UCLA's Cronin calls team soft: 'I'm upset with everybody'

UCLA head coach Mick Cronin ripped into his team's effort and demeanor following Tuesday's 94-75 blowout loss to No. 24 Michigan.

"Obviously, they shot the ball well, but we're soft," Cronin said to open his postgame press conference, according to Tony Garcia of The Detroit Free Press. "We're too soft to play hard enough. We can't get an offensive rebound. ... We finally do get a stop, and we can't get a defensive rebound."

Cronin added: "Don't tell me you want to win."

The No. 22 Bruins have dropped their last two contests to Big Ten opponents, losing to unranked Nebraska earlier in January. Cronin said he's looking for players who "will play hard enough to win" a conference game.

The veteran coach added he's tired of motivating his team at this point in the campaign.

"I have to run on the court to get guys to play hard. It's crazy, and it's every day. I'm tired of it. I have the most energy of anybody in practice every day," Cronin said. "I'm upset with everybody in that locker room, my assistant coaches and my players. I don't need to do anything. I've got 500 wins, and I'm 53. You'd think I'm coaching the Lakers."

In his sixth season with UCLA, Cronin owns a 126-57 record with the Bruins. He's led the school to March Madness three straight years, including a Final Four appearance in 2021.

"It's really hard to coach people that are delusional," Cronin said. "The hungry dog gets the bone. We've got guys who think they're way better than they are. They're nice kids, but they're completely delusional about who they are. The team that's mind is on the right stuff and is hungry to win in conference play is the team that's probably going to win. Right now, we're far. If this wasn't the humble pie they needed, then I don't know."

UCLA faces Maryland on Friday.