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LOS ANGELES — Mick Cronin knew determination would beryllium expectations erstwhile helium decided to permission Cincinnati for UCLA.
“I near a spot wherever I could’ve easy been the all-time winningest manager to travel to UCLA, truthful obviously, I clasp them,” Cronin said of expectations.
Entering lone his 3rd play arsenic the Bruins’ men’s hoops coach, and coming disconnected a Final Four appearance, the expectations are lofty.
“If I didn’t clasp (expectations), I took the incorrect job. You travel beryllium wherever Coach (John) Wooden sat, you amended beryllium good with that stuff,” helium added.
The squad is expected to beryllium ranked among the apical 3 programs successful the country, apt to beryllium picked to triumph the Pac-12 Conference, and of course, expected to marque different tally astatine the nationalist title. The dazzling Final Four tally surely aided successful stockpiling the expectations. But the full NCAA Tournament squad returning is what has Westwood already buzzing 5 weeks earlier its play opener against Cal State Bakersfield connected Nov. 9 astatine Pauley Pavilion.
“Expectations are great. You privation to merchantability tickets, make excitement – it’s each portion of my occupation – it’s large for recruiting,” Cronin said. “But (expectation) is irrelevant successful betwixt the lines. If we taught anybody thing past year, your effect oregon ranking does not substance travel tourney time.”
Only 7 months ago, UCLA was connected a four-game losing streak earlier it was fixed a No. 11 effect for the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins had to instrumentality down Michigan State successful a play-in crippled earlier yet beating BYU, Abilene Christian, Alabama and Michigan. Then it each ended successful melodramatic manner against Gonzaga acknowledgment to a half-court, overtime buzzer-beater from Jalen Suggs.
Cronin was asked however galore times he’s rewatched Suggs’ shot.
“Zero,” helium said. “When I ticker the film, Johnny (Juzang) hits a changeable to necktie it and I deed pause.”
Columnist Mark Whicker (@MWhicker03) asks Mick Cronin however galore times he’s watched Jalen Suggs’ buzzer beater that sent UCLA location successful the Final Four. Great reply from Cronin here…
“Zero…Johnny (Juzang) scores to necktie it, I deed pause…” pic.twitter.com/gMVqzLNiZP
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) October 4, 2021
Every subordinate who participated successful that memorable tally returns this season. Johnny Juzang, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Tyger Campbell, Cody Riley, Jules Bernard, Jake Kyman, Jaylen Clark, Mac Etienne, David Singleton and Kenneth Nwuba are each back. It’s promising, but of course, thing is promised.
“It utilized to beryllium that if you’re 1 of the fewer teams that has acquisition astatine the precocious level, it would beryllium an advantage,” Cronin explained. “But now, everyone without acquisition goes and gets experienced guys from the transportation portal. I don’t deliberation (the experience) volition beryllium an vantage similar it utilized to be.”
The squad besides added McDonald’s All-American helping Peyton Watson from Long Beach Poly, postgraduate transportation Myles Johnson from Rutgers – a 6-foot-10 halfway – and shooting defender Will McClendon from Bishop Gorman High successful Nevada. However, McClendon volition miss the play owed to a torn ACL successful his near knee, an wounded helium suffered successful a squad workout connected Sept. 17.
“We person a batch much depth. Myles and Peyton are highly talented players,” Juzang said. “They’re going to assistance america successful truthful galore ways. We’re each excited to play with each other.”
A small spot of footage from UCLA’s signifier this morning. Essentially, warming up, getting up and down.
Group 1: Peyton Watson, Myles Johnson & Jaime Jaquez.
Group 2: Jake Kyman, Jaylen Clark & Mac Etienne.
Group 3: David Singleton, Tyger Campbell & Cody Riley pic.twitter.com/4P3iLDcIJv
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) October 4, 2021
In ESPN’s way-too-early Top 25 rankings released connected July 27, UCLA was No. 3 down No. 1 Gonzaga and No. 2 Kansas. In USA Today’s way-too-early rankings, UCLA is No. 1.
“I’d alternatively beryllium ranked archetypal than last,” Cronin said.
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