UCLA’s Mick Cronin Eyes Historic 500th Win Against Minnesota

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — UCLA head coach Mick Cronin is on the brink of a significant milestone as his Bruins prepare to host the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Tuesday night. With a career record of 499 wins, a victory would deliver Cronin his 500th win, making him the youngest active Division I college basketball coach to achieve this feat.

Currently holding a record of 19 wins and 7 losses this season, including 10 wins against 5 losses in Big Ten play, the Bruins are entering the match against Minnesota (13-12, 5-9 Big Ten) with strong momentum, having secured nine wins in their last ten games. “Oh yeah, we gonna get 500 for him, for sure,” said forward Tyler Bilodeau. “This is definitely a great milestone in his career, and we’re lucky to be the team to do it for him.”

Cronin, 53, experienced his first victory as a head coach on November 22, 2003, when the Murray State Racers defeated Wagner 92-68. Reflecting on the years that have led to this moment, he remarked, “When you’re young, you’re just thinking, can I get a job and make enough money before I get fired?”

After spending three productive seasons at Murray State, including NCAA Tournament appearances, Cronin’s career progressed to Cincinnati, where he coached for 13 years. At Cincinnati, he guided the Bearcats to nine consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, which ultimately led him to UCLA. Over six seasons with the Bruins, Cronin has achieved a 134-60 record, including a trip to the 2021 Final Four.

Despite the impending milestone, Cronin is focused on team success. “I’m chasing banners, not wins,” he insisted. Currently, the Bruins rank 23rd nationally in scoring defense and sixth in turnover margin. Tyler Bilodeau leads the Bruins this season with an average of 14.2 points per game.

The Golden Gophers, led by Dawson Garcia, who averages 19.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, aim to challenge UCLA’s winning streak. Minnesota, who started off the season with six straight losses in the conference, has shown improvement by winning five of their last eight games, including a recent 69-66 road victory against Southern California.

Cronin acknowledged the competitive nature of the game ahead and praised Minnesota’s recent form. “I hope their win at SC gets our guys’ attention. They’re a solid basketball team,” he said. Minnesota’s Lu'Cye Patterson notably scored 25 points in his last game, showcasing the strength of their offense.

As UCLA prepares for the historic match, Cronin remains well aware of the scrutiny coaches face from fans and media alike. “Your popularity rating when you’re a coach, you have to check your ego,” Cronin stated, pointing out the fickle nature of fan support. “Some people might be happy because some people are probably on [message] boards wanting me fired.”

Coach Cronin is committed to improving the program further, emphasizing support from the athletic administration and the importance of having an engaged alumni base. He mentioned, “Martin and I talk about that stuff all the time — anything that I feel I want to talk about or he wants to talk about, so we have a constant, open dialogue.”

With a victory against Minnesota, Cronin’s accomplishment would not only mark a personal milestone but could also set the stage for a successful postseason as the Bruins enter the final stretch of regular-season play. As fans gear up for Tuesday’s game at Pauley Pavilion, the pressure is on to help secure Coach Cronin’s 500th win.