Mick Cronin discusses how he's handling Jaylen Clark's injury with NCAA Tournament selection committee
Amid Jaylen Clark’s injury, UCLA head coach Mick Cronin talked about how he handled the situation with the NCAA Tournament committee.
UCLA, without one of its starters, is a projected No. 2 seed in the latest bracketology from ESPN’s Joe Lunardi. Since the Bruins are down a man, it could affect how the seeing committee looks at UCLA as a whole.
Cronin made his feelings clear.
“I addressed Jaylen’s status as clear as I’m legally allowed to,” Cronin said. “If they ask us, I’ll tell them exactly what they want to know. I said that in my press conference, didn’t I? Yeah.”
The Bruins head coach was asked if anyone contacted him regarding the injury.
“No. I would think they would probably contact Martin, to be honest with you,” Cronin said. “I don’t know how much they like me anyway. But, no, yeah, we would be transparent with ’em. But I think that the thing that bothers me is that people feel like — first of all, I have a job and I have a family I would like to keep, so there’s a little thing called HIPAA, okay?
“Second thing is, Amari had an injury, I was consistent. He had a foot injury. He was out. There was no details said about it. Adem started wearing a mask. Did I ever say what happened to him? So kids have rights, they have careers. If they don’t want us to disclose their injury, okay, then that’s their right. And I’m more concerned with doing what’s right for my players than making people in the media happy. So the least of my worries is, you know, is that.”
Cronin did clarify he would share anything and everything with the committee if asked or need be.
“But as far as the Committee, absolutely I would share anything with them,” Cronin said. “But, you know, I think the people think they have a right to know everything is ridiculous. It’s happened already today. Somebody was telling me there’s Twitter saying stuff about Coach Self who I’ve known since I was 20 and I’m praying he’s okay and people are speculating.
“How about giving the guy some privacy with his family. I respect that people got a job to do, but Jaylen Clark has a right to his privacy, guys, and I would hope that people would respect that. All right. Thank you.”
UCLA takes on Arizona in the Pac-12 Championship Game Saturday at 10:30 p.m. ET.