UCLA Basketball in trouble!

84Cat · Post by **84Cat** » Sat Mar 19, 2022 5:58 pm

UCLA's defense is really stepping up. Love the switches

MrBug708 · Post by **MrBug708** » Sat Mar 19, 2022 6:06 pm

UCLA responded well after the injury too. Riley had his best game of the year. UNC without JJJ is a whole other matter.

dovecanyoncat · Post by **dovecanyoncat** » Sat Mar 19, 2022 6:10 pm

It's gonna be a nail-biter, but I'll go out on a limb and predict the Trollops win this one.

Bangkok Wildcat · Post by **Bangkok Wildcat** » Sat Mar 19, 2022 7:37 pm

Congrats on the win Bug! Damn, I wish we had played today instead of having to wait until tomorrow….survive and advance.

MrBug708 · Post by **MrBug708** » Tue Mar 22, 2022 1:32 pm

This is encouraging

TheCat · Post by **TheCat** » Tue Mar 22, 2022 1:38 pm

Bruins playing a super hot UNC team next but hot teams do cool down. If UCLA wins this game I think they will beat Purdue to make the final four again. Good luck to the PAC.

CatFanOneMil · Post by **CatFanOneMil** » Tue Mar 22, 2022 1:51 pm

Agreed my hatred of Pac 12 teams stops once we get into different brackets in the tourney...

I still think Cronin is a little bitch though, but I do respect the team.

MrBug708 · Post by **MrBug708** » Thu Mar 24, 2022 4:43 pm

Mick hinted that Jules Bernard won't be utilizing his super senior season next season.

Alieberman · Post by **Alieberman** » Thu Mar 24, 2022 4:55 pm

Jaime is fully good to go?

MrBug708 · Post by **MrBug708** » Thu Mar 24, 2022 9:35 pm

Alieberman wrote: ↑Thu Mar 24, 2022 4:55 pm Jaime is fully good to go?

I think he's going to go. Not sure how effective he will be.

dovecanyoncat · Post by **dovecanyoncat** » Thu Mar 24, 2022 10:12 pm

Good luck Bug

MrBug708 · Post by **MrBug708** » Thu Mar 24, 2022 10:31 pm

House money at this point.

MrBug708 · Post by **MrBug708** » Fri Mar 25, 2022 6:07 am

UCLA is losing assistant coach Michael Lewis, to the head coaching job at Ball State

MrBug708 · Post by **MrBug708** » Fri Mar 25, 2022 8:29 pm

Feels like we just can't put them away and I think it comes back to haunt us

MrBug708 · Post by **MrBug708** » Fri Mar 25, 2022 8:45 pm

Looks like game

dovecanyoncat · Post by **dovecanyoncat** » Fri Mar 25, 2022 8:46 pm

Not yet it ain't

dovecanyoncat · Post by **dovecanyoncat** » Fri Mar 25, 2022 8:47 pm

That might be it!

TheCat · Post by **TheCat** » Fri Mar 25, 2022 9:38 pm

Hate that the PAC has no team beyond the sweet 16. It just lends to the narrative the West is no good. That is the reason the PAC has less Quad 1 wins because none of their teams get ranked early.

Alieberman · Post by **Alieberman** » Sat Mar 26, 2022 6:51 am

I just want to say that most of the people who had been loudest on twitter about Benn and #boobgate were UCLA fans.

Enjoy your offseason Assholes

pc in NM · Post by **pc in NM** » Sat Mar 26, 2022 8:25 am

Alieberman wrote: ↑Sat Mar 26, 2022 6:51 am I just want to say that most of the people who had been loudest on twitter about Benn and #boobgate were UCLA fans.

Enjoy your offseason Assholes

MrBug708 · Post by **MrBug708** » Sun Mar 27, 2022 9:12 am

Scattered Thoughts that some may or may not want to read. It'll come out like a word salad.

