UCLA Basketball in trouble!

MrBug708 · Post by **MrBug708** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:23 am

Main Event wrote:
MrBug708 wrote:
Main Event wrote:You sure? lol
??
You sure he's it this time

UCLA Athletics announced it. I don't think any place hasn't announced it

SCCats · Post by **SCCats** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:28 am

"6/24."

"When can you start? Please don't turn us down."

ASUHATER! · Post by **ASUHATER!** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:29 am

I mean it's not a super bad hire. He has been to the tournament 9 years in a row at Cincinnati, but all he has to show for it is 2 conference titles and 1 sweet 16.

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:33 am

Agree, not a bad hire, pretty consistent.

Meanwhile Ben Howland has turned Mississippi State around and returned the NCAAs.

Beachcat97 · Post by **Beachcat97** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:36 am

Cronin is roughly the same as Dixon. Both have had sustained success at second tier programs.

Good opportunity for Cronin, and UCLA can finally turn the page.

CatsbyAZ · Post by **CatsbyAZ** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:36 am

ChooChooCat · Post by **ChooChooCat** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:37 am

Cronin is a colossal asshole and runs the worst offenses in all of college basketball. First to 50 in AZ/UCLA games wins.

CalStateTempe · Post by **CalStateTempe** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:42 am

Miller Cronin knife fight?

midnightx · Post by **midnightx** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:50 am

NYCat wrote:UCLA falls backwards into Mick Cronin, everyone laughs, then Cronin kills it there and becomes one of the best coaches they have ever had.

Do you think that really happens? Is he really much of an upgrade over Alford? It is UCLA, and he will undoubtedly get some of the elite So. Cal recruits (Alford certainly did), but who knows if he is going to create an elite program. Still, it isn't a bad hire.

MrBug708 · Post by **MrBug708** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:58 am

Even Steve Lavin would have been an upgrade over Alford

Longhorned · Post by **Longhorned** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:59 am

At least his hair is better than Alford's butt cut.

Newportcat · Post by **Newportcat** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 10:05 am

Who the fuck is Mick Cronin?

YoDeFoe · Post by **YoDeFoe** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 10:06 am

All things considered, this isn't a complete failure by UCLA. I'm enthused actually.

Cronin will have UCLA back to a respectable form, and he'll have command of the locker room. Between Miller, Hopkins, Altman, Hurley, Haase, Cronin, Larry K, Boyle... we've now got a pretty respectable collection of coaches. Hopefully the lull in the Pac-12's performance is over and we can return to form as a conference.

UAEebs86 · Post by **UAEebs86** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 10:10 am

Newportcat wrote:Who the fuck is Mick Cronin?

I think he sang "Riding the Storm Out".

Beachcat97 · Post by **Beachcat97** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 10:12 am

Newportcat wrote:Who the fuck is Mick Cronin?

I mean, yeah, but the reality is that he's been having success at Cincy. This is right in line with where UCLA's been making their hires. Even Howland wasn't terribly expensive. UCLA hires second tier coaches or up-and-comers. The elite recruits will always come. It'll just be a question of what Cronin can do over the next five years.

Chicat · Post by **Chicat** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 10:30 am

Can Mick convince the kids he now has access to that playing defense will get them to the NBA?

ChooChooCat · Post by **ChooChooCat** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 10:31 am

My take:

UCLA will be a much better coached team under Cronin than it was under Alford. With that being said the results will look exactly the same.

dirtbags · Post by **dirtbags** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 10:32 am

at least it isn't mark fox. go bears.

*defeated trombone sound*

YoDeFoe · Post by **YoDeFoe** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 10:55 am

ChooChooCat wrote:My take:

UCLA will be a much better coached team under Cronin than it was under Alford. With that being said the results will look exactly the same.

I wonder how long before Cronin has the knives out for the media and boosters.

MrBug708 · Post by **MrBug708** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 11:00 am

Now to get Cumberland in..

Frybry02 · Post by **Frybry02** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 11:03 am

Cronin plays a physical style of basketball and I like watching physical basketball.

The Pac 12 refs might foul out half his team by the 2nd media timeout.

