Lauren Betts jokes about travel being UCLA's biggest roadblock to undefeated season

UCLA standout Lauren Betts still isn’t accustomed to being a part of the Big Ten. During an interview on ESPN at halftime of the South Carolina–LSU game Friday, Betts discussed the biggest adjustment she’s had to make this season due to the Bruins’ new conference.

“Besides the travel,” Betts said with a laugh, “I think just making sure that perimeter-wise, I think every single team that we play, they have so many amazing shooters. and I think for taller players, like me and the other forwards, I think just making sure that defensively, we can switch out any guard, no matter who they are throughout the game.

“It’s made us elevate our game a lot. And I think just defensively, having to communicate through that a little bit more has definitely made our team a lot better.”

If the uptick in travel has bothered Betts this season, she hasn’t shown it. The Bruins’ star is averaging career-highs of 20.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.9 blocks per game while shooting 62.3% from the field.

Betts’ spectacular individual statistics aren’t just for show, either. The Bruins are 19-0 this season and ranked No. 1 in the nation. They are the only team that South Carolina has lost to in the 2024-25 campaign.

UCLA’s success this season only becomes more impressive when considering the thousands of miles the team is forced to travel on nearly a weekly basis. Although Lauren Betts and Co. have adjusted well to the frequent flying, the same can’t be said for UCLA’s men’s basketball team.

Mick Cronin rants about travel in the Big Ten

Last week, UCLA men’s basketball head coach Mick Cronin tore into a reporter after he asked him about the impact of travel on Big Ten teams based in the eastern half of the country.

“Wear and tear on them? Is that a joke? Please tell me that’s a joke. Comparable?” Mick Cronin said. “Ask me UCLA’s record east of the Mississippi in the last 20 years. Because when I got the job, I looked it up for scheduling purposes. It’s under .500, OK.

“We have to go back four times. ‘Oh, the Big Ten teams get to come to Los Angeles where it’s 70 degrees one time a year.’ They don’t even have to switch hotels. We’re 12 miles apart. Are you kidding me? Please tell me you’re kidding me. I mean is this a plant? Is this a planted question? I mean you cannot be serious with that.”