COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Following a disappointing home defeat to Michigan earlier in the week, UCLA head coach Mick Cronin expressed frustration once more, this time directing it toward the officiating during their game against Maryland on Friday night, which ended in a 79-61 loss. Cronin was ejected from the game with 5:11 left on the clock, and he didn’t hold back in critiquing both the referees and the scheduling practices of the Big Ten. Unlike his earlier remarks, where he labeled his players as “soft” and “delusional,” Cronin took a more lenient view of their performance, emphasizing that they were placed in an inequitable position.
“In defense of my guys, I didn’t think we were given any chance to win in the second half,” Cronin stated, adding that he expressed his concerns to referee Jeff Anderson before leaving the court. His frustration peaked after UCLA fell behind by nine points following a Maryland rebound, leading to him receiving two quick technical fouls that resulted in his expulsion from the game. “I don’t remember the last time I had a technical,” he remarked. “I had enough. I’m sending a message. I’m tired of it. I know we’re seen as the outsiders—us, SC, and Oregon—but that was ridiculous.”
Despite acknowledging Maryland’s strength as a formidable opponent, Cronin insisted that the officials needed to better protect his players during the game. “If you can just mug guys and chop their arms off, throw them out of the way, it’s hard to run any offense,” he asserted. The impact of the technical fouls was immediate, allowing Maryland to capitalize with a six-point possession and effectively turning the game into a lopsided contest.
Cronin further reflected on the need for stronger officiating while also understanding the importance of his team being more assertive with the ball. He highlighted the challenges presented by a condensed preparation period, as UCLA had only one day to prepare for the game following their previous match against Michigan.
This season marks UCLA’s inaugural participation in the Pac-12 conference alongside Southern California, Oregon, and Washington. The travel demands have been significant, especially considering their recent schedule, which included a game in Nebraska followed by the quick turnaround for the Michigan match, only to then travel to face Maryland and Rutgers.
“We had to travel on a five-hour-and-50-minute flight. They got home Sunday. They had two extra days,” Cronin noted. He expressed hope that the schedule would eventually favor his team, especially after noting that Michigan had arrived in Los Angeles three days before they did.
The current week has been especially challenging as wildfires wreak havoc in the Los Angeles area. After his ejection, Cronin’s first impulse was to check for updates on potential evacuations. “My house is getting real close to being evacuated,” he revealed. “When I got thrown out, I just immediately went to my phone.”
Looking ahead, UCLA will face Rutgers before returning home to embark on a series of seven consecutive games in the west from January 17 to February 8, including five games at home and away contests against Washington and USC. Cronin’s team is adjusting not only to the changes in conference but also to the extensive travel and its ramifications on their performance.
