UCLA men’s basketball coach Mick Cronin didn’t hold back after the Bruins’ tough loss to the Tennessee Volunteers. In a game that saw UCLA struggle offensively and fail to capitalize on key moments, Cronin pointed to a pivotal moment that could have changed the outcome.
“If that wouldn’t have happened, we might have had a lead at half,” Cronin said, though he didn’t specify exactly what incident he was referring to. However, given UCLA’s first-half struggles, it’s likely he was talking about costly turnovers, missed opportunities, or defensive lapses that allowed Tennessee to gain momentum.
The Bruins started strong but couldn’t maintain consistency, falling behind as Tennessee’s defense tightened. UCLA’s shooting woes were evident, and their inability to get stops in crucial moments hurt their chances. By halftime, Tennessee had a slight edge, and from there, they never looked back.
Cronin has never been one to sugarcoat his team’s performance. He emphasized that UCLA needs to execute better, particularly against high-level opponents like Tennessee. The loss serves as a wake-up call for the Bruins, who are still trying to find their identity this season.
Despite the setback, Cronin remains focused on improvement. “We’ve got to be tougher, smarter, and more disciplined,” he said. With conference play approaching, UCLA will need to address its weaknesses quickly if they hope to compete at a high level.
For now, the Bruins will have to regroup and learn from their mistakes. As Cronin put it, the key moving forward is making sure those missed opportunities don’t define thei
r season.
‘
