The UCLA Bruins have the unique distiction of playing all four of the teams in the Final Four. UCLA went 1-3 versus the four teams, beating Illinois while falling to Michigan, Arizona and to UConn in the Round of 32.
Having played each of the school’s, Bruins head coach Mick Cronin has a intimate perspective of the four teams. Cronin appeared on Fox Sports’ Wake Up Barstool show to discuss the Final Four.
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“Vegas always tells the truth, right? I’m sure it’s Michigan, Arizona and then UConn, Illinois,” Cronin said of who should be favored to win the tournament. “Both games are really well matched. Whoever wins Michigan-Arizona will be favored in the final.”
While Cronin expressed respect to all four programs, it sounded as if Cronin thought the Michigan Wolverines could seal the deal this weekend in Indianapolis. Michigan of course has former Bruin Aday Mara at center, with the 7’3” Mara making a huge difference for the Wolverines frontcourt.
“Michigan, to me, obviously I’ve played them both, has more firepower. Now in fairness to Arizona, we played in November, so it was early,” Cronin said. “When Michigan takes their time offensively, and they don’t take early, contested threes, and they make you defend them, I think they’re clearly the best team. And their size is going to pose a problem for what Arizona does to people, which is just punish you at the rim.”
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Cronin could just be being a true Big Ten Conference man, and giving his conference rival the nod. The Big Ten was well represented in the NCAA Tournament, with Illinois joining Michigan in the Final Four.
In addition to those two schools, Purdue, Michigan State and Iowa all made the Elite Eight. UCLA didn’t do it this year, but they’re certainly in the right conference to make a deep NCAA Tournament run.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA’s Mick Cronin gives his take on this year’s Final Four slate