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UCLA

Mick Cronin speaks on his consistent success in March

IMG_6598by:Nick Kosko•03/21/23•

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(Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)

UCLA took down Northwestern late in the Round of 32 and it was a typical Mick Cronin team performance. The Bruins were consistent down the stretch and made the Sweet 16 once again.

Just another day in March for UCLA basketball. It was the third consecutive season under Cronin the Bruins won at least two games in March Madness.

Cronin was asked how his teams always step up to the challenge.

“Well, look, I was fortunate, I worked for two of the best ever to walk the college sidelines,” Cronin said. “My dad was a Hall of Fame high school coach. I was trained on how to win and how to coach winning basketball. You got to defend and take care of the ball and play smart. Obviously you got to have players. Force another team to try to make shots to beat you. Being able to make adjustments and your players follow the adjustment. All that stuff is important.”

Cronin then broke down important sequences of the win.

“Chris was hurting us with the iso, I told these two to start trapping,” Cronin said. “We immediately got a steal. Like I said, man, when I got the job, people started asking about style of play. W-I-N. We got to teach guys how to win. There’s a lot of ways to win. I would tell you our transition early is what got us the lead. I thought that was big because they’re such a good halfcourt defensive team.

“It’s not like we had a lot of practice to get ready for that. I was able to talk to the guys about when we get a stop, we’re flying down for layups because we don’t want to get into a game in the 50s.”

UCLA is consistent under Cronin, especially since the team’s Final Four appearance a couple of years ago.

“We just try to teach guys how to play winning basketball,” Cronin said. “You got to be able to play situational winning basketball because situations change. You got to play smart. Look, man, you got a guy that gets the ball to Tyger, he missed a free throw against Arizona, and in hindsight I’m glad, I’m glad.

“We weren’t happy coming here. The odds of him missing again are very low, you know? That’s just who he is. I would take players, though, over coach.”

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The No. 3 seeded Bruins take on No. 2 Gonzaga in the Sweet 16 Thursday.