Looking at the box score, we were beat in every offensive metric. 30% (7/23) versus 50% (11/22) for 3's; 37% versus 43% overall FG; 78% versus 87% FT; 23 to 30 rebounds. The biggest problem is we do not have a stand out offensive player like Juzang when we made a deep run nor like Lanier who torched us with 4/5 from the 3 yesterday. I understood at the beginning of the season that Bilodeau was suppose to be our Juzang but even when Mara was in and Bilodeau could play the four, he was OK but not great--2/6 from 3 and 1/3 for FT's. Mara is not the answer because he needs to be under the basket to utilize his 7' 3" height advantage to score (3/9)-- unlike a Vlad Goldin who has far better athletic skills and can hit shots from all over the front court including the 3. Maybe Mara can develop a mid range jumper next year but I do not see him being the answer to our lack of offense. Cronin needs to pick up somebody in the Portal to address this problem as he is not going to change his system from defense first and foremost and offense a weak second.
The worry for our ladies is the excessive number of turnovers which has been the case all season and Close does not seem to have the answer.
I frankly don't understand why our offense did not run through Mara. He should have been the first option on offense until they neutralized him. Waste of time for him to try to develop a mid range jump shot. He is too dangerous down down. Let offenses collapse on him and open up space for other guys.
Mara "shot" 3 for 9 under the basket--stamina and illness could have been partially responsible-- but he did not shoot well last night. Some teams next year, like a Michigan, have talented Bigs and will not need to "collapse" against Mara so a mid range shot would be helpful those circumstances. Cronin did say in his presser that a few times, Tennessee switched against our guards which meant smaller players were on Mara and we still took long jumpers instead of passing to Mara with he smaller players on him..
Mara was weak from his illness. He hit a jumper of about 10 feet from the baseline and his free throw shooting has improved, which is effectively a midrange jumper from the high post. Plus, he helps the offense as an excellent passer. If he is in the low post, the defense will likely double, so that helps create space for shooters at the 3 point line. Grabbing a 3 point shooter would be useful. Mara has a very beneficial role in the offense that goes beyond scoring. Plus, he displayed elite shot blocking skills without fouling again last night.
That "Dark Horse" rumor is based on one reporter, Adam Zagoria, and most articles include Cronin with several other possible coaches. But why Tuesday? His buyout drops from $16 million to $10 million--a substantial amount--after 3/31/25 a week after Tuesday.
I will happily come back and admit I was wrong if your "voice of doom" predictions turn out to be right but it seemed to me that the way Cronin coached the final minutes of both the blowout win over Utah St - challenging an out-of-bounds call in the final minute - and yesterday - timeouts with 0:41 left and continuing offense-defense Bilodeau-Kyle subs throughout the final minute - augured a coach teaching culture and playing the full 40/running through the tape as it were for a group he expects to have continuity this year to next. Hopefully we can match whatever bag is thrown at Mara.
I still think Kevin Willard is the one going to Villanova. Ben McCollum is apparently Iowa’s new head coach and he was also a candidate for the Nova job.
Given the inconsistency of this team, last night went about as expected. First off, I feel badly for Dylan Andrews. I know some have no issue criticizing players, especially now that they are getting paid, but I think Andrews puts out maximum effort and is probably much more disappointed in his lack of success this year than anyone on this board. This modern era of hyper-criticism can have serious negative effects on the mental state of modern athletes. I hope Dylan will be okay. I have to say that the season went as expected. My lowered expectations led to much less frustration last night. Heck, I wouldn't have been surprised if we had laid an egg against Utah State. I would assume that Aday Mara is exploring all of his options about now. I think he loves being at UCLA. That being said, he has a business decision to make and in addition to the financial considerations, I'd want to know how Mick Cronin would utilize me in 2025/2026. I've been pretty clear all season long that Mara should have been our Center from early on and that Kyle should have backed him up. Bilodeau should have been the 4. Our attack against a trapping pressure defense is either poorly designed or poorly executed. I don't understand inbounding the ball into the corners or stopping one's dribble just across the center line. It makes no sense. When you have a 7'3" player that is an excellent passer, why not utilize him as a safety valve in the center of the floor? Players can then cut to the basket in attack mode. The women's team often use Lauren Betts in a similar fashion. So, the men's season is over at exactly the time I expected. Tonight, I will be at Pauley Pavilion to watch the women again. They are a lot more entertaining than the men.
This was indeed a season full of inconsistent performances by the players and coaching staff. The Bruins never quite fully developed and sustained the competitive toughness/grit that we've seen in past seasons. Wonder if next season will be yet another "Year-1" squad having the majority of its players being brand new to the program. Coach Cronin's post-game comments alluded to some interesting complaints (are these personal digs at the UCLA administration, or parting shots on his way out?):
* Air travel: "Right now my biggest concern is how bad the seats are on the Allegiant flight, on that terrible plane that we’re going on to fly home tomorrow.”
* Meals: "And is there any chance that Doug got me some hot food, because I don’t eat on game day--that I got something edible."
* NIL funds: "After having almost no NIL and having to go to Europe to try to find cheap players, in a debacle, and fighting through it last year and finishing fifth. If we didn’t have to do that--it put us a year behind, okay?"
* Importance of talent vs. continuity: "I will always take talent. So continuity is irrelevant if you don’t have talent."
His frustration with lack of NIL funds is understandable, but maybe he shouldn't have called any players from Europe "cheap", especially when the Bruins currently have one talented Spaniard who I think he should try to retain, develop, and utilize next season (unless he knows Mara isn't returning). Anyway, I think Coach Cronin got the most out of his transfers this year, but since they all came from losing programs, they still have to learn how to win games by playing smarter (including unlearning bad habits) and performing more consistently (a highly overused term by now).
I don’t think next season will be another Year 1 squad because he doesn’t need to bring in that many transfers for next year. We only have enough scholarships to replace Lazar and Kobe but he’ll probably try to sign at most 3 and that’s with him strongly encouraging someone like Dom Harris or Dylan Andrews to transfer.
From what I've read multiple times, our NIL is has been described as very competitive. It is hard to compare the programs because it isn't public information and some of the programs have one or two people or corporations (whales) funding their programs. It is just mind boggling though the numbers that are bandied about describing what some recruits are demanding. The whole landscape has certainly changed and in quick order.
Yes, it has gotten real crazy with NIL being unregulated and the transfer portal opening up in the midst of March Madness to allow the student-athletes to start searching early for bigger bucks, or to force them to enter it when their HC doesn't need them anymore. Schools that can recruit and retain the most talented players with NIL money sure have a big advantage over schools that don't have that kind of funding. Seems to have resulted in fewer upsets during this year's tournament.
Coach Cronin said he prefers talent over continuity, so does that mean he'll part ways with players who don't perform as anticipated? Prior to the transfer portal and NIL, continuity had more meaning, and he did well coaching his predecessor's roster to a Final Four and 2 Sweet-16s. It seems every coach now has to re-recruit existing players on the team in addition to filling up the open spots created by seniors graduating or with expiring eligibility. Anyway, good to have Clark and Dailey back for next season.
