120 Replies
SGVBruin94
Mar 23, 5:19 PM
Only reason Hubert Davis and Mick aren’t in the same spot of being replaced this offseason is one was given an extension a year later than the other with much more favorable buyout terms for the coach
norcalfiend
Mar 23, 5:19 PM
It's hard to see Cronin not getting another year if UCLA reaches the Sweet 16 next year especially if UCLA can be relevant during the season and ranked much of the year (which it has not since Jacquez). While I do not expect Cronin to turn this around based on his overall career record, his recent results, and similar stretches from other coaches, as a UCLA fan I will root for the team and him to do so.
This off-season once the portal opens will be interesting - I would think UCLA will need to land a big fish or two for some optimism.
PHS1
Mar 23, 5:23 PM
Well done.
If BROs take it as a report rather than an editorial then they will know exactly where the UCLA men’s basketball program stands.
gjt1248
Mar 23, 5:27 PM
all things equal, firing cronin this offseason would
be the preferable choice.
all in all he will have gotten more life than he deserved at UCLA. can he pay it forward and actually return to peak form next season? i have my doubts
PavlovsBear
Mar 23, 5:27 PM
Tracy Pierson said:The "really overachieve" bar reminds me so much of Howland's last year. We won the conference and he got canned. What this basically means is the coach is done but we are waiting a year to fire him.
SGVBruin94
Mar 23, 5:30 PM
gjt1248 said:Yes looking at a lame duck season next year due to the extension. Hope the boosters give NIL such that it looks competitive to the next guy and that next season isn’t a total slogall things equal, firing cronin this offseason would be the preferable choice. all in all he will have gotten more life than he deserved at UCLA. can he pay it forward and actually return to peak form next season? i have my doubts
bandit07
Mar 23, 5:34 PM
Exceptional article. Cronin needs to show next year that the program is trending up, not simply a few inspired wins toward the end of the season. We need to know the program is on a solid foundation, and right now it's a mess.
rcbruin
Mar 23, 5:35 PM
Seems like the beginning of the end of Cronin at UCLA.
To meet the standards presented, Mick needs to do things that he has shown no ability to do:
1. His evaluations have been terrible and now he needs to be perfect. His guys have had glaring flaws that were obvious from the moment their names appeared as potential players.
2. He needs to win big and make it past the sweet 16 but has been unable to do that with “his guys” (see point one above)
3. Even if he finds a way and hits on most of his transfers, his blind spots for his players has hindered the ceiling of his teams (lack of use of Myles Johnson, running the offense through Adem, Dailey at the 3).
so in this stage of his tenure, he needs to beat back all the historical trends and precedents. Not a recipe for success.
This is just how I read the room.
2774AE
Mar 23, 5:35 PM
Does our ideal profile of recruit even exist at a volume where we can sustainably recruit and win via Cronin's philosophy, year after year?
1) Committed to Cronin's defense + 2) athletic enough to do so.
Uber-athletic recruits will most certainly prefer to display that via offense. Defense-first but not athletic = the same deficiencies we have today.
How many eligible recruits does the combo of 1+2 leave us, and why would they come to UCLA?
SGVBruin94
Mar 23, 5:36 PM
rcbruin said:Running the offense through Adem? What are you referencing here? During the Euro season? Was there another option given how poorly constructed that roster was?Seems like the beginning of the end of Cronin at UCLA. To meet the standards presented, Mick needs to do things that he has shown no ability to do: 1. His evaluations have been terrible and now he needs to be perfect. His guys have had glaring flaws that were obvious from the moment their names appeared as potential players. 2. He needs to win big and make it past the sweet 16 but has been unable to do that with “his guys” (see point one above) 3. Even if he finds a way and hits on most of his transfers, his blind spots for his players has hindered the ceiling of his teams (lack of use of Myles Johnson, running the offense through Adem, Dailey at the 3). so in this stage of his tenure, he needs to beat back all the historical trends and precedents. Not a recipe for success. This is just how I read the room.
Mr_Lingcod
Mar 23, 5:36 PM
Can we expect much news before the portal opens? Seems like much is happening behind the scenes, maybe a decision to transfer out of UCLA, but likely no new public news pre-April 7th, right?
Speedii
Mar 23, 5:38 PM
Always a year too late. We know what Cronin is, let’s turn the page and move on.