NYCat · Post by **NYCat** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 11:11 am

midnightx wrote:
NYCat wrote:UCLA falls backwards into Mick Cronin, everyone laughs, then Cronin kills it there and becomes one of the best coaches they have ever had.
Do you think that really happens? Is he really much of an upgrade over Alford? It is UCLA, and he will undoubtedly get some of the elite So. Cal recruits (Alford certainly did), but who knows if he is going to create an elite program. Still, it isn't a bad hire.

It'll depend on his recruiting, Howland ascended with semi decent recruits, not elite talent. Guys like Kevin Love came later, but even someone like Westbrook was a 3*. He started recruiting 5*s and started emphasizing defense less and then he collapsed. Cronin, like Miller has to recruit for his style. Unfortunately going after the 5*s is too enticing, especially in LA, he can land top talent just because it's UCLA. Sometimes a loss makes you change things for the better, sometimes -like Howland- you learn the wrong lesson.

You can't be a tough UC-esque team with the AAU 5* kids in California.

Longhorned · Post by **Longhorned** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 11:12 am

Frybry02 wrote:Cronin plays a physical style of basketball and I like watching physical basketball.

The Pac 12 refs might foul out half his team by the 2nd media timeout.

So his teams will adjust. And then get out-physical'd in the tourney.

MrBug708 · Post by **MrBug708** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 11:32 am

NYCat wrote:
midnightx wrote:
NYCat wrote:UCLA falls backwards into Mick Cronin, everyone laughs, then Cronin kills it there and becomes one of the best coaches they have ever had.
Do you think that really happens? Is he really much of an upgrade over Alford? It is UCLA, and he will undoubtedly get some of the elite So. Cal recruits (Alford certainly did), but who knows if he is going to create an elite program. Still, it isn't a bad hire.
It'll depend on his recruiting, Howland ascended with semi decent recruits, not elite talent. Guys like Kevin Love came later, but even someone like Westbrook was a 3*. He started recruiting 5*s and started emphasizing defense less and then he collapsed. Cronin, like Miller has to recruit for his style. Unfortunately going after the 5*s is too enticing, especially in LA, he can land top talent just because it's UCLA. Sometimes a loss makes you change things for the better, sometimes -like Howland- you learn the wrong lesson.

You can't be a tough UC-esque team with the AAU 5* kids in California.

Westbrook was a single year before Love and was taken because a scholarship opened up.

Howlands first class had 5* Afflalo and Farmar, 4* Shipp and Mata

MrBug708 · Post by **MrBug708** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 11:37 am

PACE OF PLAY
- The only year he has been in the top 200 for tempo rankings was the first of his career, when he was 59th
-Interestingly, his tempo was basically the same the rest of his time at Murray then his Big East era at Cincy--in the 200s. That's slow, but not ridiculous. Then, literally the first year of the AAC, the tempo plummeted into the 330s. He's been between 328 and 339 the last six seasons. I don't exactly know what it was about the conference move that caused the dip, but it is the most immediately noticeable thing about his kenpom profile

OFFENSE
- 5/16 years rated lower than 100
- Top 50 the last 3 seasons
- The last 3 seasons are easily his best offense

DEFENSE
- Made a leap his 4th year at Cincy (2010) and never looked back. Average ranking before that: 107. Since then: 18
- The last 9 years, he has been out of the Top 25 once (this season--27th)
- Best defense was last season: 2nd in the nation

OVERALL
- Whereas his big defensive leap was 2010, his breakthrough overall was 2011. Before then, average ranking of 94 (to be fair, that includes 3 Murray State years). After, average ranking of 28.
- Only one top 10 (last season), but he's been top 40 every season but one since 2011 (43rd in 2015)

dovecanyoncat · Post by **dovecanyoncat** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 12:18 pm

ASUHATER! wrote:I mean it's not a super bad hire. He has been to the tournament 9 years in a row at Cincinnati, but all he has to show for it is 2 conference titles and 1 sweet 16.

....and one bitchin' brawl.

Which of Mick's Pac-12 player opponents is gonna make the next "Zip 'em up" speech?

zonagrad · Post by **zonagrad** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 12:33 pm

dovecanyoncat wrote:
ASUHATER! wrote:I mean it's not a super bad hire. He has been to the tournament 9 years in a row at Cincinnati, but all he has to show for it is 2 conference titles and 1 sweet 16.
....and one bitchin' brawl.

