UCLA Basketball in trouble!

[Alieberman]

Goodbye UCLA

Sorry we went in dry tonight…

[UAEebs86]

Goodbye UCLA

Sorry we went in dry tonight…

Broomstick

[AZCatGirl]

Sorry not sorry.

[MrBug708]

Oof. Glad I didn't watch a second. But maybe I'll go watch the game Saturday with my kid!

[AZCatGirl]

Oof. Glad I didn't watch a second. But maybe I'll go watch the game Saturday with my kid!

Feel free to take out your anger on ASU.

[Chicat]

Oof. Glad I didn't watch a second. But maybe I'll go watch the game Saturday with my kid!

You missed watching a good basketball team for a change.

[dovecanyoncat]

Oof. Glad I didn't watch a second. But maybe I'll go watch the game Saturday with my kid!

You missed watching a good basketball team for a change.

"Chicat is a cruel man ..... but fair."

[dmjcat]

UCLA may have written their own death sentence by joining the B1G for $$$$$.

How are recruits going to react in coming years when the attendance at Pauley is 8000 Michigan State fans (or insert any other B1G name here) and 3000 UCLA fans???

I can't see any top players wanting to go there.......especially with the Napolean Complex they have coaching

[dirtbags]

i just want to see a lonely mick in a vegas food court next week, herb sendek style

[MrBug708]

UCLA may have written their own death sentence by joining the B1G for $$$$$.

How are recruits going to react in coming years when the attendance at Pauley is 8000 Michigan State fans (or insert any other B1G name here) and 3000 UCLA fans???

I can't see any top players wanting to go there.......especially with the Napolean Complex they have coaching

USC Is the only game to consistently sell out at Pauley, which is a shame it's not more teams. Hell, Arizona's basketball team can't even make it to the arena on time But I can't see 8000 Michigan State fans flying out to Pauley for random Wednesday basketball game.

This year is shot. Next year Mick either figures it out or is fired. Or maybe the new normal with the AD is patience and he gets a third year considering Chip Kelly was quiet quitting for 6 years and we did nothing but give him a fat extension.

[dmjcat]

UCLA may have written their own death sentence by joining the B1G for $$$$$.

How are recruits going to react in coming years when the attendance at Pauley is 8000 Michigan State fans (or insert any other B1G name here) and 3000 UCLA fans???

I can't see any top players wanting to go there.......especially with the Napolean Complex they have coaching

USC Is the only game to consistently sell out at Pauley, which is a shame it's not more teams. Hell, Arizona's basketball team can't even make it to the arena on time But I can't see 8000 Michigan State fans flying out to Pauley for random Wednesday basketball game.

This year is shot. Next year Mick either figures it out or is fired. Or maybe the new normal with the AD is patience and he gets a third year considering Chip Kelly was quiet quitting for 6 years and we did nothing but give him a fat extension.

You are in for a rude awakening. The B1G fans support their teams.......vicariously.

Michigan State had more fans in attendance (in Palm Springs, California) than the UA did when we played them last November.

[dirtbags]

USC Is the only game to consistently sell out at Pauley, which is a shame it's not more teams. Hell, Arizona's basketball team can't even make it to the arena on time But I can't see 8000 Michigan State fans flying out to Pauley for random Wednesday basketball game.

it's LA. the B1G schools have a decent alumni footprint, as most conferences do in any big city. i went to the smallest big ten school but the socal alums had some numbers.

[IrishAzCat]

[MrBug708]

USC Is the only game to consistently sell out at Pauley, which is a shame it's not more teams. Hell, Arizona's basketball team can't even make it to the arena on time But I can't see 8000 Michigan State fans flying out to Pauley for random Wednesday basketball game.

it's LA. the B1G schools have a decent alumni footprint, as most conferences do in any big city. i went to the smallest big ten school but the socal alums had some numbers.

I won't disagree but every school has alumni out on the west coast. The good teams will get out the fans for sure, but his mental image of fans flying out for a basketball game was humorous.

Football will likely see an influx of fans out here for sure.

