player on a good UCLA team, and he's too hit or miss to have the role he did this year. I think Cronin recruits over him in the transfer portal, and it's a question of whether he's willing to come off the bench next year or not.
Last one: I think Sebastian Mack is a transfer candidate, but not a strong one. For one, he does seem to really like Cronin and playing for him, and he is clearly playing injured in these games. But his lack of focus and effort during games is a huge concern, and I don't think Cronin wants to ride with him as a potential starter next year considering he has kept starting McClendon down the stretch despite Will being a worse player than Mack. When Mack is locked in he absolutely looks like he belongs, and he got a leash hereto unseen in the Mick Cronin era for a freshman, but he never really grew or figured out how to better pick his spots, and that might make things an open question as to whether he returns.
One thing to add for people wondering if UCLA has the money to go heavy into the transfer portal: UCLA actually used a good amount of NIL money last year on the Euros. If they're gone, that frees up a ton of money that combines with increased NIL donations this year to give UCLA enough to be competitive in the market.
Cronin's press conference summed it up the same. Some of these players just not going to be asked back.
Wil's devastating injury really derailed his play. He fought so hard through rehab, but hasn't returned to his athletic self. That's a sad story.
The big question is what will we add and when?
Good question, I am wondering the same.
LOL. Where's Cronin going to get 6 players from? He struck out on the transfer portal in 2023.
hopefully we have more NIL money. doubt it though.
Cronin said NIL was a fundamental reason for not getting good transfer portal players.
right but apparently it has improved at least a little bit in the last 9 months
TMB voices that unknown targets in the portal will be the salvation of this program. Joe has exhaustively pointed out that the portal can supplement a program in football, but cannot supplant recruiting elite talent. The same holds true for basketball. And the recruits are not coming.
the same does not really hold true for basketball because of roster size. 3-4 players can transform a college basketball team. 3-4 players cannot transform a college football team. Just look at all the teams in the top 10 right now. Look at Arizona.
And UCLA is a lock to get 3-4 elite transfers, whoever they may be? The portal is not THE way to build a program.
Nope.
UCLA is certainly not a lock to get 3-4 elite transfers. Just don't have the money. But you are wrong about the portal. Just as important as hs rercruiting now and will pass it in importance if it has not already done so.
Hmmm. I'm rethinking this. A means to gain instant experience without the growing pains. But UCLA is not a player in that market anyway. Most likely will fill the roster this March with multiple Lazars.
honestly multiple Lazars is much better than the crop of inexperienced and raw high ceiling with the ceiling like 5 years away freshmen. but i think people underestimate how much availability there will be. virtually every college bball player now playing on a 1 year contract.
Arizona had ballo, Larson, and Boswell that were already a solid foundation for transfers to come play with. UCLA has absolutely nobody that anybody wants to play with.
Yes Arizona has good players, but Arizona was doing just fine before those guys got there and didn’t need those transfers to transform the program. UCLA is looking for not just transfers, but transfers that will completely change the program.
And when is the last time cronin got 3-4 elite transfers?!? Seriously
We are in huge trouble... 😢
CMC faces the biggest challenge of his career to return this program onto the right footing quickly, or find UCLA recast as a has-been. The Pandora's Box of the NIL is not in his corner.
A (projected) 7 game losing streak to end the season is not a good look.
I agree with you about the NIL. I also agree with you that the portal is not going to instantly produce an amazing team... So many factors go into creating greatness - tangible and intangible. Skill level, athleticism, natural gifts, toughness, chemistry, character (respect, selflessness, discipline, dedication, work ethic, integrity) the list goes on...
Cronin has big problems (recruiting and otherwise) and we shall see how everything plays out. But here are my thoughts on the recruiting front...
If tons of money was thrown at the Euros then my question is why? How could the evaluation process result in so many misses with so much money expended? Multiply that with the fact we are simply not getting the high school recruits. We are getting out recruited on so many levels by the bluebloods.
Cronin's making millions and he should have the skills to at least assess recruits with some accuracy. And why aren't we getting the best high school recruits? Why are we losing out again and again? If we had tons of money to throw at the Euros, why couldn't that money have gone to high school recruits? High school recruits are going elsewhere and it's not just about the money cause it sounds like we had the money and it went overseas.
