UCLA Basketball: How Mick Cronin Believes Bruins Can Benefit From Spanish Tour

As are we, Mick. As are we.

Hot off their first blowout win of a three-game, 10-day preseason exhibition tour in Spain, an 85-66 defeat of pro club Valencia Basket's junior team, your UCLA Bruins men's basketball team are showing no sign of slowing down.

Speaking ahead of the trip, head coach Mick Cronin reflected on his excitement to check out his revamped (and hopefully revitalized) team. The Bruins will be missing several key players from last year's Sweet Sixteen-finishing squad, most notably wing Jaime Jaquez Jr. and guards Amari Bailey and Jaylen Clark.

UCLA touched down in Madrid last Monday, August 21st, and faced off against the Madrid All-Stars the subsequent night. The Bruins then blew out Valencia Basket on Thursday, the 24th. Their final game will tip off Tuesday, August 29th. Their opponent will be pro club Girona CB near Barcelona.

"It's great for people to learn a different part of the world, a different way of life," said Mick Cronin, who is entering his fifth year as The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach. "I think this trip is going to be great for the guys. I mean, we'd like to play well in each of our games … I do need to learn something about these guys. Our coaching staff, we have so much work to do. And for us defensively, we will be able to figure it out. Defensively, that's the one area a coach can impact the most in college basketball."