Expectations for UCLA men’s basketball team continue to rise
Los Angeles, Ca. — There’s cause for optimism around the UCLA men’s basketball team. A lot of media hype is swirling around the program and rightfully so given the talent and coaching brilliance that is presently guiding this team to a healthy 6-1 start. The only defeat came at the hands of Gonzaga, the highest ranked team in the country. Otherwise, head coach Mick Cronin has the Bruins poised for greatness for the remainder of the season.
When it comes to a basketball team in the city of Los Angeles, there’s a willingness from the community for their team to not just perform well but be the best. It’s the admiration for the bruins that has fans invested and placing lofty expectations. When asked about UCLA’s ambitions, Coach Cronin replied, “if you’re asking me how I feel about expectations, I left a place where I could have easily been the all-time winningest coach to come to UCLA, obviously I embrace them. If I didn’t embrace them, I took the wrong job, guys.”
Cronin has been at the UCLA job since 2019. Last season in the NCAA tournament, the Bruins advanced to the Final Four after defeating No. 1 Michigan. The No. 11 seed UCLA became the second First Four team to reach the Final Four. It was the school’s first national semifinal since 2008 which had also been their last trip to the Elite Eight.
The coaching pedigree is there and so is the talent. The Bruins have enough depth to clinch a twelfth national title. The returning core from that outstanding team of last season includes a gifted scorer in Johnny Juzang, an elite playmaker in Tyger Campbell, and a defensively sound guard in Jaime Jaquez Jr. The squad has also been reinforced by the arrival of top prospect Peyton Watson and graduate transfer Myles Johnson.
But naturally, there’s a lot more work to be done to achieve what this roster’s potential can accomplish. The notable defects and holes in the team were highlighted by Coach Cronin.
“You can extend your defense,” Cronin said. “You can cause some turnovers and get easy baskets which we really haven’t been able to do much since I’ve been here.”
Still, those are some vital elements that can be solved by working hard in practice and by developing team chemistry which was the key component to their success last season. The Bruins are a team that have no issues scoring the basketball which is why it is important for them to improve their defensive capabilities. If they manage to do so, they will be a true force to be reckoned with even if Cronin believes in pumping the breaks when it comes to how far this team can go.
“It’s irrelevant between the lines, because if we taught anybody anything last year, your seed or your ranking does not matter come tournament time.”
That’s the bottom line for this Bruins team. They are aware that they have a strong group that are being well coached and want to meet or even exceed the expectations of the community. Their goal isn’t to simply improve from last season, it is to be the best team in the country.
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