Mick Cronin labels conference tournament games 'glorified reality TV'

The UCLA Bruins were quickly knocked out of the Big Ten Tournament this season, losing their first game despite earning a double bye. However, for head coach Mick Cronin, conference tournaments can be reduced to reality TV. Instead, his focus is now on the NCAA Tournament.

Throughout the season, Cronin has put emphasis on the NCAA Tournament over the Big Ten Tournament. He’s now excited to turn the page to the next challenge, and thinks his team is in a good position to make some noise this March.

“I thought we were in a really good place to end the season,” Mick Cronin said. “Then we played the Boston Celtics the other day, who were 7-39 from three today. But what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. It’s just a good example for us to learn that you’ve got to come out tight on the gameplan and in adherence to the game plan. You can’t let another team get started to their strengths, because you start a snowball rolling downhill and it picks up steam.”

In the Big Ten Tournament, UCLA ran into a talented Wisconsin team. The Badgers scored 48 first half points. That included making 19 of 32 three-point shots, which as Cronin noted they weren’t able to continue to do in their later conference tournament game against Michigan. It was a tough final game, but it also gave the Bruins a break ahead of the NCAA Tournament.

For Cronin, getting that break ahead of the NCAA Tournament is massive. After all, that’s the tournament he emphasizes as being important over the Big Ten Tournament.

“We’re healthy,” Cronin said. “I think that’s the biggest key. We have three practices before we play Thursday, but we’re healthy. I do think it helps that we got home and we didn’t play today or Saturday. I think if you’ve learned anything from this stuff, the conference tournament, other than the automatic bids and maybe some bubble games, they don’t matter. They’re glorified reality TV for money.”

This isn’t a new sentiment for Mick Cronin. Prior to the beginning of the Big Ten Tournament, he was highly critical of it. Again, in that instance, he emphasized the value of the NCAA Tournament over it.

“I’m not a big believer in conference tournaments… My concern is get better and try to get to March healthy and fresh. So, the cumulative effect of the travel is what concerns me. So, we’ve tried to handle it in a way. It’s why we took two days off this week. We’re gonna take the next two days off. We’ve got to make sure these guys are fresh when the Big Dance starts,” Cronin previously said. “Because around here, man, they ain’t gonna hang no banner if we win the Big Ten Tournament. Do you think they’re gonna hang a banner if we win the Big Ten Tournament? A little small one in our practice gym. It ain’t going in Pauley [Pavilion]. You don’t win the national championship around here, they don’t hang the banner out there.”

Mick Cronin and UCLA will begin their NCAA Tournament run on Thursday when they begin the NCAA Tournament against Utah State. There, the Bruins are a seven seed, looking to make a deep run this March.