He OBVIOUSLY was not referring to Mara when he called the european players cheap. If you recall, Mara was a blue chip recruit and many thought he was a one and done lottery pick. The cheap Euro players are the one who all transferred out. Btw, Berke averaged 6 ppg this year for Nebraska. Vide averaged 6 coming off the bench for a terrible LMU team. Ilane Fibleuil went back to France and averaged 6 for some JV team in a lower tier french league.
Yes, yet we were hyped that Euro ball was the wave of the future, these kids were the cream of the crop from the discerning eye of Coach Imo, and Ilane was a projected 1-and-done, not the reality that there was no NIL$$$ and Crnin largely struck out on his offers.
Yes, really. Berke's preseason injury was viewed as a major loss of a valuable and talented front court big--couldn't wait to give him minutes upon his return to get him running and up to speed!--and his transfer was viewed similarly as a loss of an integral piece. There were expectations, with Mara topping all of them.
Yeah, the thought of Mara wasn't in his mind when he made the comment, but it sounded pretty insulting to publicly say the value of European players was cheap (even though it may have been actually true at the time). But Coach Cronin is who he is--nothing is filtered...
I was "surprised" about his blunt remarks about Allegiant and NIL funds last year. Never have flown Allegiant but unless they have special seats for tall people on some of their airplanes, I am surprised because it is a low budget carrier. I did not take the food comment as a criticism, I took it as he does not eat on game day and wanted food after the pressrr. His NIL comment was an obvious zinger! I was also surprised at his talent versus continuity comment because when Cronin got here the first few years, he always mentioned how his players at Cincinnati stayed for four years and that was an important factor in their wins. Also noted that he said he was happy with the defense and doubted any other team had held Tennessee to that low of score during the season and it was the offense that lost the game--so why not change your system of offense which does not win games?
To me, his comments implied that UCLA is cheap--flying on low-budget/uncomfortable aircraft, hoping to get hot food that is "edible" after the game, and of course, the NIL funding challenges, and who know what else.
As for the game itself, I thiught the Bruin defense did OK and prevented a total blowout loss, but Tennessee just had a much better defense. Including the UCLA game, the Vols have actually been held to 70 points or less 12 times this season, but have lost only 3 of those games, while UCLA has had 14 games scoring 70 or less and lost 8 of them. So, with their lack of scoring punch, the Bruins had no chance and basically lost the game during those awful, last 3 minutes of the 1st half. And asking for Coach Cronin to change his offense might be wishful thinking, as he's probably looking for another talented player he can rely on for the usual 1-on-1 iso-ball attack.
We know what Cronin is and it’s not championship basketball. Every coach knows his game plan, and any great coach has loads of time to pick him apart. He’s Charlie Brown and every great coach knows he’ll fall for Lucy’s football trick.
I would agree that UCLA was not close to being at championship level this year and lacked toughness and consistency, and that Coach Barnes did exploit the Bruins' inability to handle the full-court press and decisively flipped the game to the Vols advantage before halftime. But we'll see whether Coach Cronin can improve on both his recruiting and coaching approach for next season, which will be Year-3 of the inglorious NIL/transfer portal era.
Cronin is just an unlikable, nasty multi-millionaire who has no perception of his flaws as a person or coach. And yes, I 💯 believe in the American dream and achieving prosperity, but Cronin is simply low class and ungrateful in my book.
I know it's UNLIKELY to happen, but I would much prefer a truly talented, humble, up and coming coach who represents himself the way Wooden did, even if it means rebuilding...
I highly doubt Cronin will ever win even one National Championship, but one thing is certain, he will continue to embarrass UCLA.
That’s been my point for a long time. Does anyone actually still think Cronin can win a championship?
Unless we have overwhelming talent that Joe Shmoe off the street could coach to a championship, I don’t see it happening. And I don’t see us ever having that kind of talent under Cronin.
It’s a sad thing when I don’t feel the desire to watch every game, because I already know Cronin’s poor coaching will be picked apart. And then he has the nerve to blame it on his players that he recruited and coached, and the coaches he hired.
Poor recruiting, poor coaching, poor attitude, missed the tournament one year and lost in the second round the next. Is any of this really considered worthy of an UCLA basketball coach?
He would have been fired after last season at most blueblood programs. You think Duke or UNC would accept that horrible season?
And the way he treats so many people, beyond just his players. Cronin, as I have said many times, is all over the place with his vitriole. Attacking anyone in sight, but raking in millions. What a classless person.
He is the absolute antithesis of Coach Wooden. I cheer for the team because I love UCLA basketball, but I disdain the 'coach.'
great coaches don't get fired after one bad season especially when they had absolutely nothing to do with the inability to construct a roster. The only reason we were able to buy the players we had this year was because Cronin has been reason hell about our piss poor NIL operation for the last 2 years.
It was a decent year. They improved from last year, in a much tougher conference. I know, but fire Cronin! It's somehow his fault that Mara got sick and hurt and how nobody besides Clark yesterday could shoot worth a shit!
this is definitely not on Cronin. I would not call him an elite coach (because he has not won), but he is definitely at the top of the tier right. He did the best he could rebuilding from a crappy roster caused by crappy NIL management. If he stays and is able to hold this roster together, we will be a lot better next year even if we do not add anyone.
If you consider a coach outside the best 25 in the business today top tier, then that’s why there is so much disagreement. Cronin is clearly outside the top 25 in recruiting and outside the top 25 in offensive game planning. 5 star recruits must be in the top 25 of their class if I’m not mistaken. Since Cronin isn’t a top 25 coach in either of those categories, that would make him a 4-star coach. That puts him in the second tier in my book, not the first
no we really can't, because you literally just pulled up a list of coaches who had a semi successful season and threw names onto your list. Most of them have achieved nothing. Many have never sniffed the Final 4 or even Elite 8. You literally, and i do mean literally, have Richard Pitino on the list. Again, who the hell is Bryce Underwood?
Here is my list of top tier coaches. This list includes a coaches ability to secure top recruits that fit well into their program. Cronin isn’t as good as any of these coaches in my opinion. Doesn’t mean any of these coaches are a good fit for ucla, but if we’re looking at current coaches who have been consistent, then here is a list of coaches better than cronin in my opinion
feel like you just pulled about 15 names out of a hat just to try to put people in front of Mick Cronin. Buzz Williams? LOL. Tommy Lloyd? lol. Matt Painter? Grant McCasland? Jon Scheyer has what, 80 career wins? Who the hell is Bryce underwood? You put a lot of effort into this list though.
Since this thread is just for this game and not a season post mortem, let’s focus on why ucla lost this game. It’s because cronin isn’t a good offensive coach. My opinion from the beginning is that he’s actually a poor offensive coach. He doesn’t know what to do with players like Mara and Watson who would thrive in an offense that passes the ball around.
