No stars, just talent? UCLA basketball hopes an ensemble cast can put it back on top

UCLA coach Mick Cronin gives instructions to freshman guard Trent Perry during an exhibition game agasint Cal State L.A. on Thursday. Perry is one of six newcomers to the Bruins this season. (Brian Rothmuller / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

One of the lead architects of four NBA championship teams wanted to see the modern blueprint for building a winner in the college game.

While coaching the U.S. men’s basketball team inside UCLA’s practice facility in the leadup to the Paris Olympics, Steve Kerr spotted something curious in Bruins counterpart Mick Cronin’s hands and called him over for an unveiling.

It was a color-coded list of Cronin’s free-agent targets and the team’s name, image and likeness budget.

“He was blown away,” Cronin said of Kerr, the Golden State Warriors coach who won titles in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022. “He goes, ‘What is going on? What are you doing?’”

UCLA’s coach was in the midst of securing enough high-end talent to vault his team back into national title contention for the 30th anniversary of the Bruins’ last championship. The quest started with a flurry of expletives, Cronin telling his staff with some not-so-nice words that they needed to get better players after a rare losing season.

Six months later, the No. 22 Bruins will reveal the results of their free-agency haul Monday at Pauley Pavilion when they face Rider in their season opener.

Read more: Losing scrimmage means little as UCLA players attempt to win over coach Mick Cronin

A roster without one player on the preseason All-Big Ten team easily should be the deepest of Cronin’s six seasons in Westwood. What UCLA lacks in star power it might make up for with an ensemble cast that includes six transfers and three freshmen who addressed the Bruins’ needs for shooting, rebounding and veteran savvy.

In a throwback to the delightful days of John Wooden, UCLA’s practices could be tougher than some of the games.

Dylan Andrews, UCLA’s presumed starting point guard, goes up…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/no-stars-just-talent-ucla-120019901.html

Author : LA Times

Publish date : 2024-11-03 12:00:00

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