The UCLA men’s basketball team is 6-9 overall and 1-3 in Pac-12 play heading into Thursday’s game at Utah, which is the first time the Bruins have been three games below .500 midway through the season since 2010, when the program finished 14-18 under Ben Howland.
The Bruins are 17-10 all-time against the Utes, including seven consecutive victories.
Here’s what you need to know about the Pac-12 matchup:
UCLA AT UTAH
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: Jon M. Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
TV/RADIO: ESPN 2/AM 570
Records: UCLA 6-9, 1-3, Utah 11-4, 2-2
UCLA’s latest result: Coach Mick Cronin apologized for not talking to reporters after UCLA’s 66-57 loss to Cal at Pauley Pavilion on Jan. 6. Cronin, who sent assistant coach Rod Palmer to speak in his place, later explained why he felt the need to continue talking to the team long after the final buzzer.
“They need me right now,” Cronin said before Tuesday’s practice at the Mo Ostin Basketball Center. “They needed to see and I apologize. I know you guys work hard and you know I try to always accommodate you and go out of my way when I can, but at that time, they needed to see that I was concerned about anything else but the situation.
“They know I’m trying to help them, but concern the other night was although we haven’t lost a game by double figures all year but I thought the other night was the first time we got outhustled, which is not acceptable. I take it personally. I take my job personally. It’s not healthy for me. It’s bad for the people that love me, but it’s just the reality and when I don’t, I need to hang it up.”
Against the Golden Bears, the Bruins were led by freshman guard Sebastian Mack with 20 points. Sophomore forward Adem Bona had 14 points and four steals. Sophomore guard Dylan Andrews added 10 points.
However, UCLA could not overcome a 32-23 halftime deficit after the team’s slow start on…
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