UCLA Basketball: This Year's Bruins Pale In Comparison To Last Young Team, Says Mick Cronin

Cronin isn't a fan of the comparisons.

The UCLA Bruins men's basketball team has started to play a little better of late, winning three of their last four games. The only loss came on the road against a tough Arizona squad, and it took a collapse from UCLA to drop the game.

The Bruins are a very young team, that's full of inexperience. That inexperience has shown itself multiple times throughout the season, but they also have been able to show maturity as the year has gone along.

Credit goes to the coaching staff, including head coach Mick Cronin. He has helped keep this team together, and it's just another challenge for him.

Cronin was asked how this team compares to his young UCLA team from the 2019-2020 season, and he didn't hold back his thoughts.

“That team was bigger and stronger and older. Because even Jalen [Hill] and Cody [Riley], they were older because they had to sit that one year. So, they were a little more physical. But, look, we lost our five leading scorers from last year and replaced them Lazar Stefanovic. We’re figuring it out. I’ve been telling the guys that cover us the most, we got great kids on the team, so they listen and they try. It’s my job to get them in position to have success. The staff can continue to try to make adjustments.”

Per Mick Cronin via UCLA Communications

One thing about Cronin is that he is never afraid to speak his mind. He didn't hold back about how this team isn't on that level, at least not yet.

The Bruins are continuing to work this season and are playing well at the right time. If they can continue this little hot streak, it could serve them well for when the Pac-12 and NCAA tournaments come along.