Losing recruits to Blue Bloods? CMC is losing recruits...to Andy! And now Tommy, too. Baskets had a hilarious but accurate post from a player's perspective on why that is so.
CMC chased the Euros after striking out on 2 dozen offers. He was desperate to fill the roster. And, oh, how they were hyped. I fell for it hook, line and sinker.
The easy and obvious is to blame lack of NIL. True. But what we don't know is the "something else."
To your point, it does make me question the team brain trust.
Truth....
You know something is terribly wrong when suc is outrecruiting you. Desperation does indeed lead to mistakes and I also fell for the Euro hype thinking Mara was going to wow us and be an insta leader...
Sure wish I was making millions for that kind of mistake. Where did I go wrong 🤣
If I had a penny for every stupid thing I've done (or stupid TMB post I've made), I'd be a gazillionaire.
anyone who thinks we are ever going to compete with USC's NIL money is unrealistic.
At least someone thinks I’m funny 😁
How many basketball players wake up each day and say… omg omg omg! Today is the day I finally do it! Personal best coming today… 6 deflections mother f’n a!!!! And after each one I’m a signal to the bench to write that in our book!!! Let’s F’ing go!!!!
News flash, they don’t because CMC might be the only coach in the country that gives a damn about deflections.
Imagine trying to sell a potential recruit:
“So Johnny, do you know what deflections are? Well, here at ucla, we track that ish! If you get to 10 deflections in a game you get the hungry dog award my man! You get to sign your name on a bone and that’s what it’s all about here. Nobody else in the country, and I mean nobody is even looking at deflections the way that we do. What do you think Johnny!? Are you in….”
There’s a reason that it isn’t a common metric in the nba because NOBODY CARES! It’s not going to get you into the hall of fame
I want to address the NIL again. How come Coach DeShaun Foster is not using the NIL as an accuse. From Day 1 he was out there meeting with donors and MOW, hiring an anazing skilled staff that is alligned in philosophy, brings NFL success, and will have great chemistry moving forward.
Coach Foster is hitting the high school recruiting trail and has multiple offers out already. There is more BUZZ and excitement about our Football team than I have ever seen. None, and I mean Nada, Zero, Zilch of our football teams have transferred and we have talented players.
No excuses. Just a man keeping to his word and growing a culture of greatness and giving in a matter of weeks. The results are clear. Now, obviously we will see how the wins and losses add up by Coach Foster is giving us a great great chance to succeed.
Now compare this with Cronin... rants and throwing HIS recruits, HIS players under the bus with public shaming. A shameful offense - and it is not the youth... Kentucky has 8-9 freshmen and only one player with prior experience and they have had a very good season. And ehen defense isn't stellar, the wheels fall off and we have no way to come back.
Honestly if Cronin thinks the NIL is such a huge problem and I do agree it sucks but he needs to embrace it snd make it work. Perhaps a power lunch is in order with Coach Foster - maybe ole OSU happy go lucky Chipster Alfraud can even pay for the catering 🤣
You just wrote a long comment about NIL and then asked "And why aren't we getting the best high school recruits?" You answered your own question.
DD and Baskets, who have not attended UCLA, have demonstrated an understanding of multivariate analysis.
Yes... Multivariate analysis is a beautiiful thing and absolutely vital when looking at the layers that comprise the well lit dumpster fire we are experiencing. I am always in the game day thread hoping for our players to succeed and to come out with a win. But the multiple factors that are causing our demise cannot be crushed into one muddy entity called NIL. There is so much more at play.
It’s because euros don’t know what they’re getting into. Other coaches are selling flash and cronin doesn’t sell flashy. The euros have no clue what they’re getting into
So what's the current exchange rate for the Euros?
LOL!
Gib?! You’re echoing what I’ve been saying ALL season. Where are the replacements going to come from? I agree that all of the players could leave, but if you’re just replacing them with more of the same or WORSE potential, how do you expect next year to look any better? I’m baffled by the fact that others around here keep raving about all the 5 star transfers ucla is anticipating in the portal when that’s NEVER happened under CMC. UCLA has yet to have meaningful transfers outside of juzang who transferred back to ucla because he was home sick at Kentucky apparently
What if CMC pink slips the team and no one comes?
It could happen.
Then he'll repeat what he was forced to do when he was first hired to coach at Cincy:
Recruit players from the football team. LOL!