UCLA Basketball: Mick Cronin Says Bruins Have "No Chance" If Star Player Doesn't Up His Game

The Bruins need their star player to start playing like a star again.

The UCLA Bruins suffered the second-biggest loss in program history after Utah dismantled them with a final score of 90-44. Head coach Mick Cronin had a lot to say about the game, but he also referred to one player in particular. 

Coach Cronin has long criticized Adem Bona for not getting easy baskets, which should be the case considering he is a big body that should be fed the ball in the post. Sadly, Bona has flashes of brilliance, and games like yesterday, where he only managed 4 points. 

Coach Cronin understands how valuable Bona is when he is on top of his game, but he also understands that his star player has seen a dip in performance. 

“We’ve got no chance if we don’t get Adem playing better,” said Cronin.

via 

Ben Bolch, LA Times

It's hard to push back on what Coach Cronin is saying considering the team got blown out by more than double their points. 

When Bona scores double-digits, the Bruins often stay close in the games. In the past three losses, excluding Utah, the Bruins kept the game within 8 points. Bona scored 15, 12, and 14 points in each of those three losses. 

Sadly, he lost a step during last night's game, only managing 4 points in 18 minutes of play. Bona is the de facto leader of the team, and his energy should be what drives the Bruins to a better tempo offensively. 

When Bona is not doing well, the whole team seems not to do well. The hope is the massive loss to Utah can awaken something within this Bruins team. Otherwise, more blowout losses are on the horizon.