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Mick Cronin delivers blunt assessment of loss to Wisconsin: ‘We got our asses kicked’
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Mick Cronin has always been known as a head coach who says exactly what’s on his mind in postgame press conferences.
And after his fourth-seeded UCLA team didn’t play like a 4 seed in Friday afternoon’s 86-70 loss to fifth-seeded Wisconsin in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals, well, it was time for Cronin to unload his thoughts in the postgame in Indianapolis.
“I’m not making an excuse. They kicked our ass. We didn’t throw the ball to (sophomore center Aday Mara) enough for it really to become a factor. So, if I answer that (question) — losers blame the officials, winners know why they win. And then winners know why they lose, too,” explained Cronin.
Mara scored 22 points for UCLA in its 85-83 victory over the Badgers at Pauley Pavilion way back on Jan. 21. But Friday was a totally different matter, as Mara was a non-factor with just 4 points and Wisconsin’s physicality wore down UCLA in the dominant win that sent the Badgers to Saturday’s semifinals against Michigan State.
“So, I try to teach these guys: You got your asses kicked. That’s why you lost. And we took the bait and shot a whole bunch of 3’s, as I was alluding to earlier … that’s not who we are,” added Cronin.
The fiery UCLA coach wanted no part of any pity as the Bruins sit at 22-10 and wait for their NCAA Tournament destination on Sunday.
“I don’t need the headline in your paper saying I complained about the damn refs when I didn’t. We got our asses kicked. That’s the headline,” added Cronin for good measure.