The arduous journey towards regaining national prominence initiated with a home game against an understated adversary.
Following a disappointing defeat to a smaller program, UCLA opted for a less formidable foe on Monday night but didn’t significantly bolster its case for a return to the national rankings.
Many of the troubling issues that hindered the Bruins in their previous outing resurfaced during a disjointed 71-40 victory over Boston University held at Pauley Pavilion.
Fortunately for the Bruins, their defense proved too overwhelming for Boston University, who struggled to maintain possession against UCLA’s relentless backcourt pressure. UCLA (2-1) managed to force an impressive 28 turnovers, converting these into 36 points while taking a tentative step forward after their earlier setback against New Mexico.
“I was most happy tonight with our attitude of humility and the fact that we dove on the floor more tonight than every scrimmage, game or exhibition game combined,” Bruins coach Mick Cronin said. “In the first half, we surpassed our dives on the floor for the year.”
In a more encouraging development, this marks the first instance since the 2008-09 season that UCLA has forced 20 or more turnovers in consecutive games.
After his team was bullied by New Mexico, Cronin candidly expressed his feelings, describing how sick he felt and his sleepless nights. He subsequently challenged his players to adopt a tougher mentality.
UCLA guard Kobe Johnson had four steals, showcasing his defensive prowess, while forward Eric Dailey Jr. secured three steals for the Bruins, who totaled 14. The standout moment perhaps belonged to guard Skyy Clark, who made a spectacular dive into the broadcaster’s table near midcourt to prevent his steal from rolling out of bounds. Clark finished the evening with 16 deflections, just one shy of the record for any player coached by Cronin.
“He’s wrecking havoc all over the place,” Cronin said of Clark, who contributed six rebounds, four points, and two assists. “I mean, he’s got games where he’s gonna score plenty of points. But he’s really trying to embrace … what we’re trying to do with his effort.”
Boston University (0-3) found itself struggling to navigate the ball into their frontcourt during UCLA’s explosive 9-0 and 10-0 scoring runs early in the second half that essentially turned the contest into a blowout.
Dailey noted that the team’s response to their earlier loss materialized in practice through a collective determination to rectify their previous mistakes. “It was pretty intense,” he explained. “I mean, you know, we don’t like to lose, and we’ll do everything in our power to change mistakes that we made.”
Cronin said he didn’t care about the inaccuracy given the way his team responded on defense. “I can deal with missed shots,” Cronin said. “I can’t deal with not competing physically.”
Cronin was especially pleased with big man Aday Mara grabbing seven rebounds in 10 minutes off the bench. Forward William Kyle III also dazzled during a sequence in which he blocked what appeared to be an uncontested layup. A few seconds later, he seized a missed shot from Mack and executed a ferocious putback dunk.
One change for the Bruins came at tipoff, as Cronin opted for Stefanovic over Dylan Andrews in the starting lineup. Andrews was sidelined due to a left groin injury, which is regarded as day-to-day.
Cronin assured his sharpshooter that those individual struggles were inconsequential; what truly mattered was their adversary’s total score. “If we hold everybody to 40,” Cronin said, “we’re going to win every game the rest of the year.”
**Interview with UCLA Men’s Basketball Head Coach Mick Cronin Following the Bruins’ Victory Over Boston University**
**Interviewer:** Good evening, Coach Cronin. Congratulations on the 71-40 victory over Boston University. After the tough loss to New Mexico, how did this win help in the team’s journey back to prominence?
**Mick Cronin:** Thank you! This win was crucial for us. It was not about the score but rather the attitude we brought onto the court. After the New Mexico game, we had a tough talk about mental toughness, and I think tonight, we took some real steps forward. Our energy and humility were evident, and I was particularly proud of how we dove for loose balls—far more than we have all season.
**Interviewer:** You managed to force an impressive 28 turnovers and converted them into 36 points. What did you think of the team’s defensive performance?
**Mick Cronin:** Our defense was the highlight of the night for sure. It’s our identity, and when we play with that intensity, it fuels our offense. Forcing turnovers is something we need to continue to focus on, and seeing us do it back-to-back games for the first time since 2008-09 is a great sign. It’s all about building that momentum.
**Interviewer:** Kobe Johnson had a standout defensive performance with four steals. What did you see from him in this game?
**Mick Cronin:** Kobe displayed the kind of defensive tenacity that we expect from him. His ability to impact the game on both ends is crucial, and he showed that when he’s locked in, he can be a game-changer. This kind of effort is contagious, and I hope it resonates with the rest of the team.
**Interviewer:** Skyy Clark made an incredible dive to prevent a turnover, finishing with 16 deflections. Your thoughts on his impact?
**Mick Cronin:** Skyy was phenomenal tonight. He’s always making plays that don’t show up on the stat sheet. With 16 deflections, he’s wreaking havoc, as I like to call it. His hustle and determination embody the kind of mentality we need moving forward. He’s a special player, and I think he’s just scratching the surface of what he can achieve.
**Interviewer:** Looking ahead, what are your goals for the team as you move towards more challenging opponents?
**Mick Cronin:** Well, building off this momentum is critical. The next step is maintaining consistency in our performance. We need to harness this energy and discipline in every game and keep developing that tough mentality. There’s always room for improvement, and I have full faith in our players to rise to the occasion.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your time, Coach Cronin, and best of luck in the upcoming games!
**Mick Cronin:** Thank you! We appreciate the support. Go Bruins!