UCLA guards Donovan Dent, proper, and Skyy Clark, together with their teammates, are centered on making an attempt to make a deep NCAA tournament run. (Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
Besides carrying on the UCLA legacy, which Mick Cronin says is an honor in itself, he’s received an additional incentive right here this weekend that has nothing to do with discovering the most effective cheesesteak on the town.
“We’ve got to win two games,” stated Cronin, whose Bruins will start off going against Central Florida, whose coach, Johnny Dawkins, is aware of all too properly from the years they squared off when he was at Cincinnati within the American Athletic Conference. “My daughter goes to American [University.]
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“I’ll see her Monday. But I would like to spend a week with her.”
That’s as a result of the East Region shall be held in Washington, the place AU is situated. But for the Bruins to advance to previous a Sunday showdown almost certainly in opposition to highly effective Connecticut, Cronin says they’ll first want to comprise Central Florida’s potent assault.
UCLA coach Mick Cronin talks with guard Trent Perry in the course of the Bruins’ sport at Michigan on Feb. 14. (Lon Horwedel / Associated Press)
“Central Florida can score,” he defined of the 21-11 Knights, who’ve efficiently made the transition from the AAC to the Big 12. “They’re athletic.
“[Themus] Fulks [averaging 14.1 points and 6.7 assists] keeps me up at night because he can get in the lane whenever he wants. He’s great off the pick and roll. He makes good reads and he’s a problem.
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“I’ve seen Riley Kugel [14.4 points] since high school. He played for a friend of mine, so I know he’s a very good player and has gotten better as he’s gotten older.
“They can shoot it. They’ve struggled of late which means law of averages, that’s going to flip. They’re an athletic, aggressive team.”
Read extra: UCLA men’s basketball earns No. 7 seed, to face No. 10 UCF in Philadelphia
On the opposite hand Dawkins, again within the metropolis the place he performed for 5 years and gained an NBA Eastern Conference title whereas enjoying alongside Charles Barkley, is aware of what he’s up in opposition to.
“Mick does a great job with his team,” stated Dawkins, who earlier than coming to Central Florida went 156-115 teaching eight years at Stanford, following a decade serving as Mike Krzyzewski’s assistant at his alma mater, Duke. “Of course. UCLA is a storied program of all college basketball.
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“What an amazing history they’ve had there. and, of course, Coach Cronin is a coach I have known from the American as well. I know his team is going to be really, really talented.
“They’re very skilled and they’re tough.”
Speaking of that legacy, which includes a 1976 Final Four appearance here under John Wooden’s replacement, Gene Bartow, Cronin’s players knew what they were signing up for when they decided to come to Westwood.
“It’s definitely a blessing just to be part of this, to be part of the history, part of the tradition,” stated senior guard Skyy Clark, averaging 11.7 factors per sport. “It’s a lot to carry for sure, but it motivates us to go out there and just do what we can.”
UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau is congratulated by fans after beating USC at the Galen Center on March 7. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
“Yeah, a lot comes with these four letters we wear on our chest,” added second-leading scorer and top playmaker Donovan Dent (13.5, 7.6 assists). “We just want to make our names and the history of it.
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“I wouldn’t say there’s extra pressure, but we know there’s definitely a standard that needs to be held.”
UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau and Dent were injured during the Bruins’ Big Ten tournament run, but Cronin said Thursday “they appeared good at present [during practice,] so knock on wooden.”
Maintaining the usual first set by Wooden is what lured Cronin from Cincinnati, the place he gained 296 video games in 13 years and took them to the NCAA tournament 9 instances.
“I had a great job and was close to being the winningest coach ever at Cincinnati,” stated Cronin, who’ll be making his fourth tourney look with the Bruins, together with dropping a 2022 Sweet Sixteen sport to North Carolina on this constructing. “But I left to sit in Coach Wooden’s chair and coach at the best university in the country, arguably the world, and everything that goes with it.
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Read more: March Madness men’s tournament analysis: Teams and players to watch
“It’s tremendous. I’ve been very fortunate. To coach at my alma mater, Cincinnati, and to be the head basketball coach at UCLA following so many.”
On Friday night, Cronin and the Bruins will take on the challenge of Central Florida and his longtime adversary Dawkins, mindful there are no gimmes once you get this far. No. 5 seed Wisconsin learned that during a loss to No. 12 High Point on Thursday and top-ranked Duke nearly did, having to rally from 13 points down to survive No. 16 Siena.
“You got to have players,” he stated. “If you can’t coach, you’re not going to be in those tournaments. “The better players you have, the further you go.
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That’s the whole key to getting in these things and advancing in them. Perseverance.”
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This story initially appeared in Los Angeles Times.
