UCLA head coach Mick Cronin praised the Wisconsin basketball program following the Bruins’ 85-83 win over the Badgers on Tuesday.
Fueled by a career-best 22 points from 7-foot-3 bench center Aday Mara and 19 more points from bench guard Sebastian Mack, UCLA put a pin in the Badgers’ recent seven-game win streak. It was UCLA’s second consecutive victory, those pair of results following a recent four-game losing streak.
After the match, the longtime Cincinnati head coach offered some kind words for Wisconsin’s team and program.
“Wisconsin’s got a really good team,” Cronin told media after the win. “They roll out graduate senior [Steven] Crowl and sixth-year player [John] Tonje. I think John Blackwell was as good as any guard we’ve played against, and I knew watching it on film.”
Cronin also offered some insight into the Badgers’ structure and coaching strength. With the sport’s evolving NIL and the transfer portal landscape, Wisconsin has adjusted well to the ongoing shifts.
“I watched [Greg Gard] back with Coach [Bo] Ryan, and the way they do things, they’ve recruited guys like Blackwell that nobody knew who the hell they were for years, whether it was him or Nigel Hayes,” Cronin said. “It’ll be interesting in the portal era if they can develop players. They’re a team that has a lot of returning players and obviously Tonje was a great addition for them. They shot it well and are extremely well coached.”
“You’ve got to stay ready and you’ve got to keep the right attitude, and that is a credit to Aday Mara, who didn’t play in our last game, and credit to Sebastian [Mack] …”
Coach Cronin, speaking to the media after UCLA’s 85-83 win pic.twitter.com/Uhj2HJhzC6
— UCLA Men’s Basketball (@UCLAMBB) January 22, 2025
Cronin also mentioned how well the Badgers stack up against some of the best in a loaded 18-team conference. In UCLA’s first season in the Big Ten, Cronin believes the Badgers are as talented as any team.
“They’re as good as anybody we’ve played or better,” Cronin said. “Size, talent coaching, veterans, point guard, big guys. They got a bench. They bring in guys like Gilmore off the bench, [Kamari] McGee. They bring in guys that are winners. I’m a big fan of their program and have been for a long time back to Coach Ryan.”
The Badgers now sit at 15-4 through 19 contests during the 2024-25 season. Their next game is slated for Jan. 26 at home against Nebraska.
