LOS ANGELES — At this point in Mick Cronin’s career, the UCLA men’s basketball coach said he takes the break in between the regular season and the Big Ten Tournament to solely focus on his team.
Yes, the Bruins watch film of their prospective opponents, but rather than drill specific counters for 11th-seeded Minnesota or 14th-seeded Rutgers, and prepare for an opponent that wasn’t decided until late Wednesday night, “this is a good time to work on things that we want to work on,” Cronin said.
That includes, Cronin elaborated, defensive rotations, offensive execution and individual player development.
“It’s just nice to have a few days where you don’t have a game,” Cronin said.
He feels his players have a “sense of relief” regarding UCLA’s NCAA Tournament standing, as it has been projected as high as a seven seed. So the Bruins are basking in that relief, while preparing themselves for a postseason run, which officially begins Thursday night when sixth-seeded UCLA (21-10, 13-17 Big Ten) faces 14th-seeded Rutgers (13-18, 6-14). A win would lead into a Friday matchup with third-seeded Michigan State (25-6, 15-5) in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals.
“We’re still waiting on the game to be played between Minnesota and Rutgers,” Bruins sophomore Trent Perry said before the Scarlet Knights edged the Golden Gophers, 72-67, on Wednesday night. “So right now we’re just doing what we can do to, you know, personally, get better.”
A 78-73 loss at Minnesota on Feb. 28 was UCLA’s only loss in its past five games, as well as its only instance allowing over 43% shooting from the field and losing the turnover battle in that span. The Bruins have improved their defense down the stretch because of an increase in communication and hustle.
Their impeccable ball security, preventing opponents from transition opportunities, has helped, too. The Bruins have committed only an average of 5.2 turnovers over the last five games, in large part because of point guard Donovan Dent’s 53-to-2 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Schematically, UCLA has emphasized “forcing opponents baseline,” senior Skyy Clark shared, and increased zone looks, but the recent effectiveness is just as much about effort as it is execution.
“We have to be willing to play hard enough, and be physical, and tough enough and committed to defending like we did against Nebraska,” Cronin said last week, referencing the performance in which the Bruins held the then-No. 9 Cornhuskers to 52 points on March 3.
Cronin has no worries about UCLA’s offense, as the team has shot 51% from the field over the past five games. He believes if the Bruins can blend effort and execution on defense, like they have in their last four wins, it would be a catalyst for a successful postseason.
“If they defend, they can be a high-level basketball team,” Cronin said. “Hopefully they would derive some confidence from the fact that they can defend. That’s my hope for where they’re at mentally.”
He’s confident, but it’s not guaranteed as UCLA will have had four days in between games, and a road trip to Chicago, to potentially lose that momentum.
“We just go to keep doing what we doing outside of Pauley [Pavilion],” Perry said.
BIG TEN TOURNAMENT
Who: No. 6 seed UCLA vs. No. 14 Rutgers
When: Thursday, approx. 6 p.m. PT
Where: United Center, Chicago
TV: Big Ten Network
