Mick Cronin reveals his reaction to UCLA earning a No. 2 seed

The UCLA Bruins are the No. 2 seed in the West Region of the 2023 NCAA Tournament. It’s a major accomplishment for Mick Cronin’s team as they look to keep their successful season going on into March. Even so, Cronin made sure to remind everyone that, at the end of the day, a seed is just a number.

Cronin spoke about UCLA’s seeding during media availability on Selection Sunday. Considering what the Bruins did in 2021 as a No. 11 seed, he knows it doesn’t actually matter. As of now, the only excitement it brings him is the fact that his players will get to have their loved ones present considering their path’s proximity to Los Angeles.

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“I got three guys sitting next to me that went to the Final Four as a No. 11 seed. So we’re well aware that it’s only a number,” Cronin said.

“Now, for our players? A majority of our team is from the West coast. So, for our players and their families, it’s a special time in their life,” said Cronin. “Obviously, we’re happy that their families are going to be able to get to games. That’s how I look at it.”

UCLA enters this NCAA Tournament with a 29-5 record. They won the Pac-12’s regular season but were arguably held back last week in their loss in the conference tournament due to key injuries to Jaylen Clark and Adem Bona. Now, their hope is that they can just be as healthy as possible heading into the big dance this week.

You work all season long to jockey for a spot as a high seed in the NCAA Tournament. Now that they have it, though, Cronin thinks it will have little to no impact on what UCLA can accomplish. That’s entirely up to his players and how they perform starting on Thursday night in Sacramento against UNC Asheville.