UCLA (11–4, 2–2) allowed 71.4 percent shooting by the Wolverines (12–3, 4–0) as senior guard Vladislav Goldin put up a game-high 36 points. Michigan also outrebounded UCLA 35-27, and the Bruins gave up a season-high for points along the way.
“So don’t tell me you want to win,” Cronin said. “I mean, we’re soft. To be fair, they have a unique skill set. But we’re soft.”
The Bruins will head on an East Coast road trip in conference play after back-to-back league losses. UCLA faces Maryland (11–4, 1–3) on Friday and Rutgers (8–7, 1–3) on Jan. 13 before returning home to Los Angeles, and Cronin said he will reevaluate who gets the lion’s share of playing time.
“Here’s what you do: You play the guys that will play hard and do what you tell them,” Cronin said. “But right now, I’m searching for some guys that'll play hard enough to win a Big Ten game.”
“It’s really hard to coach people that are delusional,” he added. “The hungry dog gets the bone. We’ve got guys that think they’re way better than they are. They’re nice kids. They’re completely delusional about who they are.”
Cronin, who has been the head coach since 2019, didn’t hold back on the coaching staff. Other than a losing season at 16–17 last year, Cronin has led the Bruins to at least 19 wins in all of his other seasons and three NCAA Tournament appearances along the way.
“I have to run on the court to get guys to play hard,” Cronin said. “It’s crazy. And it’s every day. I’m tired of it. It’s every day.”
“I have the most energy of anybody at practice every day. I’m upset with everybody in that locker room: my assistant coaches and my players,” he added.
Cronin then took it a step further by referencing the highest-profile basketball team in Los Angeles.
“You'd think I’m coaching the Lakers. And it’s a joke. It’s a joke. But yet I come in and I have more passion and energy and pride than everybody,” Cronin said. “And that’s the problem.”
