LOS ANGELES – The starting five for the No. 19 UCLA Bruins looked a little different in Tuesday night’s win over Sacramento State and that was the players’ design in a way, not head coach Mick Cronin’s.
Cronin divides his team in several squads for practice scrimmages, and from there he can ascertain who looks like they fit best where on the court and from that he finds his starting lineup. It isn’t always who’s expected, as was shown with Tuesday night’s starting lineup.
Three Bruins made their first starts of the season: Steven Jamerson II, Jamar Brown and Brandon Williams. Cronin confirmed that this unique roster construction was based in who impressed in practice the most and who he believed he could win, and not any kind of banishing to the bench for any usual starters.
“They pay me to win games and I thought that was the lineup that was ready to do it,” Cronin said. “I don’t believe in messages, I don’t believe in doghouses… I play the guys that, tonight, I thought would give us the best chance to get off to a great start. How did I assess that? The way we practiced yesterday.”
Those three newcomers to the starting lineup combined for 15 points and 13 rebounds and made themselves present when it came to defense and grappling for the ball. The effort they brought to the court impressed junior Eric Dailey Jr., who had a stellar night himself with a 15 point, 10 rebound double-double.
“First off, Brandon Williams, he hasn’t played really since his freshman year and for him to start tonight, that’ really a big moment for his confidence, because we’re going to need him,” Dailey Jr. said. Jamar’s bringing the toughness, and even Steven… he’s bringing energy on the board.”
Jamerson II did suffer a turned ankle, Cronin confirmed postgame, after he landed hard while fighting for the ball in the first half.
The way that the Bruins practiced in particular culminated in a 20 point win by the reserve squad in a scrimmage, a representation of the effort UCLA puts in across the roster and the talent level they have across the roster.
“We’re just battling it out and we look up at the scoreboard and there it is,” sophomore Trent Perry said. “We’re all playing very hard in practice regardless. Other teams, maybe they settle down one day, we’re always playing hard. We’re always competing.
Effort is the thing that Cronin puts the most emphasis on, both in his roster construction and his coaching style. It’s the effort of his players that he wants to define the games above all else.
“I have no problem losing on the scoreboard. I have a problem when I think that we don’t play hard enough or smart at the end of games. That I have a problem with. As Danny Glover said at the end of Lethal Weapon, ‘If we’re going to die, we’re going to die my way,” Cronin said.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Sacramento State Hornets guard Prophet Johnson (16), UCLA Bruins guard Skyy Clark (55), forward Tyler Bilodeau (34) and guard Jamar Brown (4) scramble for a loose ball during the first half at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial.
When it comes to how the roster will look next game, nothing is set in stone, despite how successful Tuesday night was. Just like before, everything comes down to how much hard work comes out of the next practice. That, to Cronin, is what it means to compete as a Bruin.
“Right now we’re in a moment of trying to learn how to play hard enough to earn the jersey that they wear,” Cronin said. “I have great respect for the jersey, I left my hometown and coaching at my Alma Mater… because of how much respect I have for UCLA basketball. I try to demand that my players play with that kind of effort and have that same respect.”
