UCLA’s Mick Cronin says he’ll shake up lineup after Michigan beatdown

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Change is coming for UCLA basketball.

After the Bruins absorbed their biggest beatdown of the season Saturday, coach Mick Cronin said he would deal with the selfish tendencies hurting his team. 

“It will be addressed with one lineup change, maybe more,” Cronin said after UCLA’s 86-56 loss to No. 2 Michigan at the Crisler Center.

Could it involve a three-guard lineup now that Skyy Clark is back? Less playing time for forward Eric Dailey Jr. after his latest disappearing act?

Stay tuned.

Something needs to be done after the Bruins tallied just one assist in the second half, a big reason they made 7 of 27 shots (25.9%). They were even worse from long range, making only 1 of 10 3s.

Adding to the frustration, Cronin said eight of the 3s were unguarded.

“Missing wide-open shots and then a refusal to pass or screen or execute anything,” Cronin said of the way his team played. “I’m really frustrated with some of the guys on our team.”

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While Cronin did not mention anyone by name, Dailey appears to be a candidate for a reduced role. He’s logged just one assist over his last three games combined and continues to be maddeningly inconsistent. On Saturday, he picked up two early fouls and finished with three points, two rebounds and zero assists in 14 minutes while also offering little resistance on defense.

“I’m searching for guys that will play for the team and not for stats,” Cronin said. “I thought we took some horrendous, horrendous shots today, and the whole game plan was do not take a bad shot or do not turn the ball over. There was a stretch (where) we did not do that and we looked like a really good team and then we started taking the bad shots.”

Clark’s return from a monthlong absence forced by a hamstring injury gives Cronin additional lineup options. One idea would be to pair Clark alongside guards Donovan Dent and Trent Perry, allowing the Bruins to push the pace.

“I definitely like that idea,” Clark told The California Post after scoring eight points in his first game back. “I think we could all three play off each other, and I think it would be a tough matchup for other teams for sure.”

Guard Jamar Brown and center Steven Jamerson II also could be in line for additional minutes after continuing to make the hustle plays their teammates often won’t.

One player the Bruins won’t want to take off the court is Perry, especially since Cronin has already begun lobbying to keep the emerging star next season. Clark will require some ramping up of his minutes, suggesting he might be able to handle his normal workload within a few games.

“I just want to do whatever it takes to win,” Perry said after scoring a team-high 14 points against the Wolverines. “Like, I can’t have a team 30-piecing us in an away game, you know?”

Whatever Cronin decides, expect to see some changes when the Bruins face No. 10 Michigan State on Tuesday at the Breslin Center. The hope is that they lead to less selfishness – and frustration.

“I’m upset with some guys that I thought are conscientiously objecting to playing team basketball,” Cronin said, “so I’m very frustrated with a few guys. But that’s my job to address it, and I’ll address it. Welcome to coaching.”

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