UCLA is a mess this year and with currently only one player signed for the 2026 class. This might be a multi-year mess on the horizon. With multiple players set to graduate out and talent leaving. UCLA is put in a tough position. Especially with Trent Perry, emerging as a star. Which many think will be a good thing for UCLA basketball. But it leads to questions whether he will go and enter the NBA Draft or enter the transfer portal in search of a better situation.
With all that has transpired in the last 24 hours. It leads many to believe whether Mick Cronin is the best person for the head coaching job. But a lot of things come in to play when you start to talk about that. First, Cronin is equipped with a nice new contract extension that happened over the summer. Nobody knew about it until seven months later that creates a wrinkle in things. As his buyout amount now stands at $22.5 million. Making any firing a very expensive one for the program.
In the wake of the now 8 minute scoring drought by UCLA, here's a look at the buyout terms for Coach Mick Cronin at UCLA just for context pic.twitter.com/rO6fQp4oKN
— Aarik Woods (@aarikwoods) February 18, 2026
Mick Cronin ejected his own player in a basketball game
Top that off with the mistake that they made giving DeShaun Foster the money they did. Considering he was not ready for a head coaching job, but almost everyone was off the market by that time. UCLA is now equipped to face a big decision whether they’re willing to swallow a lot of money to end the Cronin era. As Foster was an expensive one that they had to pay as well. Which was around $6.43 million. But Cronin’s actions against Michigan State put that into question. Including the decision to eject his own player Steven Jamerson II on a play that didn’t look malicious.
After the foul, UCLA HC Mick Cronin ejects his own player, Steven Jamerson III. pic.twitter.com/KOFMCDRYjg
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) February 18, 2026
UCLA plays Illinois on Saturday. It is a game that will decide their season. If they lose that game, they’re most likely heading towards the NIT. If they are able to win that game, they might find themselves in the NCAA tournament. But the future is looking very bleak for this team. Unless they plan on signing a bunch of transfers through the portal. They do not have much coming in, compared to what is going out. Decisions will need to be made.