This game is the epitome of a cronin coached team. When they run into a team that actually plays defense they struggle as an iso offense basketball team that doesn’t recruit well enough to justify that type of game plan. These players are all taught defense and expected to learn 1v1 basketball by the end of the season. If there aren’t any good 1v1 players, then at some point the hot shooter disappears when the opposing teams figure out who that is. You only have to defend one player in the game and ucla offense falls apart.
Thats what happened in this game. UCLA was too easy to defend. This team could be a good offensive unit if they were coached to their strengths, I.e. playing through Mara. But instead, cronin continues to force his game plan. Give the ball to a single player and let them go 1v1… this works against trams like Utah state who don’t play good defense. But against any quicker team, you’re going to eventually get caught by a coach who is better than cronin.
Cornin is a top 50 coach, but he’s certainly not a top 25 coach. In games like this it shows. Offensively, I’d put him outside the top 25 for sure. He just doesn’t recruit well enough for his brand of basketball to be successful at ucla against a program like Tennessee who clearly coach based on the strengths of their program. Barnes is clearly a much better coach than cronin
The best offensive option at the beginning of the year wasn't the same as it is now. There are those of us that think the offense needs to run through Mara. That certainly wasn't the plan back in October. Will Mick adjust his schemes to fit his personnel next year, whatever it may be?
Inexcusable not to run a high/low post offense with a big lineup like the Bruins had this year. The ball movement around the perimeter - from where most offenses glean points in today's game - was fine, but I agree as far as lack of schemes. When confronting that BS half-court trap, they struggled, and the lack of a game plan, for that press - simple, put Mara at or just above the free throw line, and have Dailey and or Bilodeau go low post - is definitely on the staff.
It all turned to poop and the hogs ate it, with about 3 minutes to go before the half. During that implosion, Mara missed two shots from under 10' away (strength/fatigue), Bilodeau missed two, wide open shots and two free throws, and the bad pass turnover that led to a bias-crowd rousing three-point play doomed em. - They went from up by 1 to down 7 at the half, and were outscored by just a deuce in a kiss-your-sister second half.
Cronin is a good coach, but not adjusting to that piddly half-court, trapping press - by not bringing one of the bigs to the uppermost part of the key - smacked of futility.
One thing we for sure learned, is that the Vols are definitely NOT going to with the Championship....
More stinging than being chopped, sliced and diced by the Vols was Crnin's presser. What a miserable, sorry, acerbic, little man syndrome s.o.b. Disgraceful. His behavior poorly represented our University (rudely interrupting and demeaning sports writers with flippant remarks should not be mistaken for being forthright), it poorly reflected on him, it is not likely to ingratiate him to the Donor Class, nor a winning look for potential transfers and recruits. Ugly.
I knew it! I just knew it! I predicted so. He played the age and experience card as reasons for the Vols' win. Yet answered, "Talent," when asked whether he would prefer talent or continuity.
And a talent disparity it was (aside from being out coached and out executed). The Vols were more athletic and talented by far than the Bruins. You know, with the caliber of player that Crnin boasted he was going to acquire with the UCLA position. He hasn't, and won't. The Bruins looked like a mid major desperately trying to hang with a Power Conference team.
There's a "fun" recruiting story regarding Jahmai Mashack. Maschack went to Etiwanda and played alongside Jaylen Clark, who was a year older. Mick often talked about that being the best defensive team at the high school level he's ever seen. Anyway, Mick was on Mashack from the beginning, and since he had Clark there was a huge assumption that Mashack would follow. Except something funny happened during Mashack's senior year:
UCLA went to the Final Four, and everyone decided to come back, leaving the Bruins with only one available scholarship.
Mick had a choice with that scholarship and ultimately chose to prioritize talent, bringing in Peyton Watson over Mashack and another guard everyone is familiar with, KJ Simpson. If any of the UCLA players leave for the NBA or transfer out as was assumed at the time, those guys are Bruins and UCLA is more set up for long-term success. Such is the sliding doors of high-level basketball.
Juzang was the big one, as everyone assumed he would take advantage of his March run for a 1st round NBA slot. There were questions about Jaime as well, and then there was discussions around Jalen Hill (who did ultimately not come back to the team). By the time those decisions were made, the guys UCLA would have taken had to make their college decision, since the draft deadline is the end of May.
Crnin said that the reason why the Bruins lost was because of the offense. Ya' think? Why is that so often the case? The offense is absent even in so many victories, and it's taken superlative level of defense to win. Will Crnin adjust? He is utterly incapable of introspection, change and growth.
Why will next year be better to build on with the same guys, assuming they stay, when he doesn't know how to utilize a Mara or sticks with his ISO ball without suitable players to run that offense? Crnin's ceiling in this landscape is a Steve Sixteen. Did the team improve over the season? This is the same team that we saw in the loss to New Mexico.
It's futile to speculate who will stay, who will transfer in, who will transfer out. We'll know soon enough how many truly love and are loyal to Crnin.
Coach Close makes Cronin look even smaller, if that's possible She is making Coach Wooden very proud. She is classy and is a great great coach and teacher. Her team is outstanding in every way - tangibles and intangibles.
Cronin is a complete and total FAIL primarily because he is an SOB ego maniac who treats prople like dirt, including Tracy Murray and Josh Lewin.
He doesn't even use proper grammar. He embarrasses UCLA every time he opens his mouth, He is making millions but sounds like he failed English in high school.
His tough guy, "look at me, I'm old school!" talk is unconvincing, boorish, tiresome and unprofessional. Some are fooled to think it's a tough love approach. It's not.
It’s unfortunate there are only a few that see the reality of this game. UCLA lost this and it wasn’t ever even close After the first 15 minutes.
This is cronin ceiling, but too many still yelling to give the angry guy time! That this is a top 25 coach. That he gets better every year… did this team get better over the season? I’d say no.
This game is typical cronin basketball. Outcoached, outclassed, outrecruited, and outperformed by a real coach who focuses on defense but can still coach offense.
This is the mediocrity you’re all asking to get more of! I’m just so sick of delusional fans asking for one more season under a guy that has hit his ceiling
To say that all Crnin needs to do is pick up an experienced leader of a pg, awesome scoring wings, and some help at the bigs, then the Bruins will be on track. It's that easy!
Besides, who's coming to a Crnin team, where offense goes to die?
These days, most - not all - players go where they get paid, style is far less important... though bringing in high priced talent doesn't always work out - anyone seem Oumar Ballo lately?! - but it certainly doesn't hurt if you can do it.
There has been many times where Cronin's teams have displayed great offense, e.g. just SC game. The problem is his teams are not consistent. The primary reason is lack of enough talent. It all starts with top recruiting. See how Duke does it, year after year. And Kansas and Connecticut, and NC...
See, I can’t tell if this is a joke, but the only team that you listed that was clearly better than UCLA this year was Duke. Kansas, UConn, and UNC are all having the same conversations about talent and evaluations that UCLA fans are.
