UCLA Basketball: Mick Cronin Previews Bruins Debut Of 4-Star Prospect Monday

The time has come for Mick Cronin and the UCLA Bruins to unleash their secret weapon.

We're talking about a 6'9" multi-faceted forward out of Turkey by the name of Berke Buyuktuncel.

Buyuktuncel recently got word that he'd be eligible to play in the Maui Invitational after missing UCLA's first three non-conference games. Projected to be a major piece to the rotation -- if not the eventual starter at the four-spot -- Buyuktuncel's arrival to the team will be a welcomed sight for Cronin.

Mick Cronin on the arrival of Berke Buyuktuncel for Monday’s @MauiInv opener for @UCLAMBB against @MarquetteMBB. @MarchMadnessMBB #mauihoops: pic.twitter.com/W6UjocQ5dk
— Andy Katz (@TheAndyKatz) November 19, 2023

In speaking with reporter Andy Katz live from Honolulu, Cronin broke down the situation with Buyuktuncel ahead of Monday night's test versus No. 4 Marquette. He had the following to say (per the clip above):

"Well, I'm sure he's going to be a nervous wreck Monday," Cronin said. "He hasn't played in a long time. For us, it's the beginning of a journey, and it is for him as well. He gives us versatility on the front line. We really don't have a stretch four-man other than him, so we've been playing with two centers a lot of the time. And we can move him to the three and play extremely big if we'd like to as well. But he's going to be a big factor for us here as time goes. I just gotta try to make it simple for him in his first game."

Monday's game will be the first true test for UCLA. With respect to its first three opponents, the Golden Eagles aren't the cupcake UCLA has been feasting on the last couple of weeks.

When nothing else worked, Berke Buyuktuncel did.

📊 26 PTS | 8 REB | 1 STL | 🇹🇷 55-52 🇮🇹 | #FIBAU20Europe pic.twitter.com/AyYMkYSL72
— NextGen Hoops (@NextGenHoops) July 10, 2023

Shaka Smart returns much of his team from a year ago, including fantastic guard Tyler Kolek. UCLA is going to have its full roster for the first time this season. Buyuktuncel should help the Bruins up front with his ability to be a rugged defender, as well as a floor spacer.

While many are pegging Marquette to win, Cronin is attempting to slow things down for his young team with such a monumental challenge ahead of them:

"The best thing about this field is it's the best field in Maui ever," Cronin continued. "We're just trying to get better. That's the beauty of college basketball, that you can challenge yourself early. You need games like this to grow. You're not gonna grow against teams that aren't capable of beating you. It's tough. I'm going to have to show my patience and be in grow-as-you-go mode. It's my job to try to make it simple for them and easy for them. We're just going to have to try and keep it simple versus Marquette."

UCLA will square off versus Marquette on Monday evening, at 8:30 p.m. CT, on ESPN2.

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