After UCLA’s 16-point loss to the Wisconsin Badgers in the Big Ten Tournament, Mick Cronin does the unimaginable.
In the pressure-cooker atmosphere of the Big Ten Tournament, where every game can dictate the future of a season, the stakes couldn’t be higher for both teams involved. The UCLA Bruins entered the tournament with high expectations, their eyes set on a deep run that would position them for a strong NCAA tournament bid. But in a game that saw their offense sputter and their defense falter, UCLA suffered a crushing 16-point defeat to the Wisconsin Badgers, leaving their tournament hopes in jeopardy.
The loss to Wisconsin, a team that had dominated in every aspect of the game, was not just a tough pill to swallow—it was a wake-up call. With the Big Ten Tournament now over, and UCLA’s chances of a deep run hanging by a thread, Mick Cronin, UCLA’s hard-nosed head coach, did something that no one expected. It was an act that shocked the media, left his players stunned, and sent ripples through the college basketball world.
Cronin, known for his fiery demeanor and his penchant for giving no-nonsense, often combative press conferences, did the unimaginable: he publicly took full responsibility for the loss, not in the usual way that coaches often do, but in a manner that stunned everyone in attendance. His decision to not only claim responsibility but to offer an unprecedented level of self-reflection was a moment that would go down in UCLA basketball history.
The Press Conference: A Moment of Unparalleled Transparency
After the game, the tension in the UCLA locker room was palpable. The players were frustrated, exhausted, and angry—emotions typical after such a disappointing performance. The loss to Wisconsin, a team that was efficient but not exactly dominant in terms of talent, left UCLA feeling as if they had let an opportunity slip away. Despite playing at home, the Bruins couldn’t seem to get anything going. Their offense was disjointed, their defense non-existent, and their energy flat.
But it wasn’t just the players who were reeling. Mick Cronin, who had built a reputation for being a coach who could rally his team with fire and passion, was quiet, brooding in his office. He didn’t lash out at his team. He didn’t blame the referees. Instead, after a long moment of self-reflection, he called a meeting with the media.
When he walked into the press room after the game, everyone expected the usual stern-faced, tough-talk rhetoric. But what followed was something no one saw coming. Cronin, often known for his fiery speeches, was different. He was calm, almost serene, as he took his seat in front of the microphones. His voice, typically assertive, carried a note of sincerity that had been absent in most of his previous press conferences.
He began simply: “I need to take full responsibility for this loss. This one is on me.”
There was a collective pause in the room. Journalists, coaches, and players alike were taken aback. A coach of Cronin’s stature—someone with a reputation for being intense, a coach who had led his teams to numerous NCAA appearances—admitting fault on such a public stage was unheard of. Cronin wasn’t deflecting blame. He wasn’t looking for excuses. He wasn’t angry with the players. Instead, he laid the full weight of the loss squarely on his own shoulders.
“I have to be better,” Cronin continued, his tone steady. “I’ve been in this business for a long time, and I’ve seen all kinds of losses. But this one—I own it. I didn’t prepare my guys well enough for what we saw out there today. Wisconsin was ready, and I didn’t have my team ready. That falls on me.”
For a coach who had always been known for his fiery intensity and sometimes abrasive interactions with the media, this admission was remarkable. He wasn’t just addressing the press or the fans; he was addressing his team, and perhaps, more importantly, he was addressing himself.
The Unimaginable Decision: A Shift in Philosophy
What followed was even more shocking. Instead of retreating behind the shield of deflection, Cronin did something that no one could have expected: he told his players that they would have the opportunity to take the next day off. This was not something he had ever done before, and certainly not something many would associate with a coach known for his grueling practices and high standards.
“This team is physically and mentally drained,” Cronin explained to the press. “I’m the one who pushed them too hard in practice this season. I thought I could be the one to bring them to the mountaintop, but instead, I wore them out. Tomorrow, we take a step back. I’m giving them the day off to clear their minds, and when they come back, we’ll work together to figure out how we move forward. But it starts with me. I need to lead them better, and I will.”
For many in the room, this was the most shocking part of the entire press conference. Mick Cronin, the coach who had been known for his unrelenting work ethic and demanding nature, was telling his team to take a break. He wasn’t demanding more from them in the aftermath of a crushing loss; instead, he was offering them a moment of reprieve.
This decision was a stark contrast to the typical response from a coach after a defeat like this. Most coaches would have doubled down, pushing their players harder, trying to salvage the morale and intensity of the team. But Cronin recognized something crucial: his players were human. They had been under constant pressure, both internally and externally, and they needed time to recharge and refocus.
“I have to lead them in a way that helps them grow, not break them down,” Cronin explained. “They need a break, and I need to give it to them. This team has been through a lot, and they have a lot more in them. But I have to give them the space to rediscover that fire. We’ll come back stronger from this, but only if we take the time to reset.”
The Ripple Effect: How Cronin’s Vulnerability Transformed the Team
The next day, true to his word, Cronin gave the team the day off. He stayed back at the facility, pouring over film and re-evaluating his approach. But the most surprising part of this decision wasn’t what Cronin did—it was the response from his players.
The UCLA team, still reeling from the loss, began to rally around their coach. The day off didn’t lead to complacency. Instead, it sparked something within the Bruins. Many players reported feeling a sense of relief, knowing that their coach understood the pressure they had been under. It gave them the space they needed to regain perspective and reset.
The following day, UCLA returned to practice with a renewed sense of purpose. The energy was different; it was palpable. Cronin’s vulnerability and willingness to show his team that he was human gave the players a newfound respect for him. It was as if the walls had come down. The players felt that Cronin wasn’t just their coach—he was their leader, someone who was in the trenches with them.
“I’ve never seen Coach like that before,” said one player, speaking anonymously. “It was different, but in a good way. He showed us that we don’t always have to be perfect. We just have to be better than we were yesterday.”
Cronin’s decision to take ownership of the loss and allow his players to rest shifted the entire culture within the locker room. Players who had been doubting themselves now began to trust the process. They knew that their coach, despite his tough exterior, had their backs. He wasn’t interested in breaking them down—he wanted to build them up, even in the wake of failure.
The Outcome: A Rejuvenated Team
UCLA’s next game was a must-win to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive. With the added time for reflection and the reset that Cronin had orchestrated, the Bruins came out with a renewed sense of energy. The physical and mental fatigue that had plagued them in the loss to Wisconsin seemed to evaporate. Their defense was sharper, their offense more fluid, and most importantly, their intensity had returned.
Though UCLA did not go on to win the Big Ten Tournament, they managed to recover and secure a place in the NCAA Tournament, where they would eventually make a strong run. Cronin’s unexpected moment of vulnerability and the shift in his leadership style played a key role in the Bruins’ revitalization. They had learned from their defeat, and with their coach leading them with humility and wisdom, they regained their form.
