Mick Cronin says UCLA lacks toughness after falling below .500 with Stanford loss

Mick Cronin’s first season is Westwood is not going according to plan.

After Wednesday’s 74-59 loss to the rival Stanford Cardinals dropped them below .500 on the season, the UCLA head coach tore into his players.

“When the going gets tough, we don’t have a lot of guys who get going,” said Cronin, per Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times. “When the going gets tough, we have some guys who will fold. We lack toughness.

“As the game goes on, our softness shows up,” Cronin continued. “Our selfishness at times is evident and it’s been probably to people who have watched us all year on the offensive end, some of the shots we take and the turnovers because certain guys don’t want to pass the basketball.”

The loss to Stanford marked the Bruins’ third straight defeat and fifth in their last six games, sinking them to an unsightly 8-9 on the year. With a bunch of low-ceiling underclassmen who are being thrust into headlining roles and no go-to scorer to rely on, the team seems to be in over their heads most nights.

UCLA probably won’t be making the NCAA Tournament for one reason or another, and Cronin thinks you can give them an “F” for effort right now too.