Do you realize how dumb you sound? Truly awful season.....they lost in overtime on a buzzer beater in the Final Four. Just be honest about it.....you despise Cronin because you are a snowflake. You can't stand how he screams at players.....errr grown men...because it reminds you of Bobby Knight or *gasp* Dan Hurley or *gasp* Rick Pitino. You think scoring is entertaining, and therefore you want AAU style basketball with no defense. Therefore defense first coaches need not apply.
Bobby Knight? Do you realize how dumb you sound? AAU style basketball? No defense, and defense minded coaches need not apply? I don't recall T making those claims. If you disagree, then please argue her points. Don't inject attitude into a reasonable discussion. It's fair to criticize Crnin. You have questioned his offense and use of Mara. Does criticism mean that you are in the fire Cronin camp?
In this very thread, in part, "I frankly don't understand why our offense did not run through Mara. He should have been the first option on offense until they neutralized him."
To be fair, it seems from his posts that Baskets is far more likely to advocate for AAU/early 90s LMU basketball in the name of "entertainment". Personally I was just as entertained being at Pauley for a first to 85 game against Wisconsin as I was for a first one over 60 game against Michigan St... though making fun of the troll after the former was pretty darn entertaining too 🙂
Sea and T, I am one who doesn't mind Cronin's radical and sometimes harsh honesty, though I understand and respect those who feel it crosses a line. While the Bobby Knight comparison is out of bounds - unlike Bobby or his protégé our former coach, he's never to my knowledge apologized for a rapist - the Danny Hurley and Rick Pitino comparisons are reasonable... I'm sure you've seen D.Hurley telling the Baylor players in the tunnel "I hope they don't * you the way they *ed us" after yesterday's game or how Pitino passively-aggressively threw his Big East player of the year under the bus after benching him yesterday... yes, both have won championships but if we can not accept in victory what we wouldn't accept in defeat then in that aspect, Cronin. Hurley, and Pitino are birds of a feather.
I don't know if Mara wasn't consistently healthy enough between foot, noro, mono, and whatever he had this weekend, to be the focal point he should have been or it really is Cronin's stubbornness, but between that and a group of guards that is like Forrest Gump's proverbial box of chocolates game to game, inconsistency is going to be the result. Continuity and an influx of some talent can be the answer. Let's see if that's what happens.
Reminder, that FF year the Bruins had multiple 2nd half collapses after holding double digit leads (sound familiar?), lost a couple of buzzer beaters (one to the Trogans), lost their last 3 games of the Conference season, and the quarter final of the PAC 12 Tournament...which earned them a First Four selection. Then JJ struck lightning in a bottle for one of the greatest Tournaments ever by a player. If Crnin can't be blamed for players shooting like crap in this Tournament, then can he be credited for his coaching when Juzang got hot?
I wish I could like (or love) all of the comments by Baskets and Sea - a million times each. They are exactly right in everything they have stated. That is all.
I watched the postgame Qand A with Cronin and I thought it was fine? I think if you’re already predisposed to dislike someone, you can find negative stuff in anything they say.
The Allegiant comment was in response to the flights they have to book through the NCAA travel program for the tournament vs the charter flights that UCLA books for the team for regular away games.
The NIL issues last season are pretty well-documented. That’s why there was a massive drive to fundraiser for NIL this season and why that will continue. Cronin himself has been pretty active in advertising and fundraising for the NIL collective - much more so than Chip Kelly ever did or even Martin Jarmond and Deshaun Foster. I also didn’t think he meant the Euro players were cheap but that the price to get them was cheap compared to the price they need for other recruits - just as an example, rumors are that top HS recruit Brayden Burries is balking at $2m NIL offers and is demanding more.
The ‘talent over continuity’ comment came after multiple reportersasked Cronin about his offseason recruiting plans and Cronin had deflected the first couple times the question was asked.
he's got a lot of potential but was not going to get a lot of playing time this year. Either Mara is going to come back and really be a force or we're going to sign someone that would be ahead of Kyle on the depth chart.
lots of chatter out there on the Nova job and how it could impact UCLA's transfer portal prospects. Bolch reporting that Dent from NM in the portal and UCLA a primary suitor. Would be huge, but another report that Richard Pitino finalizing job to take Nova job and would bring Dent with him. Yet another report that Pitino turned down Nova and is talking to VCU and that Nova is pivoting to Cronin. Sounds like they hav interviewed Pitino, Cronin, Willard, and Beard.
For what its worth, the various Sirius College Sports Network hosts I've heard have mostly speculated that Nova is focused on Willard given (a) his rant against the NIL program/AD a week ago and (b) he's still coaching Maryland in the Sweet 16 which, putting 2 and 2 together, is why they believe Nova hasn't announced a hire even with the portal open... guess we'll know soon enough...
Well Xavier just hired Pitino. I fear that if Cronin leaves, it's going to be late in the carousel and we have no backup plan like in football. The joke someone made about Earl Watson is not that unrealistic. Petros and Money mentioned that a Cronin extension is being discussed, which I imagine would be a requirement for him staying.
Looking at the box score, we were beat in every offensive metric. 30% (7/23) versus 50% (11/22) for 3's; 37% versus 43% overall FG; 78% versus 87% FT; 23 to 30 rebounds. The biggest problem is we do not have a stand out offensive player like Juzang when we made a deep run nor like Lanier who torched us with 4/5 from the 3 yesterday. I understood at the beginning of the season that Bilodeau was suppose to be our Juzang but even when Mara was in and Bilodeau could play the four, he was OK but not great--2/6 from 3 and 1/3 for FT's. Mara is not the answer because he needs to be under the basket to utilize his 7' 3" height advantage to score (3/9)-- unlike a Vlad Goldin who has far better athletic skills and can hit shots from all over the front court including the 3. Maybe Mara can develop a mid range jumper next year but I do not see him being the answer to our lack of offense. Cronin needs to pick up somebody in the Portal to address this problem as he is not going to change his system from defense first and foremost and offense a weak second.
The worry for our ladies is the excessive number of turnovers which has been the case all season and Close does not seem to have the answer.
I frankly don't understand why our offense did not run through Mara. He should have been the first option on offense until they neutralized him. Waste of time for him to try to develop a mid range jump shot. He is too dangerous down down. Let offenses collapse on him and open up space for other guys.
Mara "shot" 3 for 9 under the basket--stamina and illness could have been partially responsible-- but he did not shoot well last night. Some teams next year, like a Michigan, have talented Bigs and will not need to "collapse" against Mara so a mid range shot would be helpful those circumstances. Cronin did say in his presser that a few times, Tennessee switched against our guards which meant smaller players were on Mara and we still took long jumpers instead of passing to Mara with he smaller players on him..
Mara was weak from his illness. He hit a jumper of about 10 feet from the baseline and his free throw shooting has improved, which is effectively a midrange jumper from the high post. Plus, he helps the offense as an excellent passer. If he is in the low post, the defense will likely double, so that helps create space for shooters at the 3 point line. Grabbing a 3 point shooter would be useful. Mara has a very beneficial role in the offense that goes beyond scoring. Plus, he displayed elite shot blocking skills without fouling again last night.
