Mick Cronin puts UCLA on blast for USC preparation: 'I failed miserably'

Mick Cronin put himself and UCLA on blast for lack of preparation in a loss to USC. The head coach wanted the onus on himself as to why the Bruins lost at home to their in-state rival.

As Cronin put it, the Bruins did not play hard enough to win. UCLA fell to 14-13 on the season with the 62-56 loss.

Afterwards, Cronin was blunt about the performance.

“It’s a simple game,” Cronin said. “The team that plays harder usually wins. They played much harder than us. They were more physical, they had humility, they came in here looking for redemption. We had no humility. Show me somebody that’s not humble and I’ll show you somebody getting ready to get humbled. We had our worst week of practice of the season. 

“I failed miserably to get my team ready for the fight that was coming today and I’m thoroughly embarrassed. And I apologize to the people wearing the four letters. Yes, we really struggled making the open shots, but that has nothing to do with all the stuff I talked about. The team that wins the fight usually wins the game. And they won the fight in every way. We were awful.”

Practicing welll during the week is key to good preparation. Unfortunately for UCLA, Cronin acknowledged it was a rough week.

“Tough to say, if I had that answer, I’d have two championships and already be in Del Mar,” Cronin said. “It’s tough to say. I will give you, the answer in my opinion, the hungry dog gets the bone. We had no humility, none. It’s not like I’m afraid to coach, either. The stuff that happened yesterday in practice – put guys on the treadmill, yell and scream and run my team the day before you’re playing your rival in front of your biggest crowd of the season – is ridiculous. 

“I should have to calm them down. I’ve been doing this a long time. I can tell when I’m bothering them. We’re not good enough. I mean, most teams aren’t good enough to have that attitude and win. We’re surely nowhere near good enough for that. Not this team.”

Not good enough? That seems to be theme here for UCLA and Cronin. Based on the latest bracketology, UCLA would need a miracle to make the tournament.

Without being on the bubble, it’s looking like the season could end in a hurry.