UCLA Basketball: Mick Cronin Struggles To Explain Bruins' Struggles Vs Villanova

UCLA fell apart late.

Although your UCLA Bruins women's basketball program is currently reigning supreme this season, having gone 9-0 to kick off its 2023-24 campaign as the No. 2-ranked club in the country.

Things haven't been quite so smooth for the men's side of the bracket.

This past Saturday, the now 5-4 Bruins dropped a fairly winnable bout, 65-56, to the 8-4 Villanova Wildcats.

When asked about his preparation (or, perhaps, his lack thereof), fifth-year head coach Mick Cronin got a bit defensive, as you can see in this quote captured by UCLA Communications.

“Look guys, if you don’t think we told them number one [Villanova sophomore guard Brendan Hausen] can shoot, you’re crazy," Cronin said. "I’m dealing with young kids. My veteran guy is a transfer [ex-Utah Utes wing Lazar Stefanovic, a junior]. My only transfer. There’s a great point for you. You can know your opponent you want as a coach, you’ve got to be able to get your guys to do it. We can’t have that kind of breakdown letting him shoot two open shots late in the game like that. If you do, you should lose. Even if he had missed them, we deserve to lose for letting him shoot, in my opinion. We got exactly what we deserve. I don’t know about the past and all of that. We scout everybody.”

UCLA and Cronin will get their next shot at redemption this coming Saturday, when the club will face off against the Ohio State Buckeyes during a noon matinee. 

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