UCLA coach Mick Cronin unloads on his delusional players: Were soft

Mick Cronin is fed up with his UCLA basketball team.After the No.22 Bruins lost to No.

24 Michigan, 94-75, on Tuesday, a confounded Cronin blasted his team’s performance and character in a fiery postgame rant.“It’s really hard to coach people who are delusional,” Cronin told reporters Tuesday night after the homestback.

“The hungry dog gets the bone.We got guys who think they’re way better than they are.

They’re nice kids.They’re completely delusional about who they are.”UCLA (11-4, 2-2 Big Ten) has now lost three of four, including two straight conference games.“We’re soft,” Cronin said.

“It’s crazy.It’s every day, and I’m tired of it.

It’s every day.I have the most energy of anybody at practice every day.

I’m upset with everybody in that locker room.My assistant coaches and my players.”Cronin even called out some players by name.

“We can’t get an offensive rebound,” Cronin said.“It’s like a five-point game, and Kobe Johnson just has a guy take the ball from him.

Same thing with Sebastian Mack … There was a few [missed rebound opportunities] with Kobe and Mack.Huge.

Backbreaking.And you have inside position.

So, don’t tell me you want to win.”Cronin added that top guard Tyler Bilodeau started the game by giving up 12 points on defense and “got dunked on three times.”Michigan shot an insane 53.6 percent from 3-point range and 61.5 percent overall Tuesday.The Bruins coach added that he’s far too credentialed as a coach to be dealing with this.“I don’t need to do anything else.

I have almost 500 wins,” Cronin continued, bewildered by his team’s performance.“I’m only 53.

You’d think I am coaching the Lakers.It’s a joke.”Cronin concluded the media availability by saying he is “running on the court to get guys to pressure the ball and play hard.” “I’m literally out on the court,” Cronin said.Cronin has been a solid coach for UCLA since coming over from Cincinnati in 2019....