{"id":97839,"date":"2024-09-27T16:31:23","date_gmt":"2024-09-27T20:31:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=97839"},"modified":"2024-09-27T16:31:23","modified_gmt":"2024-09-27T20:31:23","slug":"ucla-bruins-restocked-for-upcoming-season-mick-cronin-its-not-like-i-put-a-gun-to-anybodys-head","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/09\/27\/ucla-bruins-restocked-for-upcoming-season-mick-cronin-its-not-like-i-put-a-gun-to-anybodys-head\/","title":{"rendered":"UCLA Bruins Restocked For Upcoming Season, Mick Cronin “It\u2019s not like I put a gun to anybody\u2019s head”"},"content":{"rendered":"

The UCLA Bruins<\/a> are looking to bounce back from a disappointing season under sixth-year head coach Mick Cronin<\/a>. The Bruins went 16-17 last season, ending a three-year run of reaching the Sweet 16<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Following the season, UCLA<\/a> saw massive departures. Six-foot-10 center Adem Bona<\/a> bolted for the NBA,<\/a> where he was a second-round pick of the Philadelphia 76ers. French forward Ilene Fibeuil<\/a> turned pro in France, and three others, Berke Buyuktuncel<\/a> (Nebraska), Jan Vide<\/a> (LMU), and Will McClendon<\/a> (San Jose State), transferred.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know how I look at everything, man,” Cronin said before UCLA’s first official practice earlier this week. I just tell it like it is. It\u2019s not like I put a gun to anybody\u2019s head. Obviously, you have to offer guys money. But they could have went other places. Guys are returning that could have left.\u201d<\/p>\n