Which of Mick's Pac-12 player opponents is gonna make the next "Zip 'em up" speech?

I just don't think Cronin's style of play is gonna fly in LA.

We. Shall. See.

Beachcat97 · Post by **Beachcat97** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 12:37 pm

We've now got at least three coaches in the Pac who prioritize defense above all else: Miller, Hopkins and now Cronin.

This seems to contrast what we see from Hurley and Altman. Not sure where Enfield, Boyle and Krystkowiak belong.

Regardless of how UCLA does, Cronin has a distinctive personality and vibe, so it's going to be interesting to see how this all plays out. They're losing Wilkes and Hands but gaining a healthy O'Neal and that PG who was injured this past season.

CalStateTempe · Post by **CalStateTempe** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 1:13 pm

dovecanyoncat wrote:
ASUHATER! wrote:I mean it's not a super bad hire. He has been to the tournament 9 years in a row at Cincinnati, but all he has to show for it is 2 conference titles and 1 sweet 16.
....and one bitchin' brawl.

Which of Mick's Pac-12 player opponents is gonna make the next "Zip 'em up" speech?

Hell yeah that’s what I was thinking about. Did miller and cronin overlap much? Cincy and Xavier hate each other.

dirtbags · Post by **dirtbags** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 1:15 pm

Beachcat97 wrote:We've now got at least three coaches in the Pac who prioritize defense above all else: Miller, Hopkins and now Cronin.

This seems to contrast what we see from Hurley and Altman. Not sure where Enfield, Boyle and Krystkowiak belong.

Regardless of how UCLA does, Cronin has a distinctive personality and vibe, so it's going to be interesting to see how this all plays out. They're losing Wilkes and Hands but gaining a healthy O'Neal and that PG who was injured this past season.

any players / recruits expected to follow him out west?

YoDeFoe · Post by **YoDeFoe** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 1:23 pm

dirtbags wrote:
Beachcat97 wrote:We've now got at least three coaches in the Pac who prioritize defense above all else: Miller, Hopkins and now Cronin.

This seems to contrast what we see from Hurley and Altman. Not sure where Enfield, Boyle and Krystkowiak belong.

Regardless of how UCLA does, Cronin has a distinctive personality and vibe, so it's going to be interesting to see how this all plays out. They're losing Wilkes and Hands but gaining a healthy O'Neal and that PG who was injured this past season.
any players / recruits expected to follow him out west?

Only commit is a 3* SG recruited only by Ohio schools.

MrBug708 · Post by **MrBug708** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 1:42 pm

dirtbags wrote:
Beachcat97 wrote:We've now got at least three coaches in the Pac who prioritize defense above all else: Miller, Hopkins and now Cronin.

This seems to contrast what we see from Hurley and Altman. Not sure where Enfield, Boyle and Krystkowiak belong.

Regardless of how UCLA does, Cronin has a distinctive personality and vibe, so it's going to be interesting to see how this all plays out. They're losing Wilkes and Hands but gaining a healthy O'Neal and that PG who was injured this past season.
any players / recruits expected to follow him out west?

He does have the POTY from Ohio committed. Much more interested in Cumberland as a Grad transfer

catgrad97 · Post by **catgrad97** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 1:43 pm

dirtbags wrote:at least it isn't mark fox. go bears.
*defeated trombone sound*

That is now officially in the dictionary under the entry "Womp Womp."

Was there a hire that UCLA AD wouldn't have been officially "thrilled" with? Maybe Murry Bartow? Too bad, because he got better results and would've been far cheaper.

As for my response:

[Hypnotized SNL extras]"I loved it. Much better than 'Cats'. I'm going to see Mick again and again."[/Hypnotized SNL extras]

Beachcat97 · Post by **Beachcat97** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 2:47 pm

More and more mocks are projecting Moses Brown to leave. First task for Cronin is to re-recruit his roster.

