In Reply to: The Greatest Coach Of All Time, In Any Sport, In A Word.......... posted by NYBruin on January 20, 2026 at 13:10:46
2016/2017, 30-6 record. Not a big team primarily built for defense. Top 5 players, 6'9, 6'7,6'6,6'5'6'3. Bench 6'8, 6'7. Probably the best PG that Cronin ever had was part of this squad in 6'3, 200 lb Troy Coupain. Excellent defender, good rebounder, average scorer at around 10 points and a little ver 4 assists, poor 3 point shooter in low 30s and high 60% ft shooter. Got the job done but he was more known for his leadership and defense. Their best big man I recall was Yancy Gates (6'9, 255) back in 2011, 1012. Not a great scorer but extremely tough in the paint on both O and D.
So looking at the makeup of the Bruins teams, Cronin seems to be trying to build teams in a similar manner as he did at Cincinnati--primarily heavily dependent on defense.
And one last note. That Cincinnati team made it to the second round of the 2017 NCAA tournament. And what do you know, they were taken out by UCLA 79 to 67.