Final Four run validation of Mick Cronin was exactly what Bruins needed

By Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY: UCLA coach Mick Cronin wasn’t the school’s first choice to replace Steve Alford in 2019. Or the second. Or the third. Or the fourth.

The Bruins, a blue-blood program with a record 11 men’s NCAA Tournament banners hanging from the rafters in Westwood, California, pursued Tom Izzo (Michigan State), Jay Wright (Villanova) and Tony Bennett (Virginia). They made an offer to Tennessee coach Rick Barnes – who turned it down – before punching Cronin’s digits.

UCLA's surprise men's Final Four run is validation Mick Cronin was exactly what blue-blood program needed

Mick Cronin has guided a No. 11 seed bubble team from the First Four to the Final Four along the hardest path of any team still standing.

USA TODAY

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