UCLA Players Respond to Challenges from Mick Cronin and Each Other
Cronin’s Challenges Spark Response from Players
Public image be damned, UCLA men’s basketball coach Mick Cronin has never been shy about blatantly challenging his teams. He’s done it on two occasions with this year’s group, hoping to incite a response from his players.
When he called them soft and delusional after a 94-75 loss to Michigan on Jan. 7, he received flak from national media, notably ESPN’s Jay Bilas. His players met that message with a string of desperate play as a four-game losing streak ensued.
Players Take Responsibility
Then, following that fourth loss, a 75-68 defeat to Rutgers on Jan. 13, he called out their personalities.
"They’re good kids," Cronin told reporters before a practice on Jan. 16. "It can’t just be okay. It can’t be okay in the locker room. It can’t just be me.
"At some point, you gotta have some players that say enough is enough."
Individually, players started to look at themselves in the mirror. But in those mirrors stood their teammates because they realized, whether they were a transfer or a returner, they each shared a common theme.
"All of us came from places, or been in places where we have lost," sophomore Sebastian Mack said. "We didn’t want that feeling anymore, so we tried to pack in as a unit, regardless of the coaches, just talk amongst each other, and then just figure it out."
From Challenging Losses to Consecutive Wins
Behind that bond, UCLA (15-6 overall, 6-4 Big Ten) flipped its season. The Bruins have answered their four-game losing streak with four consecutive wins, the latest an 82-76 victory over crosstown rival USC (12-8, 4-5) on Monday night at the Galen Center.
Beyond Cronin’s words, it took players drawing a line between cordial personal relationships off the court and competitive connections in practice and games. Understanding nothing inside those 94-feet was personal and that those two atmospheres shouldn’t conflate with one another.
Cronin’s 2024 Transfer Class
When Cronin went about building his 2024 transfer class, the win-loss records of a player’s previous team weren’t a dealbreaker.
"I tried to go out in the portal and get some tough dudes," Cronin said on Dec. 28.
Skyy Clark came from an 8-24 Louisville team, Eric Dailey Jr. came from a 12-20 Oklahoma State team, Tyler Bilodeau came from a 13-19 Oregon State team, and Kobe Johnson came from a 15-18 USC team.
From Losing to Winning
Then there were the returning players, Dylan Andrews, Lazar Stefanovic, Sebastian Mack, and Aday Mara, each key components of a 16-17 UCLA team, the program’s first losing season in 10 years.
Despite those poor numerical results, Cronin felt he had identified transfers, he said on Jan. 2, who cared about winning. They all might have lost games on their previous teams, but short-term situations don’t simply define who players are.
It Takes Time to Build Habits
"It takes time to build habits," Cronin said on Jan. 23. "Defense, attention to detail, shot selection, taking care of the ball, rebounding, like those are the things that determine victory. Not talent."
Consequence of Cronin’s Words
But, as the losses piled up in early January, Cronin’s words rang loud and the players’ didn’t. He called out their physicality level, their demeanors. It was Cronin who got ejected against Maryland as he tried to inspire his team.
A coach’s words can only go so far. Only did the Bruins season start to change course when the players took action. Notably, Sebastian Mack, Kobe Johnson, and Eric Dailey Jr. took responsibility, rising as vocal leaders.
Conclusion
UCLA players have responded to challenges from Mick Cronin and each other, flipping their season. By drawing a line between personal relationships and competitive connections, they’ve built a winning streak and a culture of accountability. As Cronin praised their growth, he also acknowledged the importance of their collective effort.
FAQs
- What prompted UCLA players to respond to challenges from Mick Cronin and each other?
- Cronin’s blunt comments on their performance, including calling them soft and delusional, and their subsequent losses.
- What was the turning point in the Bruins’ season?
- The loss to Rutgers, after which Cronin called out their personalities, marked a shift in the team’s dynamics, with players taking responsibility and becoming more vocal leaders.
- Who are some key players in UCLA’s 2024 transfer class?
- Skyy Clark, Eric Dailey Jr., Tyler Bilodeau, and Kobe Johnson are some of the notable transfers who have contributed to the team’s turnaround.
