Mick Cronin calls for changes to school schedule amid long Big Ten road trips: 'It's too much class missed'

Mick Cronin wants school schedules changed amid his experience with Big Ten road trips this season. In UCLA’s first year in the conference, there have been way more cross country trips than usual.

Despite a win over Indiana over the weekend, Cronin spoke generally about the game of college basketball. That included some complaints about the officiating as well.

But the schedule might be driving him and the players nuts.

“Coach Dana Altman and I, in our meetings, asked about these road trips,” Cronin said postgame. “In the Pac-12, we were used to one day in between. Leave the day before, play, get to your next place, play, and then you’re back. For this trip, we left Monday morning and we’re going to get back Saturday morning. It’s too much class missed. I want one day off in between. Some of my Big Ten coaching brethren say that they need two days of game prep. So, I told Coach Izzo, ‘You are the best one-day prep guy in history.’ He is 8-0 in Elite Eight games. You don’t need an extra days’ prep. 

Mick Cronin wants a bit of a schedule change

“With his record, I wouldn’t want one. We need to get these kids back home, academics matter. For us it’s three of these trips, plus the Big Ten Tournament. For me, I’d like one day off in between. In defense of the Big Ten coaches, we were used to one day in the Pac-12. That would be my request.”

Cronin might have that request, but at least UCLA got the win on a cross-country trip for the first time this season.

“You can play well in this league and lose,” Cronin said. “We did not play bad at Maryland. We were down nine when I decided to hit the showers and send a message. Ace Bailey is the second or third pick in the draft, and he hit a fall-away contested three on us in the corner.

“They were at full strength against us. We didn’t play bad. Dylan [Andrews] had the flu and he played five minutes. People just see the results. I think, whether you win or lose, you have to improve. You have to evaluate your team and your individuals.”

UCLA is back at home, to Cronin’s delight, Tuesday night at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT against Minnesota.