UCLA men’s basketball coach Mick Cronin always wants more. Despite a happy fanbase or an addition to the win column, if the performance isn’t to his standards, he’ll be the first to let you know.
He wasn’t happy after the second-ranked Bruins lost 83-63 to top-ranked Gonzaga in Las Vegas Tuesday night – that’s expected. He said he knew it was coming, even after UCLA’s win over No. 4 Villanova a couple weeks ago at home.
“Defense,” said Cronin, pointing out where his team is lacking the most. “All you gotta do is look at our numbers, even before tonight. Everybody was happy after Villanova, and I showed our guys we only turned them over seven times in our sold-out crowd home gym, had to come (back) from 10 down.”
The Bruins (5-1) stayed in Las Vegas through Thanksgiving, and will now play their third straight road game at UNLV (4-2) Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. The Rebels are 4-0 at home this season.
“You take your show on the road, you better take some toughness and defense,” Cronin said.
However, shot-making would help, too. UCLA shot 45% against Bellarmine and just 34% against Gonzaga. The Zags shot 56% in that lopsided game.
“If you’re only going to win when the ball goes in, you’ll be a .500 team. Better fill out your NIT papers,” Cronin said.
The team is still without veteran forward Cody Riley, who suffered a knee injury in the team’s home opener Nov. 9 and hasn’t played since. The 6-foot-9 senior provides a calming inside presence when the team isn’t shooting well from the perimeter.
“Cody isn’t walking through that door for a couple weeks,” Cronin said. “I’m not playing him until I know he’s safe and ready, he’s got a career. I’m not going to rush him back.”
Riley shot 104 last season, second on the team, which was crucial in stretches during UCLA’s Final Four run when scoring became difficult. Riley also provides a rotational savvy on defense that Cronin values.
“We’re not the No. 2-ranked team in the country without Cody Riley,” Cronin said. “Anybody that thought that wasn’t going to be a factor doesn’t watch us play a lot.”
UCLA averaged more than 90 points per game in its first four home victories this season in wins over Cal State Bakersfield, Villanova, Long Beach State and North Florida.
“If you want to be a consistent winner, you gotta win when you don’t make shots and that’s been a fight because we’re a skilled team, but we can’t rely on that,” Cronin said. “That’s a fool’s gold trap.”
No. 2 UCLA (5-1) at UNLV (4-2)
Where: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas. Nev.
When: 2 p.m. (PT)
TV/radio: Stadium / AM 570
