OC Register's Maggie Vanoni: UCLA men’s basketball prepares for first true road game

Bruins practice playing better beyond the 3-point line and limiting opponents' runs before they travel to Notre Dame

dec 11, 2019 | MAGGIE VANONI |o.c. register | ARTICLE LINK

Two weeks ago, the UCLA men’s basketball team was enjoying the warm, sunny beaches in Lahaina, Hawaii, as it played three games in three days in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational.

The Bruins will be in a far different environment Saturday when they travel to South Bend, Indiana, where temperatures are expected to be in the low 40s with showers of snow, to face longtime rival Notre Dame for their first true road game of the season.

The away game means few UCLA fans in the stands come tip-off, as the Bruins (7-3) hope to replicate last year’s success against the Fighting Irish (7-3) in the conclusion of a two-season home-and-home series.

“In Maui, it was our fans vs their fans, but going out there to South Bend, it’s going to be mostly Notre Dame fans. We’re excited,” UCLA point guard Tyger Campbell said. “The fans last year were great when they came out. Hopefully it’s a good game when we go over there, and we want to get the win. That’s all I’m worried about.”

While it’s hard to prepare for the possible distractions on an opponent’s home-court environment, Bruins’ head coach Mick Cronin has focused this week’s practices on helping his players remain mentally focused as a unit throughout the full duration of the game.

“We’ve got to practice staying together,” he said. “What people don’t know about me is that you watch me coach the Denver game, I know we’re going to win, so I’m coaching that game like practice. Saturday is a different story. I’ve got to keep these guys’ heads up, we’ve got to keep our arms around each other, we’ve got to stay together on the road because … it’s just you and your bench and you’ve got to stay together.”

Last year, it was a buzzer-beater 3-pointer from Kris Wilkes that gave UCLA a 65-62 win over Notre Dame.

Even though there hasn’t been any as close games this year for the Bruins, the team has struggled to perform consistently beyond the arc. It finished the Maui Jim Maui Invitational with a 75-62 loss to then-ranked No. 3 Michigan State, in which UCLA shot a season-low 13.3% on 3-pointers.

On Sunday, the Bruins allowed Denver to make six 3-point shots in the first half alone. While the team was able to hold the Pioneers to just one 3-pointer in the second half in a 81-62 victory, the Bruins shot just 5 of 22 from outside the 3-point line.

Cronin believes if the team is able to stop and prevent opponent’s runs, like the one Denver used with 3-pointers to twice get within one point, it will be able to play a full 40-minute game.

“The biggest thing I teach young guys is how to take a punch and keep fighting, because what happens with young guys, [is in] their body language and it becomes instead of a two-point run for the other team, it’s a 10-point run,” he said. “You got to learn how to stop a run. We can’t get down on ourselves, that’s what we’re practicing.”

UCLA at Notre Dame

When: Noon Saturday

Where: Purcell Pavilion, Notre Dame, Indiana

TV/Radio: ABC/AM 570

LA Times: UCLA basketball’s Mick Cronin knows how to make a point with the pine

"YOU! ON THE BENCH!!!" 

UCLA coach Mick Cronin has no qualms about taking a player off the floor for making mental mistakes.

(Darryl Oumi / Getty Images)

dec 11, 2019 | BEN BOLCH | THE L.A. TIMES | ARTICLE LINK

The whistle blew and Prince Ali acted like he knew what was coming next.

After slapping hands together in frustration over his needless foul underneath UCLA’s basket midway through the second half Sunday, the senior guard glanced at the bench and drifted toward the sideline as the buzzer signaled a player substitution.

Chris Smith was in, Ali was out.

It’s become a familiar routine over the Bruins’ first 10 games under coach Mick Cronin, who has pulled players after mistakes to use the bench as an ally while treating some early season games against overmatched opponents like practice situations.

“You want to teach; you never want to take guys’ confidence,” Cronin said Wednesday of his approach. “But there is a time where you do have to make a point.”

The point with Ali was that you can’t foul somebody near the baseline after missing a layup. It’s the sort of play, Cronin said, that could turn a victory into defeat.

“We are not talented enough to overcome mistakes, whatever you want to call them — bonehead plays, you pick your adjective, fouling 86 feet from the basket, whatever you want to call them,” Cronin said. “It already cost us one game.”

Cronin was referring to forward Cody Riley’s technical foul in the second half against Hofstra last month that sparked the Pride’s comeback during an eventual 10-point victory over the Bruins. Cronin said Riley realized the magnitude of his mistake.

“He was in my office the next day almost crying; he’s searching me out to apologize,” Cronin said. “He didn’t sleep. But we got to grow up. [The players] care, so it’s my job to teach them.”

Cronin’s quick hooks have become so routine that some players have immediately walked toward the bench after throwing a bad pass or committing a traveling violation without even looking to make sure somebody else was entering the game.

Smith said getting repeatedly pulled from games didn’t shake his confidence.

“We all want to get better,” Smith said. “If you come out of a game, you come out for a reason. Either you did something wrong and they coach you up on the sideline or just matchups, somebody could get in there that’s got a better matchup than you, so you get snatched, you come to the bench to learn.”