Cronin will be Villanova's coach by Tuesday and half the roster will be in the portal.
That "Dark Horse" rumor is based on one reporter, Adam Zagoria, and most articles include Cronin with several other possible coaches. But why Tuesday? His buyout drops from $16 million to $10 million--a substantial amount--after 3/31/25 a week after Tuesday.
school cannot afford to wait that long for buyouts. They just have to pay the buyout if they want the coach. The portal opens in 24 hours.
Well, we will know in 2 days.
I will happily come back and admit I was wrong if your "voice of doom" predictions turn out to be right but it seemed to me that the way Cronin coached the final minutes of both the blowout win over Utah St - challenging an out-of-bounds call in the final minute - and yesterday - timeouts with 0:41 left and continuing offense-defense Bilodeau-Kyle subs throughout the final minute - augured a coach teaching culture and playing the full 40/running through the tape as it were for a group he expects to have continuity this year to next. Hopefully we can match whatever bag is thrown at Mara.
Foreign players aren't eligible for NIL per immigration law.
I still think Kevin Willard is the one going to Villanova. Ben McCollum is apparently Iowa’s new head coach and he was also a candidate for the Nova job.
He said that he's not leaving until they fire him. LMAO.
Let’s all pray this is true! Cronin would be a better fit at Villanova.
well he's a perfect fit for UCLA, so i don't really care how great he would be for Villanova.
If that happens I don't want to read any complaints about the next coach. Especially if he sucks! 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣
and he will. Cronin very underpaid. Just like football, we'll end up cheaping out on someone with no experience that can't recruit.
That would be Sweet Karma for the clowns who say fire Cronin. 😆
it will happen eventually. if not this season, then next.
If so, then meet new Bruins head coach Earl Watson. Thanks, Martin Guerrero.
LMFAO. UCLA Hoops will become a dump.
Dailey and Clark committed to returning. Aday is not.
Given the inconsistency of this team, last night went about as expected. First off, I feel badly for Dylan Andrews. I know some have no issue criticizing players, especially now that they are getting paid, but I think Andrews puts out maximum effort and is probably much more disappointed in his lack of success this year than anyone on this board. This modern era of hyper-criticism can have serious negative effects on the mental state of modern athletes. I hope Dylan will be okay. I have to say that the season went as expected. My lowered expectations led to much less frustration last night. Heck, I wouldn't have been surprised if we had laid an egg against Utah State. I would assume that Aday Mara is exploring all of his options about now. I think he loves being at UCLA. That being said, he has a business decision to make and in addition to the financial considerations, I'd want to know how Mick Cronin would utilize me in 2025/2026. I've been pretty clear all season long that Mara should have been our Center from early on and that Kyle should have backed him up. Bilodeau should have been the 4. Our attack against a trapping pressure defense is either poorly designed or poorly executed. I don't understand inbounding the ball into the corners or stopping one's dribble just across the center line. It makes no sense. When you have a 7'3" player that is an excellent passer, why not utilize him as a safety valve in the center of the floor? Players can then cut to the basket in attack mode. The women's team often use Lauren Betts in a similar fashion. So, the men's season is over at exactly the time I expected. Tonight, I will be at Pauley Pavilion to watch the women again. They are a lot more entertaining than the men.
This was indeed a season full of inconsistent performances by the players and coaching staff. The Bruins never quite fully developed and sustained the competitive toughness/grit that we've seen in past seasons. Wonder if next season will be yet another "Year-1" squad having the majority of its players being brand new to the program. Coach Cronin's post-game comments alluded to some interesting complaints (are these personal digs at the UCLA administration, or parting shots on his way out?):
* Air travel: "Right now my biggest concern is how bad the seats are on the Allegiant flight, on that terrible plane that we’re going on to fly home tomorrow.”
* Meals: "And is there any chance that Doug got me some hot food, because I don’t eat on game day--that I got something edible."
* NIL funds: "After having almost no NIL and having to go to Europe to try to find cheap players, in a debacle, and fighting through it last year and finishing fifth. If we didn’t have to do that--it put us a year behind, okay?"
* Importance of talent vs. continuity: "I will always take talent. So continuity is irrelevant if you don’t have talent."
His frustration with lack of NIL funds is understandable, but maybe he shouldn't have called any players from Europe "cheap", especially when the Bruins currently have one talented Spaniard who I think he should try to retain, develop, and utilize next season (unless he knows Mara isn't returning). Anyway, I think Coach Cronin got the most out of his transfers this year, but since they all came from losing programs, they still have to learn how to win games by playing smarter (including unlearning bad habits) and performing more consistently (a highly overused term by now).
Go Bruins (next year)!
Go Lady Bruins!
I don’t think next season will be another Year 1 squad because he doesn’t need to bring in that many transfers for next year. We only have enough scholarships to replace Lazar and Kobe but he’ll probably try to sign at most 3 and that’s with him strongly encouraging someone like Dom Harris or Dylan Andrews to transfer.
And from what I have read UCLA's NIL is now very competitive thanks to the work of Ken Graiwer and crew.
Hope that is true and UCLA can snag more and better talent to correct some of the deficiencies on the team!
From what I've read multiple times, our NIL is has been described as very competitive. It is hard to compare the programs because it isn't public information and some of the programs have one or two people or corporations (whales) funding their programs. It is just mind boggling though the numbers that are bandied about describing what some recruits are demanding. The whole landscape has certainly changed and in quick order.
Yes, it has gotten real crazy with NIL being unregulated and the transfer portal opening up in the midst of March Madness to allow the student-athletes to start searching early for bigger bucks, or to force them to enter it when their HC doesn't need them anymore. Schools that can recruit and retain the most talented players with NIL money sure have a big advantage over schools that don't have that kind of funding. Seems to have resulted in fewer upsets during this year's tournament.
Coach Cronin said he prefers talent over continuity, so does that mean he'll part ways with players who don't perform as anticipated? Prior to the transfer portal and NIL, continuity had more meaning, and he did well coaching his predecessor's roster to a Final Four and 2 Sweet-16s. It seems every coach now has to re-recruit existing players on the team in addition to filling up the open spots created by seniors graduating or with expiring eligibility. Anyway, good to have Clark and Dailey back for next season.
He OBVIOUSLY was not referring to Mara when he called the european players cheap. If you recall, Mara was a blue chip recruit and many thought he was a one and done lottery pick. The cheap Euro players are the one who all transferred out. Btw, Berke averaged 6 ppg this year for Nebraska. Vide averaged 6 coming off the bench for a terrible LMU team. Ilane Fibleuil went back to France and averaged 6 for some JV team in a lower tier french league.
Yes, yet we were hyped that Euro ball was the wave of the future, these kids were the cream of the crop from the discerning eye of Coach Imo, and Ilane was a projected 1-and-done, not the reality that there was no NIL$$$ and Crnin largely struck out on his offers.
not really. All the hype was Mara. Nobody ever portrayed Video, Berte, or the french guy as studs.
