Mick Cronin on heavy roster turnover: 'I didn't put a gun to anybody's head'

Roster turnover is pretty common across pretty much every program across the college sports landscape nowadays due to the transfer portal and NIL. But some have worse roster turnover than others, which can make many people on the outside question what’s going on inside a program’s walls. UCLA basketball head coach Mick Cronin did not dance around his words when discussing roster turnover.

“You know how I look at everything, man. I just tell it like it is. It’s not like I put a gun to anybody’s head. Obviously, you have to offer guys money. But they could have went other places. Guys are returning that could have left,” Cronin explained.

They had a couple of players depart in the 2024 transfer portal class: power forward Berke Buyuktuncel, who moved onto Nebraska, and shooting guard Will McClendon, who moved onto San Jose State.

The Bruins head coach is well aware of the extremely high standards in Westwood. And it’s pretty much all about NCAA Tournament banners or nothing else matters.

“It’s UCLA. We’re getting as many good players as we can because the standard here is try to hang up a banner. We could win the Big Ten Regular Season Championship. Our fans are not gonna care. They might be happy, but they’re really not gonna care. When you’re here it’s about the NCAA Tournament banners and that type of thing,” Cronin continued.

Cronin let reporters know that he is crystal clear and upfront with all of his players about the standard at UCLA. If they didn’t like it, then they’re more than welcome to leave.

“It wasn’t like everybody wasn’t told. Hey, this is what it’s gotta be. You know. We’re all about improving. And getting you to where you want to go. Here it’s about UCLA basketball. Best tradition in college basketball. I don’t really want to hear about any complaints and all that stuff all year. Because you signed up for it. You coulda left! Or you didn’t have to come. I’m sure you had maybe a better offer or more money, something somewhere else,” Cronin vented.

UCLA has been to three straight Sweet Sixteens in 2021, 2022, and 2023. That would be considered a success in many programs across the country. But Cronin is well aware the program is judged by getting to the Final Four and bringing home national championships. Their one Final Four appearance in the past 17 years came in 2021. That was a loaded squad that featured the likes of Jaime Jaquez Jr., Tyger Campbell, and sharpshooter Johnny Juzang.