Players who have been yanked often sit in what could be described as the teaching chair among assistant coaches Darren Savino, Michael Lewis and Rod Palmer.

“They just tell you what you probably should have done, ask what you were thinking and just go from there,” Ali said of the assistants. “It’s a learning experience.”

Cronin arrived at UCLA with a reputation as a player’s coach despite his demanding ways and said he tried to ensure that his new players realize he will always prioritize their value as people over whatever they accomplish on the court.

Sometimes he removes players when they would surely prefer to play on.

“There are other times,” Cronin said, “where you can’t take a guy out because you don’t have anybody to put in.”

Etc.

UCLA’s poor shot selection is among the reasons the Bruins have made only 30.9% of their three-pointers, Cronin said. The coach has worked with Ali, who has made 21.1% of his shots from beyond the arc, on squaring up his body toward the basket. “Sometimes when I shoot,” Ali said, “I twist a little bit and that affects my percentage.” … Sophomore guard David Singleton has recovered from the foot injury that sidelined him against Denver on Sunday and should be able to play against Notre Dame on Saturday, Cronin said. … Cronin said the Bruins are working on a possible summer trip to Vancouver to play Canadian college teams under NCAA rules that allow teams to travel abroad in the off-season every four years. UCLA’s last summer foreign trip was to Australia in 2016.

Coach Mick Cronin and players media availability before Notre Dame game on Saturday

From UCLA Athletics

Dec 11, 2019

Coach Cronin met with the media on Wednesday in the Mo Ostin Basketball Center. UCLA returns to action at Notre Dame on Saturday, Dec. 14. Game time is 12 pm PT (3 pm ET) on ABC.


Prince Ali, Chris Smith and Tyger Campbell spoke to reporters on Wednesday in the Mo Ostin Basketball Center. UCLA returns to action at Notre Dame on Saturday, Dec. 14.

2019-20 UCLA Bruins

Standing (L-R) Jules Bernard, Jake Kyman, Chris Smith, Alex Olesinski, Jalen Hill, Shareef O'Neal, Kenneth Nwuba, Cody Riley, Jaime Jaquez, Jr. 

Sitting (L-R) Russell Stong, David Singleton, Tyger Campbell, Asst Coach Michael Lewis, Assoc Head Coach Darren Savino, Head Coach Mick Cronin, Asst Coach Rod Palmer, Prince Ali, Armani Dodson, Isaac Wulff. 

Tyler Lamb racks up 33 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists for Thailand vs The Philippines in the Championship Game at the 2019 SEA Games

Thailand loses to The Philippines 115-81.

Highlights from ESPN5

Full game from 2019 South East Asian Games Philippines


From fiba.com

Philippines win SEA Games Gold in both Men's and Women's basketball over Thailand

"In the SEA Games men’s basketball Final, 17-time winners Philippines came into the matchup beating their opponents by an average of 47.3 points per game while scoring 113.3 points per contest. Despite coming in as underwhelming favorites, Thailand were able to keep it closely contested throughout the first half. At the end of the first 20 minutes of action, Thailand trailed by merely 48-39.

The second half was a different story as the Philippines started connecting on their three-pointers to break open a 40-15 third quarter advantage. Gilas cruised the rest of the way for a 115-81 win to clinch the gold medal once again.

ESPN5

✔@Sports5PH

13TH STRAIGHT GOLD MEDAL FOR GILAS PILIPINAS IN THE SEA GAMES.#SamaSamaSaSEAGames #SEAGames2019 #WeWinAsOne

2,101

5:58 AM - Dec 10, 2019

Twitter Ads info and privacy

520 people are talking about this

Thailand relied once again on a herculean performance from Tyler Lamb who had 33 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. Big man Chanatip Jakrawan also added in 15 points and 8 boards.

The Philippines had a whopping 7 players reach double-digits in scoring, led by June Mar Fajardo who had 17 points. The second half featured a bombard of three-pointers, resulting in a shooting percentage of 50 percent from beyond the arc for the gold medalists."

UCLA beats Denver 81-62 to go to 7-3 for season.

Pac-12 Networks

UCLA men's basketball picked up its seventh win on the season after defeating Denver 81-62 on Sunday in Westwood. Redshirt sophomore Cody Riley scored a game-high 21 points and finished with 11 rebounds to lead the game in that category as well. Freshman guard Jaime Jaquez Jr., who started in his third consecutive game, scored 16 points and dished out four assists to help the Bruins move to 7-3 on the season; Denver falls to 4-6 behind Ade Murkey's 18-point performance.


UCLA Athletics

Bruins Defeat Denver, 81-62

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | December 08, 2019 | uclabruins.com

LOS ANGELES – Sophomore Cody Riley had a 21-point, 11-rebound double-double to lead the UCLA men's basketball team past Denver, 81-62, on Sunday afternoon at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom.
 
The Bruins (7-3) also received double-digit scoring from freshman Jaime Jaquez Jr. (16 points) and senior Prince Ali (11 points).
 
