UCLA Basketball: Mick Cronin Pinpoints Key Cause Of Stunning Loss To USC Saturday
UCLA Bruins head coach Mick Cronin wasn't a very happy camper once the final buzzer sounded following an upset loss to the rival USC Trojans over the weekend. The Bruins entered the game as the favorites at home but fell flat in the face of competition.
Cronin looked at the practice leading up to the game as a big reason why the Bruins lost. He isn't one to make any excuses and spoke fairly openly about his feelings toward the effort.
“We had our worst week of practice of the season. I failed miserably to get my team ready for the fight that was coming today and I’m thoroughly embarrassed. And I apologize to the people wearing the four letters. Yes, we really struggled making the open shots, but that has nothing to do with all the stuff I talked about. The team that wins the fight usually wins the game. And they won the fight in every way. We were awful.”
He was asked why the team struggled in practice, and Cronin didn't hold back. The veteran head coach mentioned that he believed the team didn't play with any humility and entered the game feeling like they would win.
“Tough to say, if I had that answer, I’d have two championships and already be in Del Mar. It’s tough to say. I will give you, the answer in my opinion, the hungry dog gets the bone. We had no humility, none. It’s not like I’m afraid to coach, either. The stuff that happened yesterday in practice – put guys on the treadmill, yell and scream and run my team the day before you’re playing your rival in front of your biggest crowd of the season – is ridiculous. I should have to calm them down. I’ve been doing this a long time. I can tell when I’m bothering them. We’re not good enough. I mean, most teams aren’t good enough to have that attitude and win. We’re surely nowhere near good enough for that. Not this team.”
The Bruins' inexperience reared its ugly head once again. It's come up in different parts of the season, but in a rivalry game like this, it can be seen as a true cause for concern moving forward.
