I don’t know that they’ve all given up... just two IMO. Hill who wasn’t even there, and Jules. The fire has been gone for quite some time. This game is a real indicator of the actual UCLA team that’s been playing all season. They played themselves out of the game from the tip off. This isn’t who UCLA really is, but their heart showed... for about 5 minutes of the total game
Everybody has surely seen my wild emotional swings, they appear far too frequently then they should. With the dust settled I’ll try to put some thoughts down that I’ve had.... not that anyone really cares 😀
- mick is not alford. He is an actual coach. He’s a good coach. I just don’t think he is the coach to change the program. I see him as a step stone to a better future.
- mick has commented multiple times in press conferences this year that how UCLA starts the game is of no concern whatsoever. All that matters is the finish and a w. I completely disagree. This game is the epitome of why I feel that way. Start the game how you plan to finish it. This mind set needs to change... his players currently play the way he reminds in the press conference. Who cares how we start the game is what I see reflected in his team.
- these are not high quality or consistent players. They are 3 and 4 star players. Very inconsistent, low ceiling, low selfish players.
- Chris smith injury hurts, but other recruits are needed prior to this crippling the team
- did jalen hill and Jules give up? I think they have but time will tell
- UCLA should be one of the top 10 recruiting programs every year. No exceptions. Mick continues to recruit poorly by UCLA standards. If UCLA is a blue blood, they should have a top 10 recruiting class every year. So far, chips recruiting is more like chip Kelly. UCLA has the best player in all of California coming... big deal! Every state has a number 1 player. California isn’t the only state to play basketball. 1 recruit puts UCLA at 29th... that’s simply not good enough for me.
- why would any nba bound player come to UCLA? I actually have no idea. If I was headed for the nba, mick is not the guy I’d want to play for. Nobody in the nba hustles. They do run on offense and create for themselves. This team has no creativity. Mick prides himself on defense. UCLA is an under armor school. All nba players want a Nike contract. Many will argue with me here, but I don’t see the recruiting changing until under armor is gone...
That’s all... and sorry, next season won’t be better
To address a couple of your points, Under Armour will be gone by the fall, so hopefully recruiting picks up after that. UCLA is still in the hunt for Jaden Hardy, a 5 star guard from NV, although I think it's more likely he jumps to the G-league than play in college.
Also, I don't think it's fair to say that Jalen Hill has given up without knowing the full circumstances of his absence. It's been a tough, stressful year for everybody, and UCLA players are no exception.
Why hill gave up nobody knows. But he’s been gone for the last month really. There are lots of reasons to give up, and it could be completely warranted... but I still think his actual court demeanor showed it several weeks prior to this
That’s fantastic! Best news of the day! I always hated the under armor contract. It getting cancelled is the best outcome ever because adidas really wasn’t doing UCLA any favors
To your recruiting point, UCLA actually had the #4 class in the country at one point. So how'd they drop so far? One of the major parts of that class was Mac Etienne, who reclassified and came to school a year early.
My point is recruiting rankings don't tell the whole story, especially in basketball where there are so few scholarships to give out in a class. Look at the recruiting rankings for this year, for example. Kentucky has a top 5 class, but what about the other blue bloods? Duke is only two spots above us at 27. North Carolina and Kansas are both below us. Other traditional powers below us include Syracuse (70th), Florida (73rd), Gonzaga (74th) and Indiana (77th). Focus more on the players being brought in than anything more nebulous like the rankings.
Also, as others have pointed out, UCLA is switching from UA to Jordan brand this summer. That's a huge positive going forward.
Cronin needs to scrap that shitty zone defense.
You talked about fitting a square peg into a circle for basketball for the coach. Could the same be said for football?
No. Chip has just lost his touch.
I hope he figures it out and gets his touch back...
I mean, I’m pretty on the record about the various failing for the football program.
I'm glad I didn't stay up for the game. East Coast time. No fire in anybody's belly? The team has given up?
I don’t know that they’ve all given up... just two IMO. Hill who wasn’t even there, and Jules. The fire has been gone for quite some time. This game is a real indicator of the actual UCLA team that’s been playing all season. They played themselves out of the game from the tip off. This isn’t who UCLA really is, but their heart showed... for about 5 minutes of the total game
Thanks for a good summary dimitri.
Everybody has surely seen my wild emotional swings, they appear far too frequently then they should. With the dust settled I’ll try to put some thoughts down that I’ve had.... not that anyone really cares 😀
- mick is not alford. He is an actual coach. He’s a good coach. I just don’t think he is the coach to change the program. I see him as a step stone to a better future.
- mick has commented multiple times in press conferences this year that how UCLA starts the game is of no concern whatsoever. All that matters is the finish and a w. I completely disagree. This game is the epitome of why I feel that way. Start the game how you plan to finish it. This mind set needs to change... his players currently play the way he reminds in the press conference. Who cares how we start the game is what I see reflected in his team.
- these are not high quality or consistent players. They are 3 and 4 star players. Very inconsistent, low ceiling, low selfish players.
- Chris smith injury hurts, but other recruits are needed prior to this crippling the team
- did jalen hill and Jules give up? I think they have but time will tell
- UCLA should be one of the top 10 recruiting programs every year. No exceptions. Mick continues to recruit poorly by UCLA standards. If UCLA is a blue blood, they should have a top 10 recruiting class every year. So far, chips recruiting is more like chip Kelly. UCLA has the best player in all of California coming... big deal! Every state has a number 1 player. California isn’t the only state to play basketball. 1 recruit puts UCLA at 29th... that’s simply not good enough for me.
- why would any nba bound player come to UCLA? I actually have no idea. If I was headed for the nba, mick is not the guy I’d want to play for. Nobody in the nba hustles. They do run on offense and create for themselves. This team has no creativity. Mick prides himself on defense. UCLA is an under armor school. All nba players want a Nike contract. Many will argue with me here, but I don’t see the recruiting changing until under armor is gone...
That’s all... and sorry, next season won’t be better
To address a couple of your points, Under Armour will be gone by the fall, so hopefully recruiting picks up after that. UCLA is still in the hunt for Jaden Hardy, a 5 star guard from NV, although I think it's more likely he jumps to the G-league than play in college.
Also, I don't think it's fair to say that Jalen Hill has given up without knowing the full circumstances of his absence. It's been a tough, stressful year for everybody, and UCLA players are no exception.
Why hill gave up nobody knows. But he’s been gone for the last month really. There are lots of reasons to give up, and it could be completely warranted... but I still think his actual court demeanor showed it several weeks prior to this
Jaden hardy coming would be a miracle, but they do happen.
Who will UCla be sponsored by in the fall?
Nike through their Jordan brand. LATimes just released details of the contract today.
That’s fantastic! Best news of the day! I always hated the under armor contract. It getting cancelled is the best outcome ever because adidas really wasn’t doing UCLA any favors
To your recruiting point, UCLA actually had the #4 class in the country at one point. So how'd they drop so far? One of the major parts of that class was Mac Etienne, who reclassified and came to school a year early.
My point is recruiting rankings don't tell the whole story, especially in basketball where there are so few scholarships to give out in a class. Look at the recruiting rankings for this year, for example. Kentucky has a top 5 class, but what about the other blue bloods? Duke is only two spots above us at 27. North Carolina and Kansas are both below us. Other traditional powers below us include Syracuse (70th), Florida (73rd), Gonzaga (74th) and Indiana (77th). Focus more on the players being brought in than anything more nebulous like the rankings.
Also, as others have pointed out, UCLA is switching from UA to Jordan brand this summer. That's a huge positive going forward.
Thanks dimitri! Great points 😀