Season - Considering the final four run last year, a lot of people had high expectations for the team. But the team was average last year, until they were elite, when Juzang had a Caleb Love type run and UCLA made the final four. The team improved and started out well, but the COVID pause and COVID going through the team, had effects on the rest of the season. Mick was nearly hospitalized. Every player came down with COVID. Once they resumed, they played 2.5 games well. Once vs USC, once vs St. Mary's, and the loss in the PAC-12 championship game. Juzang never got going and Jules was all over the place. Mick rode his guys hard, at the expense of a bench (which he had) and legs caught up to them later in games. I suspect playing time promises played a bit into it to "bring the gang back". The team often went as Riley went. Refusal to sit guys who didnt have it was...strange. Not doing better in conference was disappointing, but Arizona came out of nowhere and there is no shame in that. Arizona ended up being the second overall seed in the NCAA's, so it was more about Arizona in conference than it was UCLA.

Players in general - Cody had a pretty good transformation from being embarrassed on a national stage with the China incident. But he's 24 and even with a season of eligibility left, he's unlikely to come back and I dont think he wanted to come back this year. Juzang is probably gone. He could never recapture that same form as the tournament. Jules Bernard was up and down all season. I suspect he's gone as well, but he was the best player for UCLA In the UNC game and had a good tournament showing. Bernard, Riley, Singleton are all Alford holdovers so they put their trust in Cronin after the Alford "experience" so it's easy to appreciate what it means to sticking through for better or worse. JJJ could test out the NBA, but I think he comes back for one more year. He should feature heavily next year and without Juzang and Jules, the PT is there. I can't see Tyger Campbell not coming back, he's improved every year, but 5'11 PG's aren't really an NBA thing. He's actually got two years of eligibility left. There are some Peyton Watson to UW rumors, coming from the UW board. I could see him unhappy with the playing time this year, but the biggest issue was that UCLA returned the starting lineup from a Final Four team. If we lose who we are expected to lose, he should have playing time galore. But Washington as a destination? His NBA future is defensive driven and the zone won't help him. I'm assuming he will be back. Jaylen Clark should also see an uptick in minutes with the departures. Either he or Watson should have been in the game over Juzang/JJJ to guard Love. Myles Johnson improved as the season wore on and should be comfortable in his role next year. Mac Etiene has been quiet since the incident, so who knows what is going to happen there. Kyman might see the talent coming in and transfer for a chance to play meaningful minutes. He's a UCLA legacy kid though. David Singleton announced he was returning and should see minutes. David Nwuba doesnt have the skills but he's third string this year and will be 4th string next year if Mac returns.

Incoming talent - A prolific poster once asked who Amari Bailey was and told me he wasn't a 5*, but the #2 ranked player in the nation is coming here to play significant minutes, not take a Peyton Watson type role this year. If he doesn't play many minutes, Mick might not be able to recruit another 5* kid again. If he doesn't start, I think he'll be the backup at the 1 & 2. Adem Bona should play quite a few minutes. He's extremely athletic and the ideal Mick post. He's thought to be a 1 and done, so we'll see how that plays out. Dylan Andrews is also coming in, but I don't expect him to play many minutes, which at being ranked #39 in the nation, is strange. They also have Will McClendon, who was hurt all year, so that's another guard for the team. No true power forward concerns me, but Mick has said he wants just three posts on the roster. Three players need to leave the team to accommodate the incoming talent. It's not expected to be an issue. They've been adding talent, which is improving the athleticism to play defense, but Mick choose offense, over his patent defense, in key spots this year.

Mick Cronin - Has been a godsend to UCLA. He's not perfect and his style and system have some weaknesses, but he got a lot out of this team. That could be a "It's not Alford so it must be amazing" syndrome. The players love him and UCLA hasn't had a player transfer out in the three seasons he has been here, I think one of only 2 programs in the p5 conferences. I half expect it to happen this year. But after the loss vs UNC, they gathered around each other and they had their "lockerroom talk" even as UNC was celebrating the win. He knows the right buttons to push, at least for now. I've seen people mention that he's already peaked, which is curious since people said he peaked at Cincinnati when he couldn't reach the Sweet 16, but has gone 2/2 already at UCLA, including a Final Four run, UCLA's fourth since 2006. Te tournament isn't a ceiling, it has to do with playing really well at the right time. Last year they were, this year they weren't. He's definitely passionate, which is a complete 180 from the milquetoast Alford, who was hot garbage this year and most of his UCLA tenure.

