While UCLA’s Mick Cronin has always been a coach who generates headlines in his press conferences, in 2024-25, he’s propelled himself even further into the spotlight.
Cronin made headlines on Friday when discussing the issues of conference realignment and travel accommodations.
When asked if Big Ten teams traveling to Los Angeles to play away games is comparable to the East Coast road trip the Bruins have had to take this season, Cronin went after the reporter, assuming the question was a joke.
“Is that a joke?” Cronin asked. “Please tell me that’s a joke. Have you ever looked at the NBA stats that the gamblers and all those people do at West versus East? Good luck going east. Ask me UCLA’s record east of the Mississippi in the last 20 years. It’s under .500. We have to go back four times.”
UCLA is one of four newly minted Big Ten teams on the West Coast, alongside USC, Washington, and Oregon, who made the move from the Pac-12. The team is located more than 2,000 miles away from where the Big Ten Basketball tournament is hosted in 2024-25, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
“Oh, a Big Ten gets to come to Los Angeles where it’s 70 degrees, one time a year,” Cronin continued mockingly. “They don’t even have to switch hotels. Are you kidding me? Please tell me you’re kidding me. I mean, is this a plant? Was this a planted question? I mean, you cannot be serious.”
Cronin finished his comments by saying, “We’ve seen the Statue of Liberty twice in the last three weeks. You’re asking me to feel sorry because Iowa had to come to LA for a few days?”