[arizonawildcats]

[Chicat]

Is Bolch about to turn on his BooBooBear Mick like he turned on Chip Kelly?

Always sad to see the captain of the cheerleaders go bad.

[UAEebs86]

[Chicat]

No matter what he does, or where he goes, Mick Cronin will always be outclassed. It’s just obvious.

[pc in NM]

I thought Cronin's post-game presser was:

1) a great recruiting tape for Arizona,

2) an invitation for five or more of his regular player to GTFO.

[Beachcat97]

I thought Cronin's post-game presser was:

1) a great recruiting tape for Arizona,

2) an invitation for five or more of his regular player to GTFO.

Cronin is a terrible rep for his own program. He's uncharismatic, peevish, whiny, and he lacks self-awareness. Somehow he has fooled people into thinking he knows how to coach, and now he's got one of the most expensive buy-outs in the country. It's terrible for UCLA and great for their opponents/rivals.

[Chicat]

UCLA fans are going to miss us.

No one in the B1G is going to give a shit about any of their programs.

[Beachcat97]

UCLA fans are going to miss us.

No one in the B1G is going to give a shit about any of their programs.

Kansas is about to become our new ucla. And KU, very unlike ucla, has a robust and relentless fan base that will equal the energy of our own.

[Chicat]

UCLA fans are going to miss us.

No one in the B1G is going to give a shit about any of their programs.

Kansas is about to become our new ucla. And KU, very unlike ucla, has a robust and relentless fan base that will equal the energy of our own.

And I am fucking here for it. Bring on the flatland morons.

[EastCoastCat]

UCLA fans are going to miss us.

No one in the B1G is going to give a shit about any of their programs.

Kansas is about to become our new ucla. And KU, very unlike ucla, has a robust and relentless fan base that will equal the energy of our own.

And I am fucking here for it. Bring on the flatland morons.

Haha. We aren’t in Kansas anymore…for good goddamn reasons!!!

[AZCatGirl]

What an awful 48 hours for Bruin fans. First we embarrass the men's team, now the USC women beat them in double OT in the final Pac 12 tournament. If USC wins Sunday they could steal the 1 seed from the Bruins.

[pc in NM]

What an awful 48 hours for Bruin fans. First we embarrass the men's team, now the USC women beat them in double OT in the final Pac 12 tournament. If USC wins Sunday they could steal the 1 seed from the Bruins.

...and possibly support the U of A's hopes for a bid to the tourney!!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4RLwRhy ... hare_sheet

[84Cat]

UCLA/Oregon in a tight one

[Beachcat97]

UCLA/Oregon in a tight one

Altman > Cronin

By every reasonable metric.

[MrBug708]

After lessons learned in the Euro chase, Mick Cronin lands Skyy Clark and Kobe Johnson in the transfer portal. Dominic Harris is likely to join them in the coming days. Ilane Fibleuil and Will McClendon have both entered the transfer portal from UCLA's side thus far. That's a pretty good influx of talent both defensively and scoring punch. Curious to see if Sebastian Mack decides to stay or if he feels like he was recruited over or not.

[GlobalCat]

After lessons learned in the Euro chase, Mick Cronin lands Skyy Clark and Kobe Johnson in the transfer portal. Dominic Harris is likely to join them in the coming days. Ilane Fibleuil and Will McClendon have both entered the transfer portal from UCLA's side thus far. That's a pretty good influx of talent both defensively and scoring punch. Curious to see if Sebastian Mack decides to stay or if he feels like he was recruited over or not.

Isn’t Skyy Clark 28 by now?

[TheCat]

After lessons learned in the Euro chase, Mick Cronin lands Skyy Clark and Kobe Johnson in the transfer portal. Dominic Harris is likely to join them in the coming days. Ilane Fibleuil and Will McClendon have both entered the transfer portal from UCLA's side thus far. That's a pretty good influx of talent both defensively and scoring punch. Curious to see if Sebastian Mack decides to stay or if he feels like he was recruited over or not.

