UCLA coach Mick Cronin led the Bruins to an upset 69-67 win over the No. 4 Purdue Boilermakers on Tuesday evening. The win at Pauley Pavilion improved the Bruins to 13-6 for the season.
The Bruins had a quick turnaround after Saturday’s 86-74 loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes on the road, while the Boilermakers had been in Los Angeles after playing against the USC Trojans three days ago.
Mick Cronin Livid at Big Ten Scheduling After Upset Win
Despite the euphoria of the quadrant one win against Purdue, the outspoken Cronin was livid with the Big Ten’s scheduling during his postgame news conference.
“I want to thank the Big Ten for giving us five of our first seven on the road, bringing Purdue here on Thursday night when we don’t get back in L.A. until Saturday night, and giving us the team picked to win the league on two days’ rest after five of our first seven on the road,” Cronin said. “Really, I want to thank the Big Ten for that.”
“I don’t think they care about basketball. Truly. That’s just my opinion. We’re in a league in the Midwest. So that’s just gonna be what it’s gonna be. But you ain’t got to play five of the first seven on the road, and then come home and get the team picked to win the league on two days’ rest.”
The Bruins’ three conference losses this season have come on the road against the Iowa Hawkeyes, Wisconsin Badgers, and Buckeyes.
Bruins Outclass Boilermakers Despite Road Weariness
Led by senior guard Donovan Dent, the Bruins’ offense shot at an efficient 56.9% from the field and 45% from beyond the arc, vis-Ã -vis, 45% and 25.9% by the Boilermakers, respectively.
During his postgame news conference after snapping Purdue’s nine-game winning streak and handing them only their second loss of the season, Dent expressed his hope that the Bruins would build on the pivotal Big Ten win.
“We know how good of a team we have, just which one of us shows up that night. Either we’re going to play hard, or we’re not, and that’s been our struggle all season. I think we can build off this a lot and go on a big run here,” Dent said.
Dent scored a buzzer-beater to keep the teams tied 32-32 at halftime, with the lead changing hands several times during the second half. Purdue looked to have clinched the win with 1:56 remaining after Trey Kaufman-Renn’s field goal, but Cronin’s Bruins went on an eight-point run to close out their most impressive win of the season.