And yes, he's short. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » Sun Mar 27, 2022 9:27 am

I certainly hope UCLA is very good next year. The conference desperately needs both of us to shine Nationally. With Campbell and JJJ you should meet those expectations.

I think the thing that makes Cronin really upset is his comment about AZ being the tougher team in the second half of the conference championship game. That will eat at him all offseason I think. The games between us next year should get a straight up battle because he won’t allow that to happen again.

pc in NM · Post by **pc in NM** » Sun Mar 27, 2022 10:24 am

azcat49 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 27, 2022 9:27 am I certainly hope UCLA is very good next year. The conference desperately needs both of us to shine Nationally. With Campbell and JJJ you should meet those expectations.

I think the thing that makes Cronin really upset is his comment about AZ being the tougher team in the second half of the conference championship game. That will eat at him all offseason I think. The games between us next year should get a straight up battle because he won’t allow that to happen again.

He doesn't control that!!!!

BTFD!!!!

MrBug708 · Post by **MrBug708** » Sun Mar 27, 2022 2:52 pm

Feels like a huge missed opportunity, watching UNC destroy the peacocks. But I get that the Duke - UNC final four showdown was always going to be destined.

U.P. Zona Fan · Post by **U.P. Zona Fan** » Tue Mar 29, 2022 5:07 am

MrBug708 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 27, 2022 2:52 pm Feels like a huge missed opportunity, watching UNC destroy the peacocks. But I get that the Duke - UNC final four showdown was always going to be destined.

I know how you feel, Houston was only able to put up 44 on Saturday and Villinova, to whom they lost, only hit 50.

Made me a little queezy.

I'm sure you feel the same.

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » Wed Mar 30, 2022 5:14 pm

https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/20 ... ?_amp=true

“Mick Cronin’s new six-year contract, which takes effect Friday and pays him $4.1 million annually, is expected to make the UCLA coach the highest-paid public-school basketball coach in the Pac-12.”

That’s a lot of dough! Looks like he will be there for a long while

MrBug708 · Post by **MrBug708** » Wed Mar 30, 2022 6:45 pm

Jake Kyman enters the transfer portal. Best of luck to the kid! He's probably low end MWC talent and I hope he gets a place to start

MrBug708 · Post by **MrBug708** » Wed Mar 30, 2022 7:11 pm

I see we are still doing the negrep dance...lol

MrBug708 · Post by **MrBug708** » Tue Apr 05, 2022 11:18 am

Some nice scheduling going on.

EastCoastCat · Post by **EastCoastCat** » Tue Apr 05, 2022 2:40 pm

That is good scheduling.

UAEebs86 · Post by **UAEebs86** » Wed Apr 20, 2022 10:48 am

Should have gone last year

84Cat · Post by **84Cat** » Wed Apr 20, 2022 10:51 am

Paging Beachcat

MrBug708 · Post by **MrBug708** » Fri Apr 22, 2022 11:07 am

He doesn't come unless his master comes calling

I wish JJ the best, wherever he finds himself playing!

MrBug708 · Post by **MrBug708** » Thu Apr 28, 2022 12:13 pm

Myles takes a job at IBM, which will pay for his final year of grad school and end his basketball career.

Singleton returns for his final year

MrBug708 · Post by **MrBug708** » Fri Jun 10, 2022 3:49 pm

UCLA hires a European Assistant coach. Former HC at Red Star, at age 24, Ivo Simovic. He once had Filip Petrusev committed to Hartford. No surprise that two of UCLA"s biggest 2023 targets are of Serbian descent.

