UCLA Basketball: Best wins of the Mick Cronin Era

UCLA had an outstanding regular season for 2022-23 with some impressive victories over quality opponents.

UCLA 87, Maryland 60 (December 14. 2022): UCLA went on the road and beat No. 20 ranked Maryland by 27 points in an impressive non-conference game.

UCLA 63, Kentucky 53 (December 17, 2022): The Bruins defeated fellow blue blood program Kentucky on a neutral court in the CBS Sports Classic. This was UCLA’s second straight double-digit win over a power five team.

UCLA 60, USC 58 (January 5, 2023): UCLA had an 18-point lead in the second half and allowed crosstown rival Southern California to come back but the Bruins prevailed for their 11th straight win. It was also UCLA’s third straight victory over USC as well.

UCLA 74, Arizona State 62 (January 19, 2023): The Bruins defeated the Sun Devils in Tempe to get its 14th consecutive win, equaling the historical program’s longest winning streak since late into the 2007-08 season. UCLA was down five points at the half but came back and won by 12.

UCLA 70, Oregon 63 (February 11, 2023): The Bruins defeated the Ducks in Eugene and won in Eugene for the first time since 2019. UCLA with the victory has won 20-plus games for the third straight season under the leadership of Cronin.

UCLA 60, Colorado 56 (February 26, 2023): The Bruins defeated the Buffaloes in Boulder, and with the victory, UCLA earned the Pac-12 regular-season title. The Bruins were down by two at the half to Colorado but with a strong defensive effort in the second half, UCLA won a tough-fought game.

UCLA 70, Arizona 63 (March 4, 2023): The Bruins defeated the No. 8 ranked Wildcats to finish the regular season 17-0 at home at Pauley Pavilion. UCLA went undefeated at home for the first time since the 2006-07 season and with the win over Arizona, the Bruins had won 25 in a row at Pauley Pavilion which was the nation’s longest active home winning streak at the time.

UCLA 75, Oregon 56 (March 10, 2023): UCLA defeated Oregon in the Pac-12 Tournament to advance to the finals of the tournament. The win was the Bruins’ 12th consecutive victory with the win over the Ducks on a neutral court at T-Mobile Arena. UCLA with the win advanced to the Pac-12 Tournament’s title game for the second straight season.

UCLA 68, Northwestern 63 (March 18, 2023): The Bruins defeated the Wildcats and advanced to their third straight Sweet Sixteen appearance. However, Cronin and UCLA lost again to Gonzaga in the NCAA Tournament in their Sweet Sixteen match-up to end their season.

Cronin is a two-time Pac-12 Coach of the Year as he won the award in 2020 and 2023. His record as the head coach of UCLA overall is 99–36 and 57–19 in conference play. He has led the Bruins to three consecutive Sweet Sixteen appearances in the NCAA Tournament and helped UCLA win the Pac-12 regular season title this past season.

These are just a few of the many memorable victories that Mick Cronin has led the UCLA Bruins to over the past four seasons. He has quickly established himself as one of the top coaches in college basketball, and his teams seem to always be a contender for the Pac-12 title and even a national championship.