Riley's double-double marked career-highs for the sophomore forward in points (21), rebounds (11) and made field goals (9). He finished the game having made 9 of 13 shots and 3 of 4 free throws through 22 minutes.
 
Jaquez Jr.'s 16-points game marked the third time in UCLA's last four games in which the freshman from Camarillo, Calif., had scored in double figures.
 
The Bruins controlled the interior against the visiting Pioneers (4-6), out-rebounding Denver by a 41-27 margin and out-scoring the visitors in the paint, 40-22.
 
In addition, UCLA's defense forced 17 turnovers by Denver, including 12 in the first half.
 
"Obviously we did some good things, took care of the ball today for the most part," said Mick Cronin, The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach. "Cody was tremendous for a long stretch. He can score if you don't double him."
 
UCLA opened the game on an 11-0 run, a scoring streak highlighted by a steal and one-handed slam dunk from Jaquez Jr.
 
Denver was firing from beyond the 3-point arc, having made 6 of 10 long-range attempts before halftime, to stay within striking distance. After having trailed 11-0, Denver reduced UCLA's cushion to two points – 13-11 – with 14:32 to play. UCLA led the Pioneers 31-29 with 4:05 to play before the break, using a 12-3 scoring run to close the first half.
 
Key plays from UCLA's late scoring run included an uncontested slam dunk by Ali and a 3-point basket from Jaquez Jr., just seconds before the final buzzer.
 
UCLA remained in control throughout the second half, never allowing the lead to slip to fewer than 10 points. A 9-0 UCLA scoring run, capped by a pair of free throws from Jalen Hill at the 12:30 mark, put the Bruins ahead by 19 points (60-41) with 13 minutes remaining in regulation.
 
The Bruins expanded their cushion to 20 points with over one minute to play, as freshman guard Jake Kyman made a pair of free throws after a steal around mid-court.
 
Denver's Ade Murkey scored a team-leading 18 points. The Pioneers also had 10 points from Jase Townsend. Murkey made 7 of 12 shots for Denver, including 3 of 5 attempts from 3-point distance.
 
UCLA will return to action at Notre Dame on Saturday, Dec. 14. Game time is 12 p.m. (PT) / 3 p.m. (ET). The Bruins' game at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Ind., will be nationally televised on ABC. Dave Pasch and Bill Walton will have the call.

UCLA dispatches San Jose State, 93-64. Bruins now 6-3.

Pac-12 Networks

Jeff Siegel

UCLA Athletics

uclabruins.com

LOS ANGELES – Jalen Hill and Jaime Jaquez Jr. each scored 18 points to lift the UCLA men's basketball team past San Jose State, 93-64, in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom on Sunday night.

UCLA (6-3) secured a 46-29 halftime lead and stayed ahead by at least 20 points throughout the second half. The Bruins' game on Sunday marked the team's first game back in Los Angeles since returning home from the Maui Jim Maui Invitational on Friday evening.

Hill, a sophomore from Corona, Calif., finished with his third double-double of the season (18 points, 11 rebounds).

Jaquez Jr., a freshman from Camarillo, Calif., scored a season-high 18 points in the win. Jaquez Jr. earned his second start of the season and finished the game having made 7 of 10 shots from the field.

Rounding out UCLA's list of double figure scorers included Chris Smith (14 points) and Prince Ali (10 points).

"I was obviously concerned about the fact that we played three games in Maui and didn't leave until Friday, then didn't get back until almost 10 at night," said Mick Cronin, The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach. "To have to turn around and play today is tough, but I thought the guys, their energy level was great. I was proud of them. They responded well to it. We're just trying to get better every day."

The Bruins never trailed against San Jose State (3-5) and twice extended the lead to as many as 33 points in the second half. UCLA shot 52.3 percent from the field, making 34 of 65 shots.

Hill and Jaquez Jr. each added four assists, leading all players. The Bruins finished the game with 21 total assists.

UCLA's bench scored 19 points in the first half and finished the game with 37 total points.

The Bruins led 26-14 with 11 minutes to play before halftime, when San Jose State used a 7-0 scoring run over the next 90 seconds to trim UCLA's advantage to just five points. From that point, UCLA used a 13-3 scoring run to claim a 39-24 lead at the 5:45 mark.

In the second half, the Bruins took advantage of a 13-0 run to extend their cushion to 79-46, with 9:04 to play. A 3-point basket by Singleton at the 9:04 mark pushed UCLA's margin to 33 points. Minutes later, Jules Bernard nailed a jump shot to put UCLA back ahead by 33 points (83-50, with 6:44 remaining).

In all, 14 Bruins saw action on Sunday night. Russell Stong scored his first career points, and Armani Dodson scored his first basket in nearly three seasons.

Four players for San Jose State scored in double figures. Zach Chappell tallied a team-leading 12 points for the Spartans.

UCLA will return to action against Denver on Sunday, Dec. 8. Game time in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom is 2 p.m. (PT). The Bruins' game will be televised by the Pac-12 Network, with Ted Robinson and Don MacLean on the call.