You need Mack to stay. Neither of those guys could be considered "recruiting over", Skyy had a great tourney against NCST but is streaky. Not sure of his defense. Johnson is a very interesting prospect to me and a much better catch. Guy is poised and can shoot of the catch really well.

[MrBug708]

https://twitter.com/TheAthletic/status/ ... 0065285509

Wonder if he would have reached a final four like Mick did or he would have still felt burnt out. He was basically taking the job until that lifetime contract offer came in

[Beachcat97]

https://twitter.com/TheAthletic/status/ ... 0065285509

Wonder if he would have reached a final four like Mick did or he would have still felt burnt out. He was basically taking the job until that lifetime contract offer came in

ucla fan fiction is the best

[MrBug708]

What an eventful week! Trent Perry committed and someone is going to walk-on (or transfer, idk). Adem Bona unofficially set the record for the highest vertical at the NBA combined with a 48.5 inch jump. P12 probably called two fouls on him. UCLA is going to finalize two games vs Arizona and Gonzaga that will be played at neutral sites in local markets.

No idea how the roster will shake out and how Mick will manage playing time. A few players will be upset I would imagine. Mick has seemed to have recovered from the European recruiting debacle. There are a lot of new bodies for a guy who prefers his returning players who know the system.

[EastCoastCat]

Nobody cares about teams out of our conference anymore…

[Chicat]

Nobody cares about teams out of our conference anymore…

Hard to be interested in a team most fans are at best ambivalent about facing once a year.

BTW Fucla

[TheCatInTheHat]

UCLA is kind of in the same boat as ASU: yesterday's news. I think the only people that particularly care about playing UCLA in Phoenix are Phoenix residents, who are being thrown a cookie. Personally, I'd just as soon play somebody like San Diego State at the Honda Center in Anaheim or the Clippers' new Intuit Dome.

[TheCat]

What an eventful week! Trent Perry committed and someone is going to walk-on (or transfer, idk). Adem Bona unofficially set the record for the highest vertical at the NBA combined with a 48.5 inch jump. P12 probably called two fouls on him. UCLA is going to finalize two games vs Arizona and Gonzaga that will be played at neutral sites in local markets.

No idea how the roster will shake out and how Mick will manage playing time. A few players will be upset I would imagine. Mick has seemed to have recovered from the European recruiting debacle. There are a lot of new bodies for a guy who prefers his returning players who know the system.

Somehow I doubt Bona vertical since it was reported as unofficial by Ben Bolch the Times UCLA cheerleader. He did say "sources said" but I kind of think the source is Bona agent. Regardless how does a guy with a 48.5 vertical only average 5.9 rebounds per game? Ballo had a 9 inch vertical and average close to twice that. Coaching? Want to? Bona was a subpar rebounder but he was certainly a bully when trying to score on the block. As far as recruits and transfers they appear to help the Bruins in the scoring department and the guy from USC will help on the defensive end as well. UCLA is going to a league that is in change but they will still get to see our friend Mr. Ballo which should test the NBA's forecasted number 1 pick Mara. Center is a real question mark for the Bruins but we will see how it all shakes out. Enjoy the snow.

[Beachcat97]

UCLA is kind of in the same boat as ASU: yesterday's news. I think the only people that particularly care about playing UCLA in Phoenix are Phoenix residents, who are being thrown a cookie. Personally, I'd just as soon play somebody like San Diego State at the Honda Center in Anaheim or the Clippers' new Intuit Dome.

SDSU has been a better basketball program than ucla lately, so there's also that.

[CatsbyAZ]

A guy named Bart Torvik has preseason projections ranking UCLA as surprisingly high as #10 going into next season. As someone who follows UCLA, I was not expecting this. Tarvik's rankings.

This a surprise to anyone else? Yes, the Bruins roster will be more experienced but there's too many other unknowns to expect a Top 10 roster.

[Beachcat97]

A guy named Bart Torvik has preseason projections ranking UCLA as surprisingly high as #10 going into next season. As someone who follows UCLA, I was not expecting this. Tarvik's rankings.

