UCLA Basketball: Mick Cronin "Disappointed" With Huge Element of Bruins Loss to Trojans
Your UCLA Bruins men's basketball squad disappointingly lost to USC on Saturday night. The Bruins had the opportunity to sweep the Trojans, but instead fell 62-56 to their rivals.
On their own homecourt at Pauley Pavilion, the Bruins were upset by USC, a team that has been struggling for much of the 2023-2024 season.
Mick Cronin broke down several of the Bruins' struggles throughout the game, many of which occurred on offense, per UCLA Communications.
“Our passing was terrible against USC," Cronin said in his postgame presser. "We should have had way more open shots that we did. We had 15 turnovers, and I can’t re-live it, but it was really bad. That’s why I was so upset and so disappointed.”
Cronin narrowed down their primary struggles to turnovers, passing and shooting against USC. UCLA committed 15 turnovers, almost four more than their average of 11.2 per game.
Beyond the turnovers, a lack of assists did not help UCLA either. The Bruins had just nine against USC. UCLA also had far from their best shooting day. The Bruins shot just 33.3% from the field and 21.1% of their three-point attempts. This is compared to USC, who shot 44% from the field and 44.4% of their three-point attempts.
Also of these combined resulted in UCLA shooting just 56 points. The Bruins have now gone four straight games without scoring 70 points or more, with two of them resulting in losses.
UCLA has now lost their last two games, and dropped to 14-13. Cronin will have to correct these issues quick, as they prepare to face Washington this Thursday.
