In Reply to: Re: WE will after Dent/TB graduate! posted by Dr.Bruin on March 09, 2026 at 13:19:51
There's a couple of things to this.
1) IMHO, CMC doesn't develop all facets of a player's game as a coach, especially on offense. Generally, when players get better at scoring under CMC, it's their own work, not something he's teaching
2) Outside of JJJ, our best offensive players haven't been guys he's recruited and developed, but ones who could already score and he got them through the portal and taught to be better defenders and not turn the ball over. (TBH, this approach is more sustainable now than it was previously). And yeah, JJJ wasn't a guy he recruited to Westwood... but did develop a lot, especially defensively.
3) We still seem to play for the shots we try to force other teams to take, but Dent and the shooters make the spacing better, and, well, they are making shots. ;).
4) Players who could be better scorers on offense still play timidly and don't attack the basket, afraid of turnovers. There's a reason Skyy Clark and ED disappear so much, and it's when they just stand around the perimeter. ED is doing better, but Clark has been very passive offensively since coming back. The standing around builds on that passivity, and we are SO much better when ED is in attack mode.
5) How many more Dent's are coming? He's doing things UCLA PG's haven't done since Pooh Richardson and longer. I do think the way Dent started the year vs how he's playing now may actually help with getting another high level PG to come in
So, yeah, I am GREATLY impressed with how much better the offense has been this year, but, just like I want to see players improve and build on that improvement, I want to see CMC improve as a Coach, especially offensively still. Criticism doesn't necessarily mean hate.
And, maybe, this year is the year we are seeing CMC improve. the light clicking for Dent and the development of Perry could be indications of long term growth. One area he REALLY needs to improve is in Road Trip planning to get our best games going East. That is still abysmal, and is a Management issue, not an on the floor coaching issue.
We shall see, but yeah, I am not as much on the I really hope CMC takes another job soon bandwagon as I was early in the year, but this is going to be a crucial offseason and next season.
Let's not forget that we were supposed to be a top-10 type team this year on paper...