UCLA Basketball: Mick Cronin Speaks on Future With Bruins Amid Rocky Season
UCLA Bruins head coach Mick Cronin has been with the team since 2019. In these past years, he has secured a 107-46 record, which includes the ongoing season.
In the five seasons with the team, he has taken the Bruins to three NCAA tournament appearances, and a final four appearance in the 2020 season. His resume speaks for itself, so it stands to reason his frustration with the current season being understood.
Cronin also understands that coaching teams are not a forever deal unless success is achieved. This is the first season that his lead of the Bruins has not been fruitful, as UCLA currently sits at 8-10. The inexperience on the team has caused many issues, including their tumultuous start.
Despite the rocky season, Cronin has spoken about his future with the team.
“I love UCLA, trust me,” Cronin told The Times. “I want it to be my last job. No matter what anybody says — I’ve heard stuff — I’m the coach at freaking UCLA. Like, come on, man. … To [predecessor] Ben Howland and me, we’ve sat in John Wooden’s chair. Come on, man. So I don’t want that narrative out there.”
The narrative that Cronin might have heard could be that he will be on his way out should he not find a way to get the Bruins to rebound their failing season.
It would be strange for UCLA to dump Cronin after one losing season, but sometimes that is the nature of sports.
The Bruins recently were blown out by Utah with a score of 90-44, which was the second-worst loss in program history. Having such a blemish on your record is never good, and Cronin knows that.
However, he has not shied away from being self-aware and critical of his current team. He understands that they have had to deal with multiple inexperienced starters. The Bruins have recently been showing more life, as they are on a two-game win streak.
The team has not strung multiple wins together since the beginning of the season. Cronin stated that winning one or two won't mean anything if the team doesn't fight harder.
The Bruins' last game was a bit of proof of the toughness that Cronin has been preaching. They came back from a 15-point deficit to take down Arizona State.
We will have to wait and see what the plan for Cronin is after the season concludes, but moving on after this rough season sounds a bit dramatic. Even if he has heard the rumors he could be relieved of his duties, they are only rumors right now.
