In Reply to: Cronin = Howland: Offense only as good as the players posted by Dr.Bruin on January 13, 2026 at 12:23:09
Yeah, I agree, but here’s the dilemma. Highly skilled offensive players (the typical five-star types) rarely want to play for a defense-first coach. That’s essentially where things landed under Howland, and it feels like we may be heading down a similar path with Cronin.
Howland tried to break from the traditional model at the time by recruiting more heavily outside of Southern California. If I remember correctly, he hired Shabazz’s father, which helped bring in Kyle and players connected to that circle. The team was fairly successful, and if not for Adams’ injury, who knows how far they could have gone. Ultimately, though, the decision-makers concluded that this approach wasn’t sustainable. Former players, in particular, were very vocal critics, Walton’s infamous diatribe being the most memorable example.
Ironically, what Cronin once railed against may end up being his saving grace. If you accept the idea that NIL has made the player market far more competitive, and that money can now open doors, then Cronin may actually have a window to upgrade the talent. Provided he can identify and invest in the right players.
There are plenty of reasons a player might choose a school, but my cynical side says that in today’s landscape, money and exposure sit at the top of the list. Fortunately, UCLA still offers enormous visibility, and allegedly, we’re operating in close to the upper tier when it comes to NIL resources.