UCLA Basketball in trouble!

[84Cat]

UCLA is currently ranked 151 in the NET rankings, Stanford 152, OSU 198, Cal 218. ASU is 150.

[dovecanyoncat]

Looks like the Imodium is starting to take effect.

[dovecanyoncat]

Bowel Obstruction Alert!

[dovecanyoncat]

Mick's motivational threats:
1. digit amputation
2. locker room circumcision
3. gelding in the huddle?

[dmjcat]

Pauley Pavilion tonight has had all the charm of a 2/3rds empty funeral home hosting a wake for John Wayne Gacy......and thats being generous.

Why any HS basketball player would want to play in that gym for Cronin is beyond me

After this loss UCLA is now going to have to win the P12 tournament to made the Big Dance

[UAEebs86]

That's a shame.

[AZCatGirl]

Never thought I'd see UCLA be bellow 500 before Christmas with such a mediocre schedule.

[dovecanyoncat]

Will you still have recruits to play
when the razor boy comes
and pares your body parts away?
Will you still be bangin' it
on that cold and windy day?
You know that the gelding
is so close at hand ...
You played like shyte ...
I guess only Munchkins
in dress suits can stand
this kind of fight

[KaibabKat]

Biggest preseason win for UCLA is vs. KenPom #244 UC Riverside in Pauley by 1 point.

[Beachcat97]

Isn’t it interesting how ucla can’t hire a decent coach? It’s almost like the job isn’t nearly as desirable as ucla fans would have us think. Gonna be hilarious watching them finish like 5th or 6th in the B1G next year.

[Chicat]

This is the team that was picked to finish 3rd in the conference? Ewwwww

[Beachcat97]

This is the team that was picked to finish 3rd in the conference? Ewwwww

3rd…to last??

[IrishAzCat]

In the land of UCLA's court,
Their basketball skills come up short.
With shots that do clatter,
And plays that just splatter,
Opponents just laugh and cavort!

[CatsbyAZ]

Cronin was their 3rd choice for the job opening. It’s important to remember this fact as the last vestiges of Alford’s recruiting are now gone. What you’re seeing this year is full Mick Cronin basketball.

But didn't Cronin recruit well at Cincinnati? Well enough to string together 25 and even 30 win seasons with his own players? That's what I don't understand. Yes, Alford's better players are gone but how is Cronin's recruiting somehow worse at UCLA than Cincinnati?

[Beachcat97]

Cronin was their 3rd choice for the job opening. It’s important to remember this fact as the last vestiges of Alford’s recruiting are now gone. What you’re seeing this year is full Mick Cronin basketball.

But didn't Cronin recruit well at Cincinnati? Well enough to string together 25 and even 30 win seasons with his own players? That's what I don't understand. Yes, Alford's better players are gone but how is Cronin's recruiting somehow worse at UCLA than Cincinnati?

Was Cronin a good recruiter at Cincy? How many future NBA players did he coach there? I can’t think of a single one. Maybe Lance Stephenson? And not that this is the ultimate indicator of a coach’s recruiting; the point is that Cronin wasn’t a great recruiter at Cincy. He also only got to the S16 once in 13 seasons there.

This isn’t a guy who other programs were eying as a good coach at an average program. He wasn’t offered better jobs while at Cincy.

And again, he was UCLA’s 4th choice, after 3 others turned down the job. They really wanted Rick Barnes, who would’ve been an immeasurably better hire.

Cronin inherited a loaded ucla roster, and he got very lucky when his team caught fire in the tournament a few years ago. Now he’s got his usual average roster, and they suck because he’s a hack. What a lovely way for ucla to finish out their pac era.

[MrBug708]

Cronin was their 3rd choice for the job opening. It’s important to remember this fact as the last vestiges of Alford’s recruiting are now gone. What you’re seeing this year is full Mick Cronin basketball.

But didn't Cronin recruit well at Cincinnati? Well enough to string together 25 and even 30 win seasons with his own players? That's what I don't understand. Yes, Alford's better players are gone but how is Cronin's recruiting somehow worse at UCLA than Cincinnati?

To be fair, Alford's recruits weren't any different than what Cronin has been able to recruit. And Cronin still recruited Watson, Clark, Bailey, Bona. But he's struggled to recruit shooters. The team will develop but why recruit Euros if you won't play them? Overly reliant on players who are struggling right now. Illane should be playing more but he's not and it's bafflingly, especially when look at some.pf the advance stats. Not having a true PG has also stalled the efficiency on offense.

[UAEebs86]

[dovecanyoncat]

"For once I have to take the blame folks. If I was a better coach my roster of inherited players would have lasted longer. But I didn't so beatings will continue until morale improves. That's just how I was raised."

~ Imodium "Mick" Cronin

[Beachcat97]

No one whines more about his own team/players than Cronin. It's remarkable. He acts like he didn't even choose these guys.

[Chicat]

Imagine how he verbally destroys these kids in practice.

[dovecanyoncat]

As a now deceased Montana redneck buddy used to say: "Nuthin' werth lernin' ever comithout a beatin'."

[MrBug708]

He has a couple of other guys he could play. But other than Berke, who seems the most ready to play, he just can't bring himself to play them.

You need a shooter in the P12 otherwise you will drop games you shouldn't.

[MrBug708]

Hard to know which offense is more garbage, ours or Stanford's. Yikes.

[84Cat]

[UAEebs86]

He seems nice.

[dovecanyoncat]

I recall watching us play when Miller coached. Audio was surprisingly well localised and I heard him scream like a razor EXECUTE!!!!.

It didn't work either.

[TheCat]

Hard to know which offense is more garbage, ours or Stanford's. Yikes.

