UCLA Basketball: Mick Cronin Explains Petty Reason For Demoting Sebastian Mack In CSUN Loss

Mick Cronin is not messing around.

The UCLA Bruins have not been the team that everyone expected them to be, as they dropped another close game, this time to CSUN with a final score of 76-72. One of the biggest reasons the team could be struggling might be related to discipline, which Mick Cronin has made sure to remind everyone how important it is. 

Sebastian Mack was demoted from being a starter for the game after he was reportedly late for something. 

Mick Cronin said Sebastian Mack didn't start because he was late for something.

— Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) December 20, 2023

There have been many postgame interviews with Cronin about how the team needs to return to their toughness. That was likely what he meant for himself as head coach too. 

We are unsure what Mack was late for, but this sort of thing cannot be tolerated. The Bruins need to find a way to pull themselves out of the rut they are currently in, but that will need focus from every single player. 

Should any player slack off, they will be reprimanded. Demoting Mack was likely what Cronin needed to do to remind everyone of accountability. Despite his demotion, Mack pulled in 27 points for the game. 

The hope is that the team can use this demotion as a reminder that they need to be held to a higher standard, which means finding ways to tough out wins. The Bruins have dropped a few close games in a row, and things will begin to get even more frustrating. 

Hopefully, they can bounce back when they take on Maryland tomorrow evening.