Close on Betts, Big Ten Travel & More!
Feb 13, 2026
UCLA is rolling — but Cori Close isn’t letting her team look ahead.
Hoops 360 sits down with the Bruins head coach to unpack what fuels the No. 2 team in the country.
Close also dives into Lauren Betts’ evolution, the tough lessons from UCLA’s lone loss to Texas, and how Big Ten travel forces a whole new level of planning — from recovery to academics.
Plus: what’s next for women’s basketball and her thoughts on the changing landscape (NIL, the portal, and protecting the game’s momentum).
00:00 Intro: Cori Close Joins Hoops 360
01:12 Final Four Lessons
06:35 The “Mind Gym” Daily Routine
10:59 Lauren Betts’ Growth: Efficiency + Playmaking
14:06 What Texas & Michigan Exposed
22:15 What Women’s Hoops Needs Next
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