UCLA head coach Mick Cronin expressed his displeasure following the Bruins’ 94-75 loss to No. 24 Michigan on Tuesday night.
UCLA overcame a double-digit halftime deficit and rallied to take a brief second-half lead before blowing the advantage. After leading 61-60 with 10:30 remaining, Michigan went on a 33-15 run to close out the game.
While Cronin said his team needed Tuesday’s “humble pie,” he also called his team out following its third loss in the last four games.
“Obviously, they shot the ball well,” Cronin said. “But we’re soft. We’re too soft to play hard enough. Even in the [crucial moments], you can’t get a rebound. …So don’t tell me you want to win. Just don’t tell you want to win. I mean, we’re soft.
“I have to run on the court to get guys to play hard,” he said. “It’s crazy. And it’s every day. I’m tired of it. It’s every day. I have the most energy of anybody at practice every day. I’m upset with everybody in that locker room: my assistant coaches and my players.
“It’s really hard to coach people that are delusional. The hungry dog gets the bone. We’ve got guys that think they’re way better than they are. They’re nice kids. They’re completely delusional about who they are.”
Coming into the game, UCLA ranked fifth in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency per KenPom. On Tuesday night, the Bruins gave up a season-high 94 points and allowed Michigan to shoot 61.5% from the floor and make 53.6% from long range. In contrast, UCLA was a horrendous 2-for-20 (10%) from deep.
Cronin had some strong remarks regarding the discrepancy in three-point shooting.
“I think it’s pretty clear we’re not winning a three-point shooting contest with Michigan,” Cronin said, per Alejandro Zuniga of 247Sports. “I mean, if it’s a game of horse, they got guys five feet behind the line not missing. We’ve got guys 2-for-20. But I just question our toughness. I don’t question it. The reality is the reality.”
While Cronin’s outburst was nothing new in his coaching career, last night seemed more extreme than usual, especially considering UCLA is only four games into conference play and owns a pair of ranked wins over then-No. 12 Oregon and previously-No. 14 Gonzaga.
Aside from an early season setback to New Mexico, UCLA started the season 10-1, including a 73-71 road win over the Ducks on Dec. 8. Since then, the Bruins blew a double-digit second half lead to North Carolina in the CBS Sports Classic and have dropped back-to-back Big Ten games to Nebraska and the Wolverines.
As part of the new-look Big Ten, UCLA (11-4, 2-2 Big Ten) will travel 2,700 miles east to take on Maryland (11-4, 1-3) on Friday before facing Rutgers (8-7, 1-3) on Monday.
The upcoming stretch for the Bruins is crucial, given they are not scheduled to face another ranked opponent until a rematch with No. 15 Oregon on Jan. 30.
After expressing his accomplishments and downplaying his team, it is fair to question where trust and support lie within the program and its head coach. How the team responds following another setback could set the tone for the remainder of the season.
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