This a surprise to anyone else? Yes, the Bruins roster will be more experienced but there's too many other unknowns to expect a Top 10 roster.

Are they still coached by lifelong mediocre person Mick Cronin? Because if so, I wouldn’t expect much from them going forward.

USC finally did what some probably thought they never would: they hired a better coach than ucla has. If Musselman can recruit even close to Enfield’s level, the Trojans should do very well in the Big 10 soon, unlike their crosstown rival.

[U.P. Zona Fan]

It will be very interesting to see how the shards of the PAC 12 do in their new conferences.

[Bangkok Wildcat]

It will be very interesting to see how the shards of the PAC 12 do in their new conferences.

Me too, especially since we compete against them in recruiting, BUT I am concerned that we are in for a tough test in the Big 12 so I’m staying extremely humble at this point in time. BTFD.

[Winger]

A guy named Bart Torvik has preseason projections ranking UCLA as surprisingly high as #10 going into next season. As someone who follows UCLA, I was not expecting this. Tarvik's rankings.

This a surprise to anyone else? Yes, the Bruins roster will be more experienced but there's too many other unknowns to expect a Top 10 roster.

Are they still coached by lifelong mediocre person Mick Cronin? Because if so, I wouldn’t expect much from them going forward.

USC finally did what some probably thought they never would: they hired a better coach than ucla has. If Musselman can recruit even close to Enfield’s level, the Trojans should do very well in the Big 10 soon, unlike their crosstown rival.

FTR I can't stand Mussleman and was irate when word leaked that Robbins interviewed that clown. Was equally irked that Luke used to consistently prop him to succeed Miller. With that bias admitted to, Muss sucked balls his last 2 season in Arky.

Went 19-12 and 8-10 in '22 and 15-16 and 6-12 in '23.

Took forever for him to reach the Div 1 head coaching level, which always tells you something about a coach (see: Fisch, Jedd).

Wildly over-rated imo.

[Beachcat97]

A guy named Bart Torvik has preseason projections ranking UCLA as surprisingly high as #10 going into next season. As someone who follows UCLA, I was not expecting this. Tarvik's rankings.

This a surprise to anyone else? Yes, the Bruins roster will be more experienced but there's too many other unknowns to expect a Top 10 roster.

Are they still coached by lifelong mediocre person Mick Cronin? Because if so, I wouldn’t expect much from them going forward.

USC finally did what some probably thought they never would: they hired a better coach than ucla has. If Musselman can recruit even close to Enfield’s level, the Trojans should do very well in the Big 10 soon, unlike their crosstown rival.

FTR I can't stand Mussleman and was irate when word leaked that Robbins interviewed that clown. Was equally irked that Luke used to consistently prop him to succeed Miller. With that bias admitted to, Muss sucked balls his last 2 season in Arky.

Went 19-12 and 8-10 in '22 and 15-16 and 6-12 in '23.

Took forever for him to reach the Div 1 head coaching level, which always tells you something about a coach (see: Fisch, Jedd).

Wildly over-rated imo.

And yet, I still take him over Cronin without hesitation.

No one has really "cracked" USC yet. Historically, it's been a difficult place to build a consistent winning hoops program, kind of like ucla in the modern era. But...USC has softer admissions requirements than ucla and is within driving distance from several outstanding HS hoops programs. The right coach should be able to make them a contender. They need a Pitino or a Calipari-type coach. Someone who is already a household name and could land top 5 classes every year. Not sure if Musselman is that guy, but he's definitely an improvement on Enfield.

[Winger]

A guy named Bart Torvik has preseason projections ranking UCLA as surprisingly high as #10 going into next season. As someone who follows UCLA, I was not expecting this. Tarvik's rankings.

This a surprise to anyone else? Yes, the Bruins roster will be more experienced but there's too many other unknowns to expect a Top 10 roster.

Are they still coached by lifelong mediocre person Mick Cronin? Because if so, I wouldn’t expect much from them going forward.