Newportcat · Post by **Newportcat** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 4:39 pm

Not to be a dick as I know many of you guys dislike me but no one has bothered to answer my question which I find a bit rude

Who the fuck is Mick Cronin?

azgreg · Post by **azgreg** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 4:45 pm

Newportcat wrote:Not to be a dick as I know many of you guys dislike me but no one has bothered to answer my question which I find a bit rude

Who the fuck is Mick Cronin?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=mick+cronin" target="_blank

Newportcat · Post by **Newportcat** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 5:02 pm

azgreg wrote:
Newportcat wrote:Not to be a dick as I know many of you guys dislike me but no one has bothered to answer my question which I find a bit rude

Who the fuck is Mick Cronin?
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=mick+cronin" target="_blank

MrBug708 · Post by **MrBug708** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 5:08 pm

TCU refused to change the language to allow UCLA to pay the buyout to them directly, and instead were going to force us to pay Dixon and have him pay the buyout to them. Dixon would have then had to pay taxes on $8-10M in income he was just re-routing to TCU. Probably a $4M hit.

Beachcat97 · Post by **Beachcat97** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 5:23 pm

Sounds like TCU had the more shrewd, take no prisoners negotiator.

U.P. Zona Fan · Post by **U.P. Zona Fan** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 5:24 pm

Mick Cronin is the coach at cincinatti, before that he coached at Murray St. He's a good coach, for some reason I feel he's firey as hell, not sure how hard he is on kids. He might hurt a bunch of feelings and lose his locker room in LA.

He gets tough kids that play tough D. We will see what he gets off the west coast. He's gonna hate our refs. And get tossed from a bunch of games till he figures out you have to put your hands behind your back while you cuss out the refs. Ala Bobby Hurley, who I've heard St John's is looking at.

Edit: ha heard the hurley bit here.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 6:57 pm

4 million a year for Cronin sounds expensive.

SCCats · Post by **SCCats** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 7:22 pm

Dave wrote:4 million a year for Cronin sounds expensive.

But only six years.

Sounds expensive to me too.

Beachcat97 · Post by **Beachcat97** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 8:26 pm

He's cheaper than Dixon or Barnes.

Newportcat · Post by **Newportcat** » Wed Apr 10, 2019 6:46 am

Mick Cronin is a nobody

Awful hire for UCLA. All that money for a nobody

Beachcat97 · Post by **Beachcat97** » Wed Apr 10, 2019 8:35 am

Newportcat wrote:Mick Cronin is a nobody

Awful hire for UCLA. All that money for a nobody

The sports media is singing a very different tune. The LA Times is positively jubilant over the hiring.

Cronin is a low-risk hire, imo. He's less expensive than the others they courted first, and he's unlikely to do worse than Alford.

Spaceman Spiff · Post by **Spaceman Spiff** » Wed Apr 10, 2019 8:44 am

Newportcat wrote:Mick Cronin is a nobody

Awful hire for UCLA. All that money for a nobody

Cronin is a solid coach who has consistently overachieved. If he can recruit well, which UCLA certainly allows, he should do fine.

He's light years better than Alford as a coach.

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » Wed Apr 10, 2019 8:54 am

Newportcat wrote:Mick Cronin is a nobody

Awful hire for UCLA. All that money for a nobody

That seems like such a LA response, style over substance. Cronin is a solid teacher of basketball. His teams play very hard, are tough on the glass and play great defense. A big plus is that he wanted the job from the outset. While he was not their top choice I think the bruins got a good one

Beachcat97 · Post by **Beachcat97** » Wed Apr 10, 2019 9:26 am

azcat49 wrote:
Newportcat wrote:Mick Cronin is a nobody

Awful hire for UCLA. All that money for a nobody
That seems like such a LA response, style over substance.

Not really, though. Here's the LA Times today: https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-mi ... story.html" target="_blank

MrBug708 · Post by **MrBug708** » Wed Apr 10, 2019 10:29 am

I'm happy that Cronin seems like a generally well respected and good guy. The praise for him, especially from Ohio media, seems impressive. I know he is consider a hard ass but his players all seem to love him and he doesn't seem to have an inordinate amount of transfers considering his style

KaibabKat · Post by **KaibabKat** » Wed Apr 10, 2019 10:37 am

Considering career accomplishments for Alford vs. Cronin it is Tweedle Dee vs. Tweedle Dum. Between them they have been at it for 40 years at the D1 level with not as much as one Elite Eight to show for it.

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