No, UCLA can't do better.


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Posted by ej on March 01, 2024 at 11:41:14

In Reply to: Re: Yeah, that was ugly. posted by BruinsFTW on March 01, 2024 at 10:58:45

Look at the recent history of their coaching hires. I liked Howland a lot but he too was flawed. I know guys who knew Howland and they all said that this guy will eventually self destruct. So even though at the time of the hiring, Howland's resume looked good but he wasn't a good fit at UCLA. Like I said I liked him but ultimately it wasn't a good hire. As a coach, I like Cronin even better. I'm not sure I agree with your assessment of him or your view of the fit for UCLA.

I keep saying he's not perfect. I would like to see him play a more aggressive type of pressure offense along the lines of Jerry Tarkanian or Nolan Richardson, but that's just preference. I'm okay with Cronin's style of play. His offense was effective last season when he had good experienced players familiar with his offense running it. He'll get there again.

I would like to see Cronin be more even keeled in his demeanor on the sidelines and in his press conferences, but that's his personality. Even with that we've seen him lately pull back a bit and be calmer. Again, it's not perfect but I think he appears to be aware of this and seems to be making effort to correct it.

I think Cronin is a good coach. I know there are those here who don't like anything about Cronin (or very little), but I think overall he's good for UCLA with the hope they he too improves in his job and becomes an even better fit. Like I said, he appears to embrace the notion that he too needs to grow and I think that's a good thing for him and UCLA.

So right now, no I don't think UCLA can do better. Right now they have a good coach who has shown he can coach, with a solid resume, who has taken his Bruin teams to two sweet sixteens, a final four, a conference championship, two 2nd place finishes, and a fourth place finish, and has demonstrated an awareness, a willingness, and an ability to seemingly face his flaws, address them, and work to improve upon them. And he seems committed to doing what it takes to win, and win big, at UCLA.

So right now, unless they can bring in Self or Hurley, or get Jay Wright out of retirement - which they can't, UCLA, IMO, is doing just fine with their basketball coach. We'll see how it evolves.


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