When Mick Cronin first appeared in the media this season, it wasn’t long before questions arose about last season’s Final Four loss to Gonzaga.
“When I watch the movie, Johnny (Juzang) hits a shot to bandage him and I hit pause,” Cronin said on October 4th of Jalen Suggs’ half-field summer bat.
Before the second-placed Bruins even played an exhibition, the UCLA Gonzaga Talk had already ignited.
When the clock ran out on UCLA’s overtime win against fourth-placed Villanova on November 12th, fans began to chant: “We want Zaga, we want Zaga!” Even though there were still three games to go before the showdown on Tuesday in Las Vegas against the number 1 Gonzaga in the T-Mobile Arena.
UCLA (4-0) has been in the business of two of those three deals – wins over Long Beach State and North Florida – but the third is on Monday against Bellarmine (0-4) at 5 p.m., a game of which Cronin knows it will test UCLA’s defense, especially its defense rotations.
“(Scott) Davenport is one of the best offensive coaches in the world. Not just college basketball, in the world, ”said Cronin. “The way they pass and move without a ball. It is a sight. … “It’s the ultimate test. It’s not just their ball movement, it’s the player’s movement. It’s not just passing, it’s the constant movement of their offensive players. They make you chase them. So it is the ultimate test for your defense. ”
Monday’s game will mark the very first competition between UCLA and Bellarmine. Cronin and Davenport were both on the Louisville coaching staff from 2001 to 2003.
UCLA will do without a 6-foot-10 center Mac Etienne with a cruciate ligament rupture for the remainder of the season, Cronin said, and striker Cody Riley is still injured. For both games in Las Vegas, only Myles Johnson and Kenneth Nwuba remain in the middle position, which may not be a big problem against Bellarmine but could be a problem against Gonzaga on Tuesday night.
The Zags (4-0) have preseason all-American Drew Timme at 6ft 10 and 7ft freshman Chet Holmgren averaging 20.8 and 11.3 points per game, respectively.
“I don’t know what (Holmgren’s) wingspan is, but I saw Chet in person,” said Cronin. “I mean, it looks like it could touch the edge without jumping. I think he’ll help because Drew Timme is such an elitist offensive player that Chet can protect the rim on the defensive, which they probably didn’t have last year.
UCLA has not competed against the nation’s top-ranked team in the regular season since December 3, 2016. The Bruins (then ranked 11th) defeated Number 1 Kentucky at Rupp Arena, 97-92, in Lexington, Ky.
Cronin wins against Few
Cronin told the media he was without a win against Gonzaga coach Mark Few.
“Mark and I played twice and both times he caught me in extra time. And both times my team usually had the ball. A no-foul call in Maui that Robert Sacre would admit against Yancy Gates, “said Cronin. “And then of course – and I would tell you, Johnny (Juzang), it was a great, great piece by (Drew) Timme. So, it went to the last game, he caught me twice so I would expect extra overtime on Tuesday night as it seems to happen every time we play.
History Notes on No. 1 vs. 2
- It will be the 43rd 1v2 game in the 1949 AP college basketball poll.
- First 1-2 game with two western teams since 1991 (No. 1 UNLV vs. No. 2 Arkansas).
- The final regular season game No. 1 vs. No. 2 was November 5, 2019 (No. 2 Kentucky beat No. 1 Michigan State, 69-62)
- Average score over the last 42 games: 75-75 – 24 games were played in the regular season; 18 in the postseason
- The teams in second place are one point ahead of the number 1 in the last 42 matches.
- UCLA and Kentucky have played nine in most 1v2 games.
- No. 1 is 22-20 against No. 2
- Five games decided by overtime
No. 2 UCLA (4-0) vs. Bellarmine (0-4)
When: Monday, 5 p.m. (PT)
Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, New York
TV / radio: ESPN + / AM 570
No. 2 UCLA (4-0) vs. No. 1 Gonzaga (4-0)
When: Tuesday, 7 p.m. (PT)
Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, New York
TV / radio: ESPN / AM 1150
