This evening, the UCLA Bruins will host the Seattle Redhawks in what became UCLA’s home opener when Monday’s game against Long Beach State was postponed.
In his press conference yesterday, UCLA coach Mick Cronin mentioned that Jalen Hill was ready to play on Monday, but the nature of Johnny Juzang’s injury means they “have to be more responsible.”
He also offered his thoughts about the transfer process under COVID-19. With the transfers, it’s basically…possibly…free agency. Imagine if, in the NBA, you signed the guy to a four-year deal, but he can opt out anytime he wants. That's what we're gonna be forced to deal with in college basketball. You sign a guy to a four-year deal, but he can opt out and play for your opponents if he wants to and you can spend thousands of dollars recruiting him sophomore, junior, senior year, flying all over america and he signs a four-year deal with you. The ncaa is a whole big deal. It's got to be a four-year deal, not a one-year deal. You can't run guys off. I guess some people have done that. I've never done it, but it's a four-year scholarship and all that, but now they can just leave. So, it's going to be free agency.
He also spoke a little about tonight’s opponent, the Seattle Redhawks. He mentioned that they shoot a lot of threes, which I mentioned in our Game Preview earlier today.
Here’s Coach Cronin’s full interview, courtesy of UCLA Athletics.
Listen to the Game Here on TMB!
The TuneIn player won’t embed here on Substack, but you can open another tab to listen. Today’s game is on Pac-12 Networks with J.B. Long and Don MacLean calling the game. If you would prefer to listen to Josh Lewin and Tracy Murray call today’s game instead you can listen to today’s game online.
Join your fellow Bruin fans discussing today’s game below.
This is your UCLA Bruins at San Diego State Aztecs game thread.
UCLA Men’s Basketball (1-1)
Opponent: Seattle Redhawks (3-1)
Series Record: UCLA leads, 4-0
When: 5:00 pm PT, Thursday, December 3, 2020
Where: Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA
TV: Pac-12 Network National and Los Angeles with J.B. Long and Don MacLean
Radio/Audio: AM 570 in Los Angeles with Josh Lewin and Tracy Murray Satellite Radio: Sirius Ch. 84 & XM Ch. 197 And, of course, here in The Mighty Bruin Game Thread!
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Yeah. Weird, right? He's not really tuned in tonight so far, but it's almost more impressive that we're up by so much with essentially no contribution from him.
I was just thinking that. Seattle isn't the same as our first two opponents, but we're up by 26 and we're not even playing that great. How much of that difference is Hill?
Yeah this game was about 1hr 45 mins despite all the bad calls by the refs. I don’t think Cronin called a timeout. He lost his first half timeout at halftime.
U!
C!
L!
A!!
Smooth shot by Riley at the key
Nice 3 by Jules
Bernard with good defense, and then offense
FT's--are you kidding
Love that extra pass by Jules
Bernard best Bruin on the floor tonight thus far
The no defense approach seems to be failing. What a surprise
Too many TO's already. Sloppy
Can we make a FT?
it's a miracle
Good lord they are free throws. Free. Not expensive throws. Not defended throws. Not imprisoned throws. Free throws. Free. Make them.
Finally made a free throw!
Smith absent tonight so far
mentally
Love the low post passing so far in the game. We need to dominate inside
That was a great pass by Hill
A festering funk! Haven’t scored in 3:08
Good D by Jalen, but nobody there to grab the board
Someone needs to takes the refs' whistles away. They are just blowing them because they have them. It's like giving a child a hammer.
Yeah someone does.
Bad Tyger has shown up
At least Tyger is hitting some FTs.
Tyger living at the line. We'll take it
Bernard earning all his minutes
He is playing really well. Don't like that crappy tacky tack foul on him on the block right after that 3. Refs are killing the flow both ways.
Dang, Seattle has a midwest insurance salesman on their roster.
Two really nice offensive sets by Tyger
Tyger takes a while to get into a flow
He's sort of DTR-like in his highs and lows
Hill>Riley for defense
good that we have opened up a decent lead. not good that Chris Smith is scoreless.
14-0 run! Cronin is best.
Halftime. Bruins up 43-29
I didn't really realize we were up by 14. That was a pretty solid final 10 of the first half.
Smith Ofer...wth
Yeah. Weird, right? He's not really tuned in tonight so far, but it's almost more impressive that we're up by so much with essentially no contribution from him.
Yep, Tyger and Jules carrying the team
maybe that gets Smith started
Cannot stop Riley down low
yeah but he is a step down in defense from Hill
That was a nice layup by Smith-- let's go!
Um.. yeah, we're gonna ignore that blown dunk....
Nice drive by Smith and some good D on the other end
missed dunk by Smith...OMG
well...ooof
Sit Smith. He is not here tonight
Give me some Riley/Hill action on the floor together
I'd like to see that
Me too!
Bernard still on fire
What a freaking horrible call on Tyger.
God refs are so full of themselves.
Jalen cleaning up!
31-13 rebound advantage. As it should be
Kyman's first 3 this year
Hill changes this team
I was just thinking that. Seattle isn't the same as our first two opponents, but we're up by 26 and we're not even playing that great. How much of that difference is Hill?
Kyman with the air ball
Damn I miss going to Pauley.
Gah. That's twice they've inbounded under the basket for a layup. Need better focus.
Singleton has no 2 point baskets this year? SMDH
FInal: UCLA 78 - Seattle 52 Nice easy win tonight. Go Bruins!
not the prettiest, but we'll take it. Hill is a difference maker. Bernard improving.
Feels like the game went really fast.
Yeah this game was about 1hr 45 mins despite all the bad calls by the refs. I don’t think Cronin called a timeout. He lost his first half timeout at halftime.