Final score will tell you. Stanford has shooters that were simply off. You might want to get some time for that number 1 draft choice that you were so keen in pointing out his advance stats that no one could understand but UCLA fans. UCLA can turn this around but not with a coach that takes no responsibility and says the problem is with the student not the teacher. Typical Mick and has been that way.

[CatsbyAZ]

The comment re: UCLA having no shooters - Bruins made only one three pointer until they hit two during garbage time in their loss to Stanford last night. A pedestrian offense suffering all the talent and experienced lost from last season’s team. Nobody can create their own shot; Stanford shut the Bruins down in the second half.

The comment re: Cronin not playing his Euros - You would think a few lanky Euros might spark UCLA out of its shooting drought but, yes, they mostly warm the bench. Saw Mara and Stefanovic on the floor in the first half. But blink and they were back on the bench.

Imagine any other year where Stanford has back-to-back games beating Arizona by +15 before taking down UCLA on the road.

[MrBug708]

Blink and Stefanovic was on the bench? He played 36 minutes. Mick definitely prefers guys with experience or Americans, which makes his chase of Euros curious.

[TheCat]

Blink and Stefanovic was on the bench? He played 36 minutes. Mick definitely prefers guys with experience or Americans, which makes his chase of Euros curious.

Stefonovic is a player and is performing well. Mara is what most people thought he was. A project with tremendous upside. Needs to rebound if he has a chance to get any time and that is not his strong suit.

[MrBug708]

It's a shame that Mick didn't "promise" RDW a starting spot because every spot was "earned". He would probably be playing 42 minutes a game with 30 shots at this point.

[TheCat]

We are in many recruiting battles with UCLA. Is this the year that Mick's behavior and criticism of players start to show up in recruiting? What he has publicly said about players and singling them out might be the deciding factor. Hell he even threatened their scholarships in the presser. I have never seen him take responsibility for a loss. He recruited these players. I think the one guy that could help him is the kid from France (don't know this name). He has size and is aggressive but is prone to freshman mistakes which he should be since he is a freshman.

[CatsbyAZ]

Unless Cronin wants Fibleuil to hit the portal why would a coach say something so careless?

Even if Nick Saban said something like this about specific, underperforming players, it would not be worth coming across like a jerk by airing statements and borderline personal attacks like this to the local media. Big difference is Alabama football has the talent surplus to persuade strategic "roster layoffs." Cronin does not.

[Chicat]

It was funny last night when Pasch asked Walton about the Bruins and Walton said “They’re great!” and then Pasch proceeded to laugh in Bill’s face.

[dovecanyoncat]

I liked Caliendo's bit. But I wanted him to say "Is that a Gila Monster playing a Glockenspiel under a Giant Saguaro in the beautiful Sonoran desert?"

[Beachcat97]

It was funny last night when Pasch asked Walton about the Bruins and Walton said “They’re great!” and then Pasch proceeded to laugh in Bill’s face.

Where are they gonna stick Walton now that the "Conference of Champions" is disappearing?

[azgreg]

It was funny last night when Pasch asked Walton about the Bruins and Walton said “They’re great!” and then Pasch proceeded to laugh in Bill’s face.

Where are they gonna stick Walton now that the "Conference of Champions" is disappearing?

He does a bunch of ESPN games.

[MrBug708]

Unless Cronin wants Fibleuil to hit the portal why would a coach say something so careless?

Even if Nick Saban said something like this about specific, underperforming players, it would not be worth coming across like a jerk by airing statements and borderline personal attacks like this to the local media. Big difference is Alabama football has the talent surplus to persuade strategic "roster layoffs." Cronin does not.

The players on the team always seem to love Mick, but eventually it does seem like it will eventually come to an end with guys upset with his demeanor. The only guy who was "unhappy", left because he didn't start over anyone returning from a final four team and he left for the NBA draft.

[dovecanyoncat]

☰
Mick Cronin is holding UCLA back, and that’s a problem for college basketball

The product in Westwood isn’t good enough, and much of the blame can be placed at the feet of the man calling the shots.



https://dknetwork.draftkings.com/2024/1 ... recruiting

[TheCat]

☰
Mick Cronin is holding UCLA back, and that’s a problem for college basketball

The product in Westwood isn’t good enough, and much of the blame can be placed at the feet of the man calling the shots.



https://dknetwork.draftkings.com/2024/1 ... recruiting

That is quite damning. He needs to understand that he needs to set an example for his players. These are college students that need to learn graciousness in winning and losing. Mick is a great defensive coach but he is working himself out of a job by being inflexible.

[TheCat]

Watching the UCLA against Cal. What college player wants to play in a morgue? They have not looked good but the crowd is nowhere to be seen. That has to be depressing to guys and they need a crowds energy.

[dovecanyoncat]

Eventually Mick's kids will learn to play with a stick up their ass.

[dovecanyoncat]

With some improvement The Trollops could be on pace to score 20 in the 1h at Pauley against Cal.

[dovecanyoncat]

If I had to bet I'd bet on the Mickster pullin this one out. But DAMN! this is fuuuuugly basketball.

[84Cat]

Wow, Ucla is going to be tied for last place in the pac

[UAEebs86]

Wow, Ucla is going to be tied for last place in the pac

That's a shame.

[KaibabKat]

Who do you suppose will be the head coach at UCLA next year?

[84Cat]

Who do you suppose will be the head coach at UCLA next year?

Do we care? They'll be in a different league

[MrBug708]

Who do you suppose will be the head coach at UCLA next year?

Mick does look like he wants to be in Louisville next year

[84Cat]

Can't imagine Mick will last much longer if they don't start winning