A lot of the guesswork was eradicated solely moments into the NCAA event choice present.
Texas Tech, broadly identified to be jostling with UCLA for the ultimate spot amongst protected seeds within the San Diego pod, was one of many first groups to seem on tv screens. The Crimson Raiders have been a No. 3 seed within the West Area they usually certainly had snagged that spot in San Diego, despite the fact that it’s some 1,034 miles from campus versus only a brief bus experience for the Bruins.
It was considerably baffling for many who intently comply with school basketball metrics. UCLA ranked greater than Texas Tech, in keeping with analysts Ken Pomeroy and Jeff Sagarin, whereas residing only one spot behind the Crimson Raiders within the NCAA Analysis Device that’s among the many knowledge factors utilized by the event choice committee.
This 12 months, that 12-member committee included somebody with a powerful curiosity within the Bruins’ destiny. UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond spent six lengthy days and late nights weighing the deserves of virtually each group besides the Bruins, leaving the room every time the college’s 4 letters have been talked about. He didn’t even watch UCLA’s Pac-12 event championship sport in opposition to Arizona, solely studying the Wildcats had prevailed when he was instructed that they had change into the convention’s computerized qualifier.
Jarmond reached out to Cronin afterward to reaffirm his perception that the Bruins have been prepared for larger prizes.
“I texted with him to [say], ‘Hey, tomorrow’s a brand new day and March Insanity is right here and that is your time,’” Jarmond instructed The Occasions on Sunday afternoon.
With San Diego now not a chance, UCLA was assured of enjoying its event opener in Portland, Ore. The query was during which area. One after the other, the choices dwindled. The West was out of play. Then the South. Then the Midwest.
That left the East. Lastly, with solely a handful of groups left to announce, UCLA (25-7) materialized as a No. 4 seed, headed to the Moda Middle to face No. 13 seed Akron (24-9) in a first-round sport Thursday night.
One season after a startling run to the Last 4, the Bruins face what is perhaps an much more potholed path. Ready within the second spherical may very well be No. 5 seed St. Mary’s, certainly one of simply three groups to beat Gonzaga. Up subsequent is perhaps top-seeded Baylor, the defending nationwide champion, adopted by No. 2 seed Kentucky.
What did Cronin make of matchups presumably that includes one heavyweight after one other?
Seedings, schmeedings.
“We taught everyone final 12 months that our seed doesn’t matter; it simply doesn’t,” Cronin mentioned, referring to the Bruins profitable 5 consecutive video games contained in the Indianapolis bubble to go from the First 4 to the Last 4.
As if to strengthen his level when requested a couple of attainable seedings snub, Cronin mentioned he was extra involved with getting his group reservations for El Gaucho, a swanky Portland steakhouse. The place got here extremely advisable by longtime buddy and former Portland Path Blazers basic supervisor Neil Olshey, who most likely uncared for to say that the Chateaubriand for 2 goes for $155.
Requested his emotions about UCLA’s placement as the college’s athletic director and never as a member of the choice committee, Jarmond intimated that he was happy with the method that despatched the Bruins to the Pacific Northwest.
“Being part of the committee, I can inform you that the work that’s completed could be very diligent and thorough; there’s quite a lot of time and finding out and energy amongst the 12 members,” Jarmond mentioned. “The entire choices which might be made, there’s so many metrics which might be used, however on the finish of the day, one of many issues that the committee appears at is who did you play, the place did you play them and the way did you do.”
Any credible retrospective on UCLA’s season would spotlight a house loss to Oregon — even with out followers — and a highway setback in opposition to Arizona State — even in triple time beyond regulation — as catalysts for the group needing to board a aircraft this week as a substitute of a bus.
What’s extra necessary is the group’s newer outcomes, which have included a few of its greatest basketball of the season whereas attempting to recapture its type from a 12 months in the past.
“I really feel like we’re very collectively proper now and related,” guard Johnny Juzang mentioned, “and I believe that’s the largest factor going into the event.”
Finally, to borrow a phrase from former Angels supervisor Mike Scioscia, it doesn’t matter who you’re enjoying or the place you’re enjoying however the way you’re enjoying that dictates success.
“What’d we educate you final 12 months, you recognize?” Cronin mentioned. “It’s all how we begin enjoying now.”
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