UCLA Basketball: Mick Cronin Increasingly More Frustrated With Bruins Star

Does he have a point?

UCLA Bruins men's basketball head coach Mick Cronin appears to be losing his patience with his best player, sophomore power forward Adem Bona.

Most recently, Bona scored 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds in UCLA's 65-56 loss Friday against the Villanova Wildcats, which dropped the club to a 5-3 record on the young 2023-24 season. 

The 6'10" big man's numbers have been fairly modest all year. Across the Bruins' eight contests, he's averaging 13.1 points on 58.6% shooting from the floor, 6.4 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 0.9 assists. Fans had expected the Pac-12 All-Defensive Teamer and Pac-12 All-Freshman Team inclusion to take a big leap forward.

They're not alone, evidently.

Cronin recently spoke of his grievances at length, writes Ben Bolch of The Los Angeles Times.

“If he wants to be who he needs to be, he’s got to get some games with 12 and 15 rebounds — he’s got to go get the ball, man,” Cronin said of Bona. “[He had] multiple chances to be a dominant rebounder and we’re not going to win until that happens; we’re too young everywhere else. He’s got to be an all-league player for us, so I’ve got to figure it out, I’ve got to get him there, I’ve got to get that out of him.”

After the game, Bona himself also appeared upset that he had failed to secure double-digit rebounds.

His next shot at redemption will arrive next Saturday, December 16th, in a matinee against the 8-2 Ohio State Buckeyes.

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