Yes, really. Berke's preseason injury was viewed as a major loss of a valuable and talented front court big--couldn't wait to give him minutes upon his return to get him running and up to speed!--and his transfer was viewed similarly as a loss of an integral piece. There were expectations, with Mara topping all of them.
major loss because we literally had nobody else. jut look at what he did for Nebraska this year. None of them were big time recruits.
That's not my argument. But I will borrow from one of your arguments: I don't really care how he did at Nebraska.
Yeah, the thought of Mara wasn't in his mind when he made the comment, but it sounded pretty insulting to publicly say the value of European players was cheap (even though it may have been actually true at the time). But Coach Cronin is who he is--nothing is filtered...
I was "surprised" about his blunt remarks about Allegiant and NIL funds last year. Never have flown Allegiant but unless they have special seats for tall people on some of their airplanes, I am surprised because it is a low budget carrier. I did not take the food comment as a criticism, I took it as he does not eat on game day and wanted food after the pressrr. His NIL comment was an obvious zinger! I was also surprised at his talent versus continuity comment because when Cronin got here the first few years, he always mentioned how his players at Cincinnati stayed for four years and that was an important factor in their wins. Also noted that he said he was happy with the defense and doubted any other team had held Tennessee to that low of score during the season and it was the offense that lost the game--so why not change your system of offense which does not win games?
To me, his comments implied that UCLA is cheap--flying on low-budget/uncomfortable aircraft, hoping to get hot food that is "edible" after the game, and of course, the NIL funding challenges, and who know what else.
As for the game itself, I thiught the Bruin defense did OK and prevented a total blowout loss, but Tennessee just had a much better defense. Including the UCLA game, the Vols have actually been held to 70 points or less 12 times this season, but have lost only 3 of those games, while UCLA has had 14 games scoring 70 or less and lost 8 of them. So, with their lack of scoring punch, the Bruins had no chance and basically lost the game during those awful, last 3 minutes of the 1st half. And asking for Coach Cronin to change his offense might be wishful thinking, as he's probably looking for another talented player he can rely on for the usual 1-on-1 iso-ball attack.
We know what Cronin is and it’s not championship basketball. Every coach knows his game plan, and any great coach has loads of time to pick him apart. He’s Charlie Brown and every great coach knows he’ll fall for Lucy’s football trick.
I would agree that UCLA was not close to being at championship level this year and lacked toughness and consistency, and that Coach Barnes did exploit the Bruins' inability to handle the full-court press and decisively flipped the game to the Vols advantage before halftime. But we'll see whether Coach Cronin can improve on both his recruiting and coaching approach for next season, which will be Year-3 of the inglorious NIL/transfer portal era.
Cronin is just an unlikable, nasty multi-millionaire who has no perception of his flaws as a person or coach. And yes, I 💯 believe in the American dream and achieving prosperity, but Cronin is simply low class and ungrateful in my book.
I know it's UNLIKELY to happen, but I would much prefer a truly talented, humble, up and coming coach who represents himself the way Wooden did, even if it means rebuilding...
I highly doubt Cronin will ever win even one National Championship, but one thing is certain, he will continue to embarrass UCLA.
Some mistake temper and antagonism for passion.
Amen.
Like his players?
That’s been my point for a long time. Does anyone actually still think Cronin can win a championship?
Unless we have overwhelming talent that Joe Shmoe off the street could coach to a championship, I don’t see it happening. And I don’t see us ever having that kind of talent under Cronin.
It’s a sad thing when I don’t feel the desire to watch every game, because I already know Cronin’s poor coaching will be picked apart. And then he has the nerve to blame it on his players that he recruited and coached, and the coaches he hired.
Poor recruiting, poor coaching, poor attitude, missed the tournament one year and lost in the second round the next. Is any of this really considered worthy of an UCLA basketball coach?
He would have been fired after last season at most blueblood programs. You think Duke or UNC would accept that horrible season?
And the way he treats so many people, beyond just his players. Cronin, as I have said many times, is all over the place with his vitriole. Attacking anyone in sight, but raking in millions. What a classless person.
He is the absolute antithesis of Coach Wooden. I cheer for the team because I love UCLA basketball, but I disdain the 'coach.'
What a miserable plight.
great coaches don't get fired after one bad season especially when they had absolutely nothing to do with the inability to construct a roster. The only reason we were able to buy the players we had this year was because Cronin has been reason hell about our piss poor NIL operation for the last 2 years.
It was a decent year. They improved from last year, in a much tougher conference. I know, but fire Cronin! It's somehow his fault that Mara got sick and hurt and how nobody besides Clark yesterday could shoot worth a shit!
this is definitely not on Cronin. I would not call him an elite coach (because he has not won), but he is definitely at the top of the tier right. He did the best he could rebuilding from a crappy roster caused by crappy NIL management. If he stays and is able to hold this roster together, we will be a lot better next year even if we do not add anyone.
If you consider a coach outside the best 25 in the business today top tier, then that’s why there is so much disagreement. Cronin is clearly outside the top 25 in recruiting and outside the top 25 in offensive game planning. 5 star recruits must be in the top 25 of their class if I’m not mistaken. Since Cronin isn’t a top 25 coach in either of those categories, that would make him a 4-star coach. That puts him in the second tier in my book, not the first
he's just not outside the top 25.
We can just agree to disagree
no we really can't, because you literally just pulled up a list of coaches who had a semi successful season and threw names onto your list. Most of them have achieved nothing. Many have never sniffed the Final 4 or even Elite 8. You literally, and i do mean literally, have Richard Pitino on the list. Again, who the hell is Bryce Underwood?
Still waiting to hear about Bryce Underwood
turns out it was a made up name I guess
Here is my list of top tier coaches. This list includes a coaches ability to secure top recruits that fit well into their program. Cronin isn’t as good as any of these coaches in my opinion. Doesn’t mean any of these coaches are a good fit for ucla, but if we’re looking at current coaches who have been consistent, then here is a list of coaches better than cronin in my opinion
Rick pittino
Rick Barnes
Richard pittino
Nate Oates
Tommy Lloyd
John calipari
Bruce pearl
Kevin young
Todd golden
Mark few
Kelvin Sampson
Bryce underwood
Tj otzelberger
Bill self
Tom izzo
Jon scheyer
Matt painter
Randy Bennett
Buzz Williams
Grant mccaslinn
Dan Hurley
feel like you just pulled about 15 names out of a hat just to try to put people in front of Mick Cronin. Buzz Williams? LOL. Tommy Lloyd? lol. Matt Painter? Grant McCasland? Jon Scheyer has what, 80 career wins? Who the hell is Bryce underwood? You put a lot of effort into this list though.
waiting to hear who Bryce underwood is....
Since this thread is just for this game and not a season post mortem, let’s focus on why ucla lost this game. It’s because cronin isn’t a good offensive coach. My opinion from the beginning is that he’s actually a poor offensive coach. He doesn’t know what to do with players like Mara and Watson who would thrive in an offense that passes the ball around.