We are a blue blood after all, let’s start acting like one.
stangadzuric
Mar 23, 5:43 PM
This is an excellent piece, Tracy. Thank you.
TBH, I'm not personally convinced that UCLA would fire Cronin this offseason even without the extension. It's a barrier, to be sure, but this is UCLA. We always let coaches zombie-shuffle forward in the job for one to three seasons after their failure has become clear.
JMBruin
Mar 23, 5:43 PM
So, basically the hope for next year is that a coach with a history of stubbornness and arrogance and a 25 year old GM - who while connected in the right circles also has no experience building rosters at the high D1 level - are going to agree on, recruit and sign a group of transfers to transform a roster on a 3 year run of mediocrity. Oh, and this new roster will likely need an infusion of about 30-40% more NIL than we've had in the past. Hopes are high with me, expectations not so much.
AuggieWest
Mar 23, 5:46 PM
cronin wants guys to come in for several years and be developed. the portal is not going to be the panacea for what ails this team because, if he needs to prove it or lose it next season, he needs ready made guys, not guys who won’t be good enough next season.
Bigskybruin
Mar 23, 5:46 PM
Great article. UCLA should be performing at a much higher level than it has the last three years. I was going to say more in this post about Mick, but I decided to just let it be as I let my thoughts be known after the Michigan St. debacle toward the end of the regular season.
ddriese97
Mar 23, 5:47 PM
I thought we were primed for a deep run after the Big10 tourney. I liked the small ball lineup with Bilo at the 5 and Dailey at the 4. But Bilo never came back and the wheels came off.
We can't lose so many conference games in January and February before we hit our stride. We needed the triple bye in Chicago for health reasons, and top 4 seed in the West. The hole was too deep. Now... putting my hope in Max Feldman!
LittleTokyoBruin
Mar 23, 5:55 PM
TP, in light of CMC's quip to Ben that he needs $5M more, is there any possibility that the donor base gives it to him? I ask because if the buyout which is much more substantial than $5M and would need to come from donors anyhow, instead give him the $5M more he says he needs and "take the excuse away from him" if he's unable to achieve success next year? That was the first thought that popped in my head after his comment in that post game presser.
Disregard if another BRO already asked in another thread. Thanks.
rcbruin
Mar 23, 5:58 PM
SGVBruin94 said:Broader point was A roster should have never been constructed where that was the only option.Running the offense through Adem? What are you referencing here? During the Euro season? Was there another option given how poorly constructed that roster was?
Tracy Pierson
Mar 23, 6:00 PM
LittleTokyoBruin said:Sure, there's always a possibility some donors could step up and donate more.TP, in light of CMC's quip to Ben that he needs $5M more, is there any possibility that the donor base gives it to him? I ask because if the buyout which is much more substantial than $5M and would need to come from donors anyhow, instead give him the $5M more he says he needs and "take the excuse away from him" if he's unable to achieve success next year? That was the first thought that popped in my head after his comment in that post game presser. Disregard if another BRO already asked in another thread. Thanks.
Tracy Pierson
Mar 23, 6:01 PM
Mr_Lingcod said:Sure, you can expect some news. I expect Cronin to have meetings with the players this week. And like I did last week with a story about potential transfers UCLA could get involved with, there could be more trickling out before the window actually opens.Can we expect much news before the portal opens? Seems like much is happening behind the scenes, maybe a decision to transfer out of UCLA, but likely no new public news pre-April 7th, right?
Davideski
Mar 23, 6:15 PM
Tracy Pierson said:rumor is Trent Perry looking to leave and go to a team with better chance to win the nattySure, you can expect some news. I expect Cronin to have meetings with the players this week. And like I did last week with a story about potential transfers UCLA could get involved with, there could be more trickling out before the window actually opens.
Ucla2020
Mar 23, 6:19 PM
PavlovsBear said:Really, if he doesn't have a great 8 finish or win the Conference with an elite regular season, it will be time to move on. The seat can't get much hotter. The amount of money involved keeps him around for next season, Thanks Jarmond.The "really overachieve" bar reminds me so much of Howland's last year. We won the conference and he got canned. What this basically means is the coach is done but we are waiting a year to fire him.
AuggieWest
Mar 23, 6:21 PM
so, just to be clear, we got all the returning guys on a discount and there still wasn’t enough left over to get better players?
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