USC finally did what some probably thought they never would: they hired a better coach than ucla has. If Musselman can recruit even close to Enfield’s level, the Trojans should do very well in the Big 10 soon, unlike their crosstown rival.

FTR I can't stand Mussleman and was irate when word leaked that Robbins interviewed that clown. Was equally irked that Luke used to consistently prop him to succeed Miller. With that bias admitted to, Muss sucked balls his last 2 season in Arky.

Went 19-12 and 8-10 in '22 and 15-16 and 6-12 in '23.

Took forever for him to reach the Div 1 head coaching level, which always tells you something about a coach (see: Fisch, Jedd).

Wildly over-rated imo.

And yet, I still take him over Cronin without hesitation.

No one has really "cracked" USC yet. Historically, it's been a difficult place to build a consistent winning hoops program, kind of like ucla in the modern era. But...USC has softer admissions requirements than ucla and is within driving distance from several outstanding HS hoops programs. The right coach should be able to make them a contender. They need a Pitino or a Calipari-type coach. Someone who is already a household name and could land top 5 classes every year. Not sure if Musselman is that guy, but he's definitely an improvement on Enfield.

Cronin stinks.

I posted that a million times OTOS thru the years. And, for a long time, folks that didn't know what they were talking about would rail against it. The past season or two they all finally learned and came around. Point being: I won't stand up for Cronin. He is an class 1 grade AAA asshole who constantly throws his players under the bus who also is a Sean Miller lite -- meaning he runs a similar overly controlling defense-first system that doesn't work at the highest level, only isn't as good a recruiter, evaluator, nor game coach -- who was never a good enough coach for a program like a UCLA and should never have been hired (I called it a C- hire on day 1 FTR).

That aside, I dunno if Mussleman will be better at SC than Cronin has been and will be at UCLA. TBD for me. I think so little of Mussleman the same holds for him vs Andy at SC.

You may know more than me, but it is just as difficult to get into SC as UCLA. Maybe you're saying that SC will make more meaningful accommodations for basketball players than UCLA will?

I tend to agree with you on the right coach making SC a contender but decades of recent past history says that isn't the case. It is the opposite of CU for me: a place where I don't fully understand why no one has been able to get it done there (in the Pac). Of course it's a football school. But so is Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, Texas .... all of whom have been more successful than SC and none of whom have local recruiting fields of similar quality.

The next several season for UCLA, SC, Cronin, and Mussleman in the B1G will be interesting to observe play out.

[Beachcat97]

A guy named Bart Torvik has preseason projections ranking UCLA as surprisingly high as #10 going into next season. As someone who follows UCLA, I was not expecting this. Tarvik's rankings.

This a surprise to anyone else? Yes, the Bruins roster will be more experienced but there's too many other unknowns to expect a Top 10 roster.

Are they still coached by lifelong mediocre person Mick Cronin? Because if so, I wouldn’t expect much from them going forward.

USC finally did what some probably thought they never would: they hired a better coach than ucla has. If Musselman can recruit even close to Enfield’s level, the Trojans should do very well in the Big 10 soon, unlike their crosstown rival.

FTR I can't stand Mussleman and was irate when word leaked that Robbins interviewed that clown. Was equally irked that Luke used to consistently prop him to succeed Miller. With that bias admitted to, Muss sucked balls his last 2 season in Arky.

Went 19-12 and 8-10 in '22 and 15-16 and 6-12 in '23.

Took forever for him to reach the Div 1 head coaching level, which always tells you something about a coach (see: Fisch, Jedd).

Wildly over-rated imo.

And yet, I still take him over Cronin without hesitation.

No one has really "cracked" USC yet. Historically, it's been a difficult place to build a consistent winning hoops program, kind of like ucla in the modern era. But...USC has softer admissions requirements than ucla and is within driving distance from several outstanding HS hoops programs. The right coach should be able to make them a contender. They need a Pitino or a Calipari-type coach. Someone who is already a household name and could land top 5 classes every year. Not sure if Musselman is that guy, but he's definitely an improvement on Enfield.

Cronin stinks.