This game is the epitome of a cronin coached team. When they run into a team that actually plays defense they struggle as an iso offense basketball team that doesn’t recruit well enough to justify that type of game plan. These players are all taught defense and expected to learn 1v1 basketball by the end of the season. If there aren’t any good 1v1 players, then at some point the hot shooter disappears when the opposing teams figure out who that is. You only have to defend one player in the game and ucla offense falls apart.
Thats what happened in this game. UCLA was too easy to defend. This team could be a good offensive unit if they were coached to their strengths, I.e. playing through Mara. But instead, cronin continues to force his game plan. Give the ball to a single player and let them go 1v1… this works against trams like Utah state who don’t play good defense. But against any quicker team, you’re going to eventually get caught by a coach who is better than cronin.
Cornin is a top 50 coach, but he’s certainly not a top 25 coach. In games like this it shows. Offensively, I’d put him outside the top 25 for sure. He just doesn’t recruit well enough for his brand of basketball to be successful at ucla against a program like Tennessee who clearly coach based on the strengths of their program. Barnes is clearly a much better coach than cronin
The best offensive option at the beginning of the year wasn't the same as it is now. There are those of us that think the offense needs to run through Mara. That certainly wasn't the plan back in October. Will Mick adjust his schemes to fit his personnel next year, whatever it may be?
Inexcusable not to run a high/low post offense with a big lineup like the Bruins had this year. The ball movement around the perimeter - from where most offenses glean points in today's game - was fine, but I agree as far as lack of schemes. When confronting that BS half-court trap, they struggled, and the lack of a game plan, for that press - simple, put Mara at or just above the free throw line, and have Dailey and or Bilodeau go low post - is definitely on the staff.
It all turned to poop and the hogs ate it, with about 3 minutes to go before the half. During that implosion, Mara missed two shots from under 10' away (strength/fatigue), Bilodeau missed two, wide open shots and two free throws, and the bad pass turnover that led to a bias-crowd rousing three-point play doomed em. - They went from up by 1 to down 7 at the half, and were outscored by just a deuce in a kiss-your-sister second half.
Cronin is a good coach, but not adjusting to that piddly half-court, trapping press - by not bringing one of the bigs to the uppermost part of the key - smacked of futility.
One thing we for sure learned, is that the Vols are definitely NOT going to with the Championship....
More stinging than being chopped, sliced and diced by the Vols was Crnin's presser. What a miserable, sorry, acerbic, little man syndrome s.o.b. Disgraceful. His behavior poorly represented our University (rudely interrupting and demeaning sports writers with flippant remarks should not be mistaken for being forthright), it poorly reflected on him, it is not likely to ingratiate him to the Donor Class, nor a winning look for potential transfers and recruits. Ugly.
I knew it! I just knew it! I predicted so. He played the age and experience card as reasons for the Vols' win. Yet answered, "Talent," when asked whether he would prefer talent or continuity.
And a talent disparity it was (aside from being out coached and out executed). The Vols were more athletic and talented by far than the Bruins. You know, with the caliber of player that Crnin boasted he was going to acquire with the UCLA position. He hasn't, and won't. The Bruins looked like a mid major desperately trying to hang with a Power Conference team.
There's a "fun" recruiting story regarding Jahmai Mashack. Maschack went to Etiwanda and played alongside Jaylen Clark, who was a year older. Mick often talked about that being the best defensive team at the high school level he's ever seen. Anyway, Mick was on Mashack from the beginning, and since he had Clark there was a huge assumption that Mashack would follow. Except something funny happened during Mashack's senior year:
UCLA went to the Final Four, and everyone decided to come back, leaving the Bruins with only one available scholarship.
Mick had a choice with that scholarship and ultimately chose to prioritize talent, bringing in Peyton Watson over Mashack and another guard everyone is familiar with, KJ Simpson. If any of the UCLA players leave for the NBA or transfer out as was assumed at the time, those guys are Bruins and UCLA is more set up for long-term success. Such is the sliding doors of high-level basketball.
On the flip side, who was it who decided to leave not until the deadline, leaving Crnin high and dry?
Juzang was the big one, as everyone assumed he would take advantage of his March run for a 1st round NBA slot. There were questions about Jaime as well, and then there was discussions around Jalen Hill (who did ultimately not come back to the team). By the time those decisions were made, the guys UCLA would have taken had to make their college decision, since the draft deadline is the end of May.
I thought so. Thanks. Oh gosh, and remember Dashien Nix?
The same thing happened when DTR decided to stay, ending Dillon Gabriel's 15 minutes as a Bruin, right?
Crnin said that the reason why the Bruins lost was because of the offense. Ya' think? Why is that so often the case? The offense is absent even in so many victories, and it's taken superlative level of defense to win. Will Crnin adjust? He is utterly incapable of introspection, change and growth.
Why will next year be better to build on with the same guys, assuming they stay, when he doesn't know how to utilize a Mara or sticks with his ISO ball without suitable players to run that offense? Crnin's ceiling in this landscape is a Steve Sixteen. Did the team improve over the season? This is the same team that we saw in the loss to New Mexico.
It's futile to speculate who will stay, who will transfer in, who will transfer out. We'll know soon enough how many truly love and are loyal to Crnin.
To think that Cori Close--Coach Cori Effin Close--may hang a banner before Mick. Go ladies!
Well, at this moment, let's hope so!
Coach Close makes Cronin look even smaller, if that's possible She is making Coach Wooden very proud. She is classy and is a great great coach and teacher. Her team is outstanding in every way - tangibles and intangibles.
Cronin is a complete and total FAIL primarily because he is an SOB ego maniac who treats prople like dirt, including Tracy Murray and Josh Lewin.
He doesn't even use proper grammar. He embarrasses UCLA every time he opens his mouth, He is making millions but sounds like he failed English in high school.
His tough guy, "look at me, I'm old school!" talk is unconvincing, boorish, tiresome and unprofessional. Some are fooled to think it's a tough love approach. It's not.
Close can't hold Cronin's jock.
Why? elaborate please
I think it's because its too heavy.
LOL
It’s because he’s already holding it and trying to fight her off like a jealous girlfriend! 😆
P. S. Remember when the Crnin apologists declared this team to be Final Four capable? In the immortal words of mgibby, "LMFAO."
LMFAO !
[ I'm trying to rid myself of March Sadness. ]
Go Lady Bruins !
[ That seems to work better. ]
Wait a minute, you must have mistakenly watched this version of the postgame press conference instead:
https://www.tiktok.com/@memerunnergpt/video/7484935568204254470
P.S.--I haven't contracted the anti-Cronin fever yet, but thought that video would be hilarious relief for those already infected. :-)
Ouch!
Isn't AI scary?
Would be interesting to someday see how well an AI HC would do against a human HC. Maybe fewer coaching mistakes? More minutes for Mara? :-)
It’s unfortunate there are only a few that see the reality of this game. UCLA lost this and it wasn’t ever even close After the first 15 minutes.
