Bruins see Alabama as a study in contrast
INDIANAPOLIS » When he watches tape of Alabama ahead of Sunday’s Sweet 16 game, you might excuse UCLA head coach Mick Cronin for getting a little jealous of the playing style of the Crimson Tide.
Alabama loves to push the tempo, trying to create turnovers and run up the court and increase the number of possessions per game. The secondseeded Crimson Tide ranks 13th nationally in pace of play, with an average of 74.7 possessions per 40 minutes.
The 11-seeded Bruins, on the other hand, rank 333rd out of 347 programs this season in pace of play. This is out of necessity, due to personnel type as well as a tight rotation, as Cronin simply can’t afford to run his ragged, especially when UCLA (20-9) meets Alabama (26-6) at 4:15 p.m. Sunday at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
“We have some guys that have logged some major minutes,” Cronin said. “I look forward to the day we can fly up and down the floor, we have those type of numbers and we got guys who can fly like that.
“But that’s their strength and it’s not ours.”
NCAA vs. G League
One player who is not part of UCLA’s tournament run is Daishen Nix. The former five-star recruit was signed to play for the Bruins this season before he was recruited to play professionally with the NBA G League team Ignite.
“This is America, man, it’s capitalism,” Cronin said.
While Cronin was frustrated that a player who had already signed a letter of intent was recruited away, he acknowledged that the NBA and its owners won’t particularly care about his complaints.
On Thursday, he defended the NCAA as the best route for players as they prepare for the NBA.
“College basketball has been a free farm system for 40 years for the NBA and it is, and it will always be, the best place for a young player to develop,” Cronin said. “The experience is second to none and I believe it’s the best basketball development.”