LOS ANGELES — Mick Cronin, the head coach of the UCLA men’s basketball team, was left speechless after Saturday night’s loss. Instead of addressing reporters himself, Cronin sent assistant Rod Palmer to speak on his behalf. The Bruins suffered a crushing defeat at Pauley Pavilion, losing to a struggling opponent that had only won one game in the past five weeks and had a 19-game losing streak in Pac-12 games. This loss is a new low for UCLA, compounding their already bleak season.
Despite trying different strategies such as changing the point guard rotation and giving more minutes to lesser-used players, the Bruins could not reverse their fortunes. The team has now lost four consecutive home games, a feat that has not happened since the 2002-03 season. Additionally, this is the first time in over a decade that the Golden Bears have emerged victorious inside Pauley Pavilion. The Bruins’ season has taken a frustrating turn, with seven losses in their last eight games, putting them at risk of falling from first to worst in the conference standings after dominating the Pac-12 last season.
Cronin’s frustration was evident in his decision to skip his postgame interviews and radio appearance. Assistant coach Rod Palmer revealed that Cronin was still addressing the team and did not want to keep the reporters waiting. Palmer reiterated that the message from Cronin to the players remained the same: they need to play harder and do things differently to achieve different results. However, despite the coaching staff’s efforts, UCLA continues to struggle.
The struggles can be attributed to the team’s wholesale roster turnover, with seven freshmen playing significant roles alongside top returning players Adem Bona and Dylan Andrews. Cronin, in an attempt to change their fortunes, decided to promote Sebastian Mack to the primary point guard position, hoping to relieve Andrews from his recent slump. However, this decision did not lead to improvement. The Bruins got off to a slow start, missing their first five shots and committing turnovers, ultimately trailing by as many as 14 points in the second half.
As the game progressed, it became clear that UCLA’s offensive struggles and poor rebounding were major factors in their defeat. The Bruins failed to find their rhythm from beyond the arc, making only two of ten three-point attempts. Meanwhile, Cal’s Jaylon Tyson stepped up with an impressive performance, scoring 22 points on nine-for-12 shooting. The result is questionable as to whether it can be considered the Golden Bears’ best win of the season.
UCLA’s season continues to be marred by inconsistency and poor performances. Cronin, frustrated with his team’s performance, has put pressure on the players, emphasizing the need to toughen up. With the possibility of significant changes to the roster next season, the Bruins need to find a way to turn their season around before it’s too late.
In summary, UCLA’s men’s basketball team suffered a damaging loss to Cal, sinking to new depths this season. Coach Mick Cronin’s attempts to change the team’s fortunes have yet to yield positive results. With a string of losses and a roster in transition, the Bruins face an uphill battle to salvage their season and avoid falling further in the conference standings.