No. 4 UCLA tries to shed complacency against struggling Cal-Orange County registry

UCLA coach Mick Cronin said his fourth-seeded Bruins were “cocky” in Thursday night’s 73-64 win over Stanford.

“Far too carefree,” said the coach in the fourth year.

Despite the complacency, UCLA extended its home winning streak to 22 games with a win over the Cardinal, who won six of his last eight contests, on Thursday.

“I said to our guys, ‘What did you think was going to happen?'” Cronin said. “We treated them in their place, they have some good players in this team, for three days they prepare for us and come to play against one of the best teams in the country on the road.”

The game had the makings of a surprise — and it felt like brewing over multiple stretches — but the Bruins buckled down.

If complacency was an issue against a formidable opponent like Stanford, that might be the bigger concern against Cal on Saturday night. The Golden Bears are 3-23 overall and 2-13 in Pac-12 conference play after losing to USC 97-60 Thursday night at the Galen Center.

“It’s all a coach’s paranoia when you have to beat a team twice, which we have to do the rest of the way except Arizona,” Cronin said. “It’s paranoia because your boys think it’ll be a little bit easier (the second time around).”

Senior David Singleton reminded the team of a few things.

“As we get closer to March, there’s always excitement,” Singleton said. “I explained to the lads that we need to play defense and make progress to prepare for March. We can’t take any steps back now, otherwise the season will end prematurely.”

CRONIN FINALIST FOR COACH OF THE YEAR

Cronin was named as one of 15 nominees for the 2023 Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year Award.

The fiery coach led UCLA to 14 straight wins midseason, the program’s longest winning streak since a 14-game run late in the 2007-08 basketball season under former head coach Ben Howland.

The Bruins are currently No. 7 in the country in fewest points allowed per game (scoring defense, 60.0 ppg) and No. 8 in goal margin (13.9 ppg). UCLA’s 22-game winning streak at home is the country’s longest, but the Bruins have won their last 33 home games with fans in attendance at the arena (COVID-19 guidelines have discouraged fans from attending games at the Pauley Pavilion over the years 2020-21 and excluded during three games 2021-22).