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I am oretty sure Mick can make UCLA better than what they are now. But how much better is the question? Probably not a good hire on their part, but they whoffed on everyone else.

Have to admit, I'm enjoying this. I was mostly happy with Mick but it really rubbed me the wrong way when he flirted hard with UNLV after producing his best season at UC (I know they have the one sweet 16, but 2018 was the best overall season and best Mick Cronin team). It was fairly clear he didn't want to be here at that point. I never really rooted against Dantonio or Kelly. I kind of rooted against Butch. Not really rooting against Mick but some of these losses do make me smile.

Guys, shhhhhh... We're not allowed to talk about Cronin losses until UC wins again.

(12-28-2019 08:15 PM)jarr Wrote:  I am oretty sure Mick can make UCLA better than what they are now. But how much better is the question? Probably not a good hire on their part, but they whoffed on everyone else.

I think the real question is how fast can he get them better? This is Los Angeles man. They want to win now. This is really a "historic" bad loss at home and won't win him too many passes for building a program over several years. I also don't see the fanbase and alumni embracing "toughness" and rock fight basketball. To your point about the hire, it could end up being a really poor [and brief] basketball marriage. It also doesn't favor him that he was their 6th [or whatever it was] choice as coach. A lot of basketball to be played in conference play but Mick better have his big boy pants on now.

(12-28-2019 08:49 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  

(12-28-2019 08:15 PM)jarr Wrote:  I am oretty sure Mick can make UCLA better than what they are now. But how much better is the question? Probably not a good hire on their part, but they whoffed on everyone else.

I think the real question is how fast can he get them better? This is Los Angeles man. They want to win now. This is really a "historic" bad loss at home and won't win him too many passes for building a program over several years. I also don't see the fanbase and alumni embracing "toughness" and rock fight basketball. To your point about the hire, it could end up being a really poor [and brief] basketball marriage. It also doesn't favor him that he was their 6th [or whatever it was] choice as coach. A lot of basketball to be played in conference play but Mick better have his big boy pants on now.

I think this combination is a disaster, I am not sure he gets three years. Some coaches are bad fits for certain programs. Even good coaches look awful if they are in the wrong situation. I still believe Mick was a bad fit for UCLA and Brannen is a bad fit for the current version of UC. Both need to remake their rosters in their own vision. Brannen will likely get more time than Cronin will at their respective institutions to turn it around.

(12-28-2019 08:15 PM)jarr Wrote:  I am oretty sure Mick can make UCLA better than what they are now. But how much better is the question? Probably not a good hire on their part, but they whoffed on everyone else.

Mick's problem is that his system is probably perceived as limiting to the top prospects that are currently on the roster. They haven't been too stellar defensively the last few years and the Cronin system requires slowing the pace of play and having the PG look back to the bench for instruction. It doesn't seem like his attention to defense is sticking, and the offense isn't putting up enough points to overcome that.

Mick has eschewed one and done players for a while now. He relies on four year players to build a system. If his current roster isn't high on the outlook of playing in Mick's system and the top prospects decide to transfer out he's just not going to have enough time to put it together. He's going to have to put things together quickly with what he's got, or drastically change his philosophy on how to build and manage his roster.

(12-28-2019 08:36 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  Have to admit, I'm enjoying this. I was mostly happy with Mick but it really rubbed me the wrong way when he flirted hard with UNLV after producing his best season at UC (I know they have the one sweet 16, but 2018 was the best overall season and best Mick Cronin team). It was fairly clear he didn't want to be here at that point. I never really rooted against Dantonio or Kelly. I kind of rooted against Butch. Not really rooting against Mick but some of these losses do make me smile.

His UNLV thing was after the 2016 season, after we lost to St. Joe's in the tourney.

(12-28-2019 08:36 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  Have to admit, I'm enjoying this. I was mostly happy with Mick but it really rubbed me the wrong way when he flirted hard with UNLV after producing his best season at UC (I know they have the one sweet 16, but 2018 was the best overall season and best Mick Cronin team). It was fairly clear he didn't want to be here at that point. I never really rooted against Dantonio or Kelly. I kind of rooted against Butch. Not really rooting against Mick but some of these losses do make me smile.

I liked Mick, and often defended him, but it seemed like his recruiting had slipped, and I was sick of his style of play which was becoming a relic of a different era of basketball. I really dislike the PAC12 and its super easy to root against UCLA.

WVU beats O$U. They will move up in the rankings for certain.

Just a note on another ex-coach.

Good news is that the lil man has some new suits! Blue ones.

(12-30-2019 12:36 PM)bww Wrote:  Good news is that the lil man has some new suits! Blue ones.

$50,000 worth.

(12-30-2019 01:26 PM)bearcatdp Wrote:  

(12-30-2019 12:36 PM)bww Wrote:  Good news is that the lil man has some new suits! Blue ones.

$50,000 worth.

That’s good for when UCLA fires him and he is relegated to St. Louis and the Billikens.

mick would absolutely kill it in st louis

(01-03-2020 10:58 AM)Lush Wrote:  mick would absolutely kill it in st louis

And he could double as the mascot in between game action. A cost-saving measure, indeed.

Cronin and UCLA lose again.......to Washington State in OT 79-71. Lose the next one and they will be at .500 on the season.

(01-05-2020 08:47 AM)converrl Wrote:  Cronin and UCLA lose again.......to Washington State in OT 79-71. Lose the next one and they will be at .500 on the season.

So basically their first season with a new coach sucks as much as our season with a new coach.

(01-05-2020 02:22 PM)Billy_Bearcat Wrote:  

(01-05-2020 08:47 AM)converrl Wrote:  Cronin and UCLA lose again.......to Washington State in OT 79-71. Lose the next one and they will be at .500 on the season.

So basically their first season with a new coach sucks as much as our season with a new coach.

I'd have to think UCLA's sucks much worse. They have better talent in a weaker conference and higher expectations.

Just cause we give him some grief now, Coach does it the right way off the court...

I don't recall him ever having an alumni player function here...unless he just wasn't as shamelessly promoting all the work he's doing while he was here. I actually feel like there were multiple statements about Brannen doing his and how happy the alumni were about it.

(01-10-2020 03:02 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  I don't recall him ever having an alumni player function here...unless he just wasn't as shamelessly promoting all the work he's doing while he was here. I actually feel like there were multiple statements about Brannen doing his and how happy the alumni were about it.

Where do you think he got the idea?