UCLA Prepares for Tough Match Against Arizona Wildcats

Los Angeles, CA — UCLA men’s basketball head coach Mick Cronin is demanding physicality as his team prepares to face the No. 5 Arizona Wildcats on Friday night at the Intuit Dome.

During a spirited practice on Thursday, Cronin shouted, “Knock somebody on their ass!” underscoring his message to the players about the need for toughness against their Pac-12 rivals. His words seemed to ignite forward Trent Perry, who urged teammates to “wake the … up!”

The Bruins (3-0) are looking to build on recent victories over Pepperdine and West Georgia after an uneven start to the season. Concurrently, the Wildcats have also started strong at 3-0, including a stunning win over the national champion Florida in their opener.

“We have to be more physical,” Cronin said, emphasizing the challenge posed by Arizona, particularly their standout center Motiejus Krivas, who stands at 7-foot-2. “He’s huge and he’s physical,” Cronin noted, praising Krivas’s toughness.

As the Bruins take on Arizona, Cronin expects center Xavier Booker to hold his own in the paint against Krivas, while small forward Dailey needs to maximize his physical play. Guard Donovan Dent, returning from a muscle strain, must also protect the ball against aggressive defenders.

Shooting guard Skyy Clark echoed Cronin’s sentiments, stressing the importance of winning “the 50-50 battles” for loose balls and rebounds. He stated, “Who’s gonna be boxing out, getting offensive rebounds? Fighting through screens, stuff like that.”

UCLA managed to defeat Arizona last year in a neutral-site matchup, but this year’s Wildcats possess two top freshmen: Koa Peat, who scored 30 points against Florida, and Brayden Burries. “He’s got great hands, he can really handle the ball,” Cronin said of Peat, highlighting his potential.

Cronin likened facing Arizona to “World War III” and warned his players that this matchup would serve as a critical gauge of their readiness against a formidable opponent. “Your guys have got to get the truth,” he said. “Eventually, he’s got to get in the ring against somebody else that’s ranked.”