In Reply to: Don't think Cronin can recover from the setbacks of last 2 years posted by DCfan on May 28, 2026 at 09:32:28
It’s hard to completely remove bias from the equation. For example, I happen to believe this team will be better than most expect. I’d even go as far as saying they could end up being better than last year’s team.
That said, I mentioned last season that it felt like an important year for Cronin, particularly in terms of what he could get out of Dent. I felt Dent’s game was naturally suited for playing loose, pushing tempo, and getting up and down the floor. Naturally, I wondered how that style would translate within Cronin’s system. If it worked seamlessly, I thought it could quiet some of the criticism that his system can sometimes handcuff players offensively — and yes, that criticism absolutely exists in high-level basketball circles.
So how did it turn out? I don’t think it was a disaster by any means, but I also don’t think many would call it a runaway success either. To Cronin’s credit, he clearly helped Dent improve his game management. The reduction in turnovers was significant and deserves recognition. Still, the larger concern remains when it comes to recruiting. Up to this point, I haven’t really seen evidence that Cronin is gaining momentum in securing top-tier talent. Some people will point solely to NIL and money, and while that’s certainly a factor, I don’t believe it’s the only one.
With all of that said, I still think there’s a narrow path for Cronin to get things moving in the right direction again. Like I said earlier, I think this team could surprise people. The question is whether he can generate enough wins and momentum this season to position the program for a legitimate leap next year and secure top talent. By all accounts, UCLA was competitive financially with recruits like Blackwell and Tounde. Now the challenge becomes building on that foundation, developing this young core, and most importantly, retaining it.
The opportunity is still there — it’s just a very small window.
PS- The antics off the court have not helped his cause.