This is cronin ceiling, but too many still yelling to give the angry guy time! That this is a top 25 coach. That he gets better every year… did this team get better over the season? I’d say no.
This game is typical cronin basketball. Outcoached, outclassed, outrecruited, and outperformed by a real coach who focuses on defense but can still coach offense.
This is the mediocrity you’re all asking to get more of! I’m just so sick of delusional fans asking for one more season under a guy that has hit his ceiling
To say that all Crnin needs to do is pick up an experienced leader of a pg, awesome scoring wings, and some help at the bigs, then the Bruins will be on track. It's that easy!
Besides, who's coming to a Crnin team, where offense goes to die?
💯💯💯
These days, most - not all - players go where they get paid, style is far less important... though bringing in high priced talent doesn't always work out - anyone seem Oumar Ballo lately?! - but it certainly doesn't hurt if you can do it.
There has been many times where Cronin's teams have displayed great offense, e.g. just SC game. The problem is his teams are not consistent. The primary reason is lack of enough talent. It all starts with top recruiting. See how Duke does it, year after year. And Kansas and Connecticut, and NC...
See, I can’t tell if this is a joke, but the only team that you listed that was clearly better than UCLA this year was Duke. Kansas, UConn, and UNC are all having the same conversations about talent and evaluations that UCLA fans are.
"this is Cronin's ceiling." The guy was literally in the Final Four four years ago.
Sorry Evan but that was only because JJ got hot. They had an awful season that year.
Do you realize how dumb you sound? Truly awful season.....they lost in overtime on a buzzer beater in the Final Four. Just be honest about it.....you despise Cronin because you are a snowflake. You can't stand how he screams at players.....errr grown men...because it reminds you of Bobby Knight or *gasp* Dan Hurley or *gasp* Rick Pitino. You think scoring is entertaining, and therefore you want AAU style basketball with no defense. Therefore defense first coaches need not apply.
Snowflake, dumb? Really don't give a crap what you say about me or call me. You are just like Cronin, enough said.
just stating facts here. you've been anti Cronin for day 1. just be honest about it.
Bobby Knight? Do you realize how dumb you sound? AAU style basketball? No defense, and defense minded coaches need not apply? I don't recall T making those claims. If you disagree, then please argue her points. Don't inject attitude into a reasonable discussion. It's fair to criticize Crnin. You have questioned his offense and use of Mara. Does criticism mean that you are in the fire Cronin camp?
C'mon, man.
when have i questioned his offense or use of Mara?
In this very thread, in part, "I frankly don't understand why our offense did not run through Mara. He should have been the first option on offense until they neutralized him."
To be fair, it seems from his posts that Baskets is far more likely to advocate for AAU/early 90s LMU basketball in the name of "entertainment". Personally I was just as entertained being at Pauley for a first to 85 game against Wisconsin as I was for a first one over 60 game against Michigan St... though making fun of the troll after the former was pretty darn entertaining too 🙂
yeah but these anti-Cronin people are all the same. Their common denominator is a disdain for 1) defense first basketball and 2) coaches who yell.
Sea and T, I am one who doesn't mind Cronin's radical and sometimes harsh honesty, though I understand and respect those who feel it crosses a line. While the Bobby Knight comparison is out of bounds - unlike Bobby or his protégé our former coach, he's never to my knowledge apologized for a rapist - the Danny Hurley and Rick Pitino comparisons are reasonable... I'm sure you've seen D.Hurley telling the Baylor players in the tunnel "I hope they don't * you the way they *ed us" after yesterday's game or how Pitino passively-aggressively threw his Big East player of the year under the bus after benching him yesterday... yes, both have won championships but if we can not accept in victory what we wouldn't accept in defeat then in that aspect, Cronin. Hurley, and Pitino are birds of a feather.
I don't know if Mara wasn't consistently healthy enough between foot, noro, mono, and whatever he had this weekend, to be the focal point he should have been or it really is Cronin's stubbornness, but between that and a group of guards that is like Forrest Gump's proverbial box of chocolates game to game, inconsistency is going to be the result. Continuity and an influx of some talent can be the answer. Let's see if that's what happens.
Reminder, that FF year the Bruins had multiple 2nd half collapses after holding double digit leads (sound familiar?), lost a couple of buzzer beaters (one to the Trogans), lost their last 3 games of the Conference season, and the quarter final of the PAC 12 Tournament...which earned them a First Four selection. Then JJ struck lightning in a bottle for one of the greatest Tournaments ever by a player. If Crnin can't be blamed for players shooting like crap in this Tournament, then can he be credited for his coaching when Juzang got hot?
💯💯💯
I wish I could like (or love) all of the comments by Baskets and Sea - a million times each. They are exactly right in everything they have stated. That is all.
I watched the postgame Qand A with Cronin and I thought it was fine? I think if you’re already predisposed to dislike someone, you can find negative stuff in anything they say.
The Allegiant comment was in response to the flights they have to book through the NCAA travel program for the tournament vs the charter flights that UCLA books for the team for regular away games.
The NIL issues last season are pretty well-documented. That’s why there was a massive drive to fundraiser for NIL this season and why that will continue. Cronin himself has been pretty active in advertising and fundraising for the NIL collective - much more so than Chip Kelly ever did or even Martin Jarmond and Deshaun Foster. I also didn’t think he meant the Euro players were cheap but that the price to get them was cheap compared to the price they need for other recruits - just as an example, rumors are that top HS recruit Brayden Burries is balking at $2m NIL offers and is demanding more.
The ‘talent over continuity’ comment came after multiple reportersasked Cronin about his offseason recruiting plans and Cronin had deflected the first couple times the question was asked.
100%
William Kyle III enters the transfer portal
he's got a lot of potential but was not going to get a lot of playing time this year. Either Mara is going to come back and really be a force or we're going to sign someone that would be ahead of Kyle on the depth chart.
at least we have some scholarships opening up with Kyle and Williams leaving.
lots of chatter out there on the Nova job and how it could impact UCLA's transfer portal prospects. Bolch reporting that Dent from NM in the portal and UCLA a primary suitor. Would be huge, but another report that Richard Pitino finalizing job to take Nova job and would bring Dent with him. Yet another report that Pitino turned down Nova and is talking to VCU and that Nova is pivoting to Cronin. Sounds like they hav interviewed Pitino, Cronin, Willard, and Beard.
For what its worth, the various Sirius College Sports Network hosts I've heard have mostly speculated that Nova is focused on Willard given (a) his rant against the NIL program/AD a week ago and (b) he's still coaching Maryland in the Sweet 16 which, putting 2 and 2 together, is why they believe Nova hasn't announced a hire even with the portal open... guess we'll know soon enough...
Well Xavier just hired Pitino. I fear that if Cronin leaves, it's going to be late in the carousel and we have no backup plan like in football. The joke someone made about Earl Watson is not that unrealistic. Petros and Money mentioned that a Cronin extension is being discussed, which I imagine would be a requirement for him staying.
Skyy Clark has confirmed he is retuning next season.