Chicat · Post by **Chicat** » Fri Jun 10, 2022 10:23 pm

Yo, Europe is ours. Get your own continent (not Africa).

MrBug708 · Post by **MrBug708** » Sat Jun 11, 2022 10:48 am

Hopefully it works better than our last couple of Euros. Golomon (who?) And Dragovic, the domestic abuser how and brought in. Hopefully more Zidek than anything.

YoDeFoe · Post by **YoDeFoe** » Wed Jun 29, 2022 3:02 pm

And UCLA strikes out on their first try, missing the French big who committed instead to Illinois.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-baske ... ing-illini

UCLA lost six guys with eligibility, only one got drafted, and they haven't gotten a commitment since last November. Bruins down bad.

UAEebs86 · Post by **UAEebs86** » Wed Jun 29, 2022 3:03 pm

That's a shame.

MrBug708 · Post by **MrBug708** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:36 am

UAEebs86 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 29, 2022 3:03 pm That's a shame.

It's more funny than anything. They offered pretty late and he's a class of 2022 guy.

TheCat · Post by **TheCat** » Wed Jul 13, 2022 3:42 pm

Cronin's style of play is not the most attractive to recruits. His guys need to get drafted and stick to help.

MrBug708 · Post by **MrBug708** » Tue Sep 20, 2022 8:03 pm

JMarkJohns · Post by **JMarkJohns** » Tue Sep 20, 2022 8:05 pm

Yo! WTF?! Jesus! That’s awful!

84Cat · Post by **84Cat** » Tue Sep 20, 2022 8:50 pm

He had been missing since mid July according to a family friend. What a horrible outcome

Irish27 · Post by **Irish27** » Tue Sep 20, 2022 9:06 pm

That is horrible to hear. I read where he was going through a lot mentally, I wonder if it was suicide? Very sad news.

TheCat · Post by **TheCat** » Wed Sep 21, 2022 4:48 pm

Read that today. Just helps you realize that some people are hurting more than you would expect. Feel for his family and also sad that he could not find peace. RIP.

EastCoastCat · Post by **EastCoastCat** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 6:14 am

As someone that’s experienced this situation first hand (assuming what happened actually happened) it’s devastating, especially for the family which will not go 1 day without having those “why’s?” and “what could we have done?” thoughts.

Just sad.

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 8:43 am

My oldest son developed some severe mental health issues about the same age, but is still with us since the cops were not very good shots during his SBC attempt although he has some permanent physical issues but has been seeing a psychiatrist and taking his meds the last 10 years.

What age do mental illnesses develop?

Overall, the global onset of the first mental disorder occurs before age 14 in one-third of individuals, age 18 in almost half (48.4%), and before age 25 in half (62.5%), with a peak/median age at onset of 14.5/18 years across all mental disorders

JMarkJohns · Post by **JMarkJohns** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 8:55 am

EastCoastCat wrote: ↑Thu Sep 22, 2022 6:14 am As someone that’s experienced this situation first hand (assuming what happened actually happened) it’s devastating, especially for the family which will not go 1 day without having those “why’s?” and “what could we have done?” thoughts.

Just sad.

My family has had two uncles who just up and vanished. One of them was an addict in his younger years, but had even reconciled with his prior family upon getting out of prison and rehab. One day, just gone. A year later his body was found in the desert, badly decomposed. Still no idea what happened.

The other uncle was a Vietnam vet who just one day left his family and was off the grid and out of reach for over a decade from the early 90s to early 00s. He resurfaced around 2005 and then disappeared again.

It is crushing to the family in ways impossible to explain. Not a shock 3 of the 5 kids involved became addicts. One of them pretty badly. My parents have been helping one of the kids for the better part of 3 years now with rehab.

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 11:23 am

I think I read where he had a hard time coping with the China incident. Not sure if that alluded to fans giving him such a hard time or other pressures but I know I have been trying to remember that these are often 18-22 year old kids and being supportive is more important than an outcome or rivalry of a game

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