Mick Cronin previews UCLA's big week in Pac-12 play

No. 5 UCLA has had a hot start to the season, currently on a 13-game winning streak and having an undefeated Pac-12 record as they head into an important road stretch this week. The Bruins face a three-game road gauntlet of important conference games starting on Thursday, and head coach Mick Cronin detailed what his message to his team will be during this stretch.

“Gotta win one at a time buddy,” Cronin said to a reporter. “Whatever happens this week we’re still going to have USC the next week, so just got to try to keep getting better. The thing I tell the guys is, you guys have heard me say this, talk about their experience. I know for everybody else it’s they can win this, they can win the Pac-12, then you get a seed, for the kids, especially your guys it’s their last year, some guys their only year, it’s about their experience, at least I try to make it about that for them.”

UCLA’s starting lineup features three seniors who will likely be playing their last season, and it’s clear Cronin wants to make this season not only special for them, but for the entire team. Winning is important, the Bruins seemed to have mastered that, as Cronin is more focused on them enjoying their experience at the moment.

“So I would assume we’ll have an unbelievable crowd in both games and when you put the work in like this team, the guys have put the work in, I give them all the credit, they’ve earned the right to be in huge games,” Cronin said. “There’s nothing better than going out there with the whole crowd against you, I mean I’ve tried to get them to take on my personality, I like that. I took this job to run to the fire, you’ll never experience it again is what I tell these guys when they leave college, there’s nothing like big college basketball games.”

The Bruins enjoying the journey is definitely important, but their road tests will not be easy. They first face Arizona State, who’s just one game behind them in the Pac-12 standings and comprised of a new-look roster this season.

“So they’ve earned the right to be in these games and to have fans waiting on them, we don’t really worry about that, the adversity comes in the form of Arizona State’s team. Coach Hurley’s done an unbelievable job putting this team together, if you looked up definition of transfer portal use, they start five transfers. (DJ) Horne came a year ago, but the rest of them it’s their first year and just a tremendous job of being able to do that, in this day and age you can do it,” Cronin said.

Cronin elaborated on how impressive the Sun Devils were in their recent dominant win over Oregon, even comparing them to Golden State Warriors for their masterful shooting day from the field and downtown.

“So a lot of challenges, their players being the real challenge,” Cronin said. “They got quickness, they got veterans, old veterans that are obviously having a lot of fun playing together. Probably the most unselfish Arizona State team I’ve seen.”

After that game in Tempe, the Bruins will go on to face No. 11 Arizona followed by a game versus rival USC, rounding out a challenging gauntlet that will likely test UCLA in a way that haven’t been so far this season.