UCLA's coach has generated more headlines for his grievances than for the Bruins' (improving) play on the floor.

The UCLA Bruins are in their first season in the Big Ten Conference. With that expansion of the conference, coaches like Mick Cronin are dealing with some new challenges, including handling the travel and a difficult conference schedule.

UCLA has answered a four-game losing streak and a stretch of five losses in six games with a four-game win streak. Following the latest one on Monday in an 82-76 victory over USC, Mick Cronin gave credit to the Bruins for figuring it out.

UCLA hired Mick Cronin to lead its program ahead of the 2019-2020 season. Cronin had been in a head coach position since 2003, spending three seasons with Murray State and 13 with Cincinnati. He was named Pac-12 Coach of the Year in his inaugural season, but the pandemic saw both the Pac-12 Tournament and NCAA Tournament being canceled.

UCLA basketball coach Mick Cronin has been on one lately. First, he ripped his own players in a postgame rant after a loss to Michigan on Jan. 8. Just a few days later, he got ejected on purpose late in the game during an eventual loss to Maryland.

After starting the month of January on a four-game losing streak in Big Ten play, the UCLA Bruins (15-6, 6-4) have responded better than any team in the nation

UCLA coach Mick Cronin is worried about the challenges of playing in the Big Ten due to his team's tough schedule.

The UCLA Bruins are preparing for one of their most important homestands of the season. In a stretch of games where the Bruins are going to multiple ranked opponents, including multiple ranked teams, in conference play, head coach Mick Cronin knows that the environment at those games is going to be vital.

Less than a month after their coach called them soft and delusional, the Bruins have turned things around by drawing a line between cordial relationships off the court and competitive connections

The Bruins’ head coach, who has employed the bigs in certain situations, said they “made me look smart” after both rose to the occasion in Tuesday’s victory over Wisconsin.