I posted that a million times OTOS thru the years. And, for a long time, folks that didn't know what they were talking about would rail against it. The past season or two they all finally learned and came around. Point being: I won't stand up for Cronin. He is an class 1 grade AAA asshole who constantly throws his players under the bus who also is a Sean Miller lite -- meaning he runs a similar overly controlling defense-first system that doesn't work at the highest level, only isn't as good a recruiter, evaluator, nor game coach -- who was never a good enough coach for a program like a UCLA and should never have been hired (I called it a C- hire on day 1 FTR).

That aside, I dunno if Mussleman will be better at SC than Cronin has been and will be at UCLA. TBD for me. I think so little of Mussleman the same holds for him vs Andy at SC.

You may know more than me, but it is just as difficult to get into SC as UCLA. Maybe you're saying that SC will make more meaningful accommodations for basketball players than UCLA will?

I tend to agree with you on the right coach making SC a contender but decades of recent past history says that isn't the case. It is the opposite of CU for me: a place where I don't fully understand why no one has been able to get it done there (in the Pac). Of course it's a football school. But so is Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, Texas .... all of whom have been more successful than SC and none of whom have local recruiting fields of similar quality.

The next several season for UCLA, SC, Cronin, and Mussleman in the B1G will be interesting to observe play out.

It is MUCH harder to get into ucla. ucla is consistently among the hardest public schools in the *world* to get into for undergraduate study (along with Berkeley and Michigan). It's a little easier as a transfer student (like from a CC) but not much.

USC has actually improved a LOT academically, and admissions have become more competitive for undergrads. But it still doesn't hold a candle to ucla and Berkeley.

USC has a beautiful new arena, a ton of booster money, better fan support than ucla, and a very good athletics program. The location of USC's campus isn't ideal. Not as nice as Westwood. But since USC has never really had a Pitino or a Calipari, it's hard to really know their ceiling. Guys like Kevin O'Neill, Henry Bibby, Tim Floyd...they all had some good seasons here and there. But none could really establish USC as a national power. I actually think Musselman can do as well or better than these guys, given his past recruiting success and given the improved resources he'll have at USC.

Cronin will be done at ucla within the next 3 seasons.

[Winger]

Admission rate: UCLA 8.8% USC 10.0%
Average SAT: UCLA 1405 USC 1440
Average GPA: UCLA 3.93 USC 3.83

Those numbers are in line with my personal experience of late, which says that there is zero meaningful difference, with both schools being reach for everyone who applies.

Only material difference is the preference given to CA residents by UCLA.

Course how hard a university is to get in to has just about nothing to do with getting your basketball recruits enrolled.

And, accordingly, this isn't the explanation for why it has been harder to win at SC.

* Would note that UCLA hasn't been great for a long time as well. The lousy list of hired head coaches is a reflection of that reality.

[Beachcat97]

4 kids BC97. All recently graduated or currently enrolled in universities in southern CA, including USC.

Admission rate: UCLA 8.8% USC 10.0%
Average SAT: UCLA 1405 USC 1440
Average GPA: UCLA 3.93 USC 3.83

Those numbers are in line with my personal experience of late, which says that there is zero meaningful difference, with both schools being reach for everyone who applies.

Only material difference is the preference given to CA residents by UCLA.

Course how hard a university is to get in to has just about nothing to do with getting your basketball recruits enrolled. And, accordingly, this isn't the explanation for why it has been harder to win at SC (would note that UCLA hasn't been great since Howland, and wasn't before Howland, as well).

Welp, consider me staggered. I had no idea USC's admissions rate and other metrics had moved this much. When I graduated from HS, anyone with a 3.0 and a lot of money could go there. And the average SAT score was probably closer to 1000.

This is from last year. Data looks a little different:

https://www.bestcolleges.com/united-sta ... c-vs-ucla/

[Beachcat97]

Would note that UCLA hasn't been great for a long time as well. The lousy list of hired head coaches is a reflection of that reality.

They've had one good coach since their last national title, and they fired him. Had Howland stayed at ucla, they may've actually become a consistent national contender again.