UCLA Basketball: Mick Cronin Picks Apart 2 Huge Problems In Loss To USC
On Saturday, your scrappy-if-offensively-challenged 14-13 UCLA Bruins (9-7 in the Pac-12) suffered a stunning upset defeat, 62-56, against the lowly (11-16, 5-11 in the Pac-12) USC Trojans.
Even days later, longtime Bruins head coach Mick Cronin was still process the defeat, as he laid out in a midweek presser.
Cronin specifically outlined two major factors behind the loss, in his view: three-point shooting issues and ball control in passing. The full video clip is viewable below:
“Our passing was terrible against USC," Cronin said. "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.”
USC fifth-year senior guard Boogie Ellis led the way for both teams, scoring 24 points on 9-of-18 shooting from the floor (3-of-7 from long range) and 3-of-7 shooting from the foul line, while also pulling down five rebounds and dishing out two dimes.
Four Bruins finished scoring in double figures, compared to USC's three. Sophomore starting center Adem Bona finished with 14 points on 5-of-5 field goal shooting and three rebounds, freshman guard Sebastian Mack scored 12 points on 3-of-10 shooting from the floor and 5-of-6 shooting from the foul line, plus four rebounds, two assists and a steal, while junior wing Lazar Stefanovic and freshman center Aday Mara each scored 10 points apiece.
