Video: Mick Cronin Blasts 'Soft' UCLA Team, 'Delusional' Players in Viral Presser

UCLA head men's basketball coach Mick Cronin lambasted his team Tuesday night following a blowout loss to Michigan.

Speaking to reporters on the heels of a 94-75 home defeat at the hands of the No. 24 Wolverines, Cronin criticized his team for soft play and a lack of energy and passion:

Cronin said he is "tired" of having more energy, passion and pride than his players and assistant coaches every day at practice before adding: "It's really hard to coach people that are delusional. The hungry dog gets the bone. We've got guys that think they're way better than they are. They're nice kids, they're completely delusional about who they are."

Tuesday marked No. 22 UCLA's second consecutive loss and third loss in its past four outings.

The Bruins started 10-1, beating then-No. 12 Oregon, Washington and Arizona along the way before suffering a narrow, 76-74 loss to North Carolina on Dec. 21.

While UCLA bounced back with a huge win over then-No. 14 Gonzaga on Dec. 28, the next game was a major letdown, as the Bruins fell 66-58 to Nebraska, suffering their first Big Ten loss of the season in the process.

Each of UCLA's first three losses this season were by single digits, but Cronin's team was completely outclassed by Michigan on Tuesday, dropping UCLA to 11-4 overall and 2-2 in conference play.

The Bruins had no answers for center Vladislav Goldin, who went off for 36 points on 13-of-18 shooting to go along with seven rebounds. UCLA also surrendered 20 points to Tre Donaldson and 17 points to Nimari Burnett.

All told, Michigan shot a sizzling 61.5 percent from the field and 53.6 percent from beyond the arc. The Wolverines also won the rebounding battle 35-27 and held UCLA to 41.7 percent shooting from the floor and just 2-of-20 shooting from deep.

UCLA is one of the most accomplished and celebrated college basketball programs of all time, having won 11 national titles, but that level of success has been hard to come by lately.

Cronin led the Bruins to three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances from 2021 to 2023, which included one trip to the Final Four and two additional Sweet 16 results, but the Bruins missed the tourney with a 16-17 mark last season.

It initially looked like UCLA was poised to bounce back and return to prominence this season, but based on the team's recent struggles, it is difficult to say how the rest of the season will play out.

Cronin has a career record of 491-228 during his 22 seasons as a head coach at Murray State, Cincinnati and UCLA, making 14 NCAA tournament appearances along the way.

During his postgame press conference on Tuesday, Cronin alluded to the fact that he already has almost 500 career coaching wins at the age of 53, and he seemed to absolve himself of any blame for the team's poor play.

Cronin putting everything on the shoulders of his players could be the type of bold move that inspires them, but it could just as easily backfire if they feel like they don't have his support.

The initial effects of Cronin's speech will be felt Friday when the Bruins go on the road to face the 11-4 Maryland Terrapins.