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Mick Cronin addresses UCLA's sense of urgency for Sweet 16

On3-Social-Profile_GRAYby:On3 Staff Report•03/21/23
Jaime Jaquez, UCLA Bruins guard
UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. dribbles down the floor in a game on March 18, 2023. (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)

After getting by UNC Asheville and Northwestern and reaching the Sweet Sixteen, there’s no need for UCLA coach Mick Cronin to push too many buttons with his team. UCLA’s sense of urgency has been just fine so far.

As Cronin explains, if you need extra motivation this time of year you’re in the wrong business. Everything to this point has been leading to one simple equation.

“Everything we do is to try to get to the point where we can win six in March,” Cronin said. “We’ve won two. Now three’s on Thursday.”

The recipe for success is pretty straightforward. The next part of the path to a potential national title goes through Gonzaga in a game that will tip off on Thursday at 9:45 p.m. ET on CBS.

Cronin doesn’t anticipate any difficulty getting his guys ready to play at a high level.

“If you’re not ready to play now, we need to check you into Ronald Reagan (Hospital), check your heartbeat,” Cronin said. “This is what it’s all about. We’re four games from hanging a 12th banner, that’s how we look at it. That’s how we talk about it.”

UCLA veterans able to provide sense of urgency

The one thing that Cronin did note was that he’s got enough veterans on his team that he’s capable of turning things over to them and letting the guys know what’s at stake.

For veterans who are in their final season this is it.

UCLA has more than a few of them, with Jaime Jaquez Jr., Tyger Campbell and David Singleton the three that Cronin singled out as keeping the team right where it needs to be.

“Man, I don’t know why you would come here if you’re not ready to play on Thursday night,” Cronin said. “We’ve got veterans on the team, that’s my advantage. We’ve got guys, they know this is their last time doing it. Tyger, Jaime, David. So they’re definitely bringing a sense of urgency to the young guys.”

The Bruins are looking to further their NCAA Tournament success under Cronin.

Last year the squad reached the Sweet 16 before falling to North Carolina. The previous year the team reached the Final Four.

This UCLA team is certainly capable of another Final Four run if things break the right way.