LEXINGTON, Ky. — Mick Cronin wasn’t going to go there, a minimum of not at first.
A reporter who inquired in regards to the UCLA coach’s plans for subsequent season was headed off like certainly one of his guards making an attempt to get the ball previous Tennessee’s press.
“Right now, guys, it’s 12:40 a.m. and our season just ended,” Cronin mentioned early Sunday inside Rupp Enviornment after a 67-58 loss to the Volunteers within the second spherical of the NCAA match. “That’s it. You’re going to ask me about next year. Right now my biggest concern is how bad the seats are on the Allegiant flight, on that terrible plane that we’re going on to fly home.”
Solely moments later, after one other reporter requested in regards to the significance of continuity given his success with multi-year gamers, Cronin gave a transparent indication of his intentions together with his roster.
“If you’re giving me a choice,” Cronin mentioned, “I’ll always take talent.”
Translation: Count on the Bruins to be extraordinarily energetic as soon as the switch portal opens Monday.
Precedence No. 1 will probably be protecting heart Aday Mara, an rising star who was noncommittal about his future after the sport apart from saying he supposed to relaxation and go go to household in his native Spain.
The Bruins may additionally use a big-time improve at level guard and one veteran wing participant, if not two, to offset the departures of seniors Kobe Johnson and Lazar Stefanovic. One other 7-footer may turn out to be useful, even when Mara returns, to assist the staff counter among the large entrance traces within the Massive Ten.
Whatever the positional breakdown, it’s apparent given the discrepancy on show between the Bruins and Volunteers that there must be an infusion of high-end gamers.
Cronin conceded that his staff’s lack of identify, picture and likeness sources earlier than final season compelled him to scrounge from a discount bin of European prospects, resulting in what he known as “a debacle” because the Bruins completed with a dropping document.
UCLA coach Mick Cronin yells towards his gamers throughout a loss to Tennessee within the second spherical of the NCAA match on Saturday.
(Brynn Anderson / Related Press)
A brand new pile of NIL money helped Cronin land six transfers final spring, however any sincere accounting of the state of affairs would have proven that UCLA was all the time constructing for subsequent season.
A second consecutive roster overhaul by a coach whose system thrives on continuity was prone to finish the best way it did. The Bruins (23-11) had some shining moments to go together with the anticipated bumps and obtained bounced early within the NCAA match.
Now it’s time to show their downcast eyes towards the anticipated payoff.
If Cronin can maintain the core of his roster collectively and sprinkle in a number of difference-makers, the Bruins ought to get again to being true contenders for a nationwide championship. He’ll have 15 scholarships to work with because of the NCAA’s new roster restrict beginning subsequent season.
Two will virtually definitely be used on guard Skyy Clark and ahead Eric Dailey Jr., who each advised The Instances they wished to return.
“Yeah, for sure,” Dailey mentioned. “I want to come here and make a run, make a name with these guys. That’s my goal.”
However some robust selections will must be made. Does Dylan Andrews, whose seasonlong struggles had been one of many staff’s greatest limiting components, return in a lesser position if Cronin brings in a brand new start line guard? Is Trent Perry prepared to return off the bench once more? Will there be any enjoying time obtainable for guard Eric Freeny and forwards Brandon Williams and Devin Williams (no relation) after they redshirted?
A yr in the past, guard Jan Vide mentioned he wished to return just for Cronin to usher in all these transfers, main Vide to make his personal transfer to Loyola Marymount. It’s almost sure that a few gamers presently on the roster with remaining eligibility will depart, possible together with seldom-used guard Dominick Harris.
Bringing Mara again may require greater than a pile of NIL money as excessive as La Sagrada Familia. Cronin might want to discover a technique to both begin Mara alongside Dailey and Tyler Bilodeau or make a type of forwards come off the bench. Mara’s tantalizing upside as top-of-the-line gamers in faculty basketball subsequent season can’t be wasted by a coach who was usually the one one able to stopping his 7-footer over the previous few months with restricted utilization.
In an encouraging signal, Mara appeared to genuinely take pleasure in being on this staff. He walked off the court docket late Saturday clapping his arms over his head whereas wanting on the Bruins cheering part as a thank-you gesture to followers. They’ll solely hope they get to return the favor subsequent season.
UCLA seems to have struck out with highschool prospects in a loaded 2025 class, although they most likely weren’t going to be the fast needle-movers the staff wanted anyway. Cronin has indicated he needs his rosters stuffed with veterans, that means he’ll prioritize the switch portal over freshmen for the foreseeable future.
What’s it like going into an offseason when the coach has to re-recruit his personal gamers and the gamers don’t have any thought which teammates are coming again?
“That’s the coaches’ job, to see who they want for the players and that’s really it,” Dailey mentioned. “I can’t tell you who or what or when, but I can tell you whoever it is, they’re going to come in and represent these jerseys well.”
