Mick Cronin fires another shot at NCAA over travel accommodations for UCLA on long trips

Mick Cronin hasn’t been much of a fan of traveling this season, UCLA‘s first apart of the new coast-to-coast Big Ten Conference. And the Bruins coach’s opinion has only intensified in the NCAA Tournament.

During a Thursday interview with Colin Cowherd on FS1’s The Herd, Cronin directed his ire at the NCAA for less-than first class service on UCLA’s return flight to Los Angeles after the Bruins’ 67-58 loss to second-seeded Tennessee on Saturday in the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 32.

“I said it — I did the pregame show with your guys here for Duke–Illinois, and I said I thought Florida was the best team back then. Very few — they played four centers. They just beat you to death,” Cronin told Cowherd in response to a question about top-seeded Florida. “Now, somehow — we were on the plane, so you know, it’s not like we had — with the NCAA buying the plane, it’s not like we were watching the UConn–Florida game. You know, it’s all I could do to get a bag of pretzels.”

Cowherd then suggested Cronin should utilize FuboTV. To that, the UCLA coach shot back with another zinger aimed at the NCAA’s travel amenities.

“You got to have internet. You know?” Cronin said. “I mean, but look, we can’t get a seat that reclines.”

Of course, it’s not the first time Cronin has complained about his team’s travel accommodations. It’s just one of many this year.

Mick Cronin fires back at reporter for asking about next year after UCLA loss to Tennessee

The UCLA Bruins got bounced from the 2025 NCAA Tournament with Saturday’s Round of 32 loss to the Tennessee Volunteers. It was a hard-fought game, one Cronin wasn’t over yet by the time he was speaking to media afterwards.

One reporter asked Cronin about next year, preferencing the question by acknowledging that it was “probably way too early” to start thinking about next season. At that point, Cronin cut him off. He wanted to stop from looking at the future in the moment.

“Then don’t ask,” Mick Cronin said. “Then don’t ask.”

Despite that, the reporter managed to finish his question, wondering when Cronin will begin looking forward. However, Cronin fired back at him, explaining exactly why he didn’t want to look ahead at next season in the immediate wake of the loss.

“Right now, guys, it’s 12:40 a.m. and our season just ended. That’s it. You’re gonna ask me about next year? Right now, my biggest concern is how bad the seats are on the Allegiant flight,” Cronin said. “On that terrible plane that we’re gonna have to fly home tomorrow. The cheese. The plane version of the cheese. … And is there any chance that Doug got me some hot food because I don’t eat on gameday, that I got something edible? Not next year. Not right now, guys.”

— On3’s Dan Morrison contributed to this report.