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Losing a game in March Madness is always challenging, but Mick Cronin's UCLA Bruins are taking their loss to the North Carolina Tar Heels especially difficult.
After losing Friday's Sweet 16 showdown between the two college basketball blue bloods 73-66, UCLA coach Mick Cronin addressed his team's performance.
March Madness is the time of year with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, and the 11th-ranked Bruins (27-8) are experiencing those lows. Despite leading at halftime, the No. 4 seed in the East fell to unranked UNC (27-9), the No. 8 seed.
Still, Cronin wasn't discouraged and was as stubborn as ever in his commitment to his team. Cronin believes in the season his team had and is ready to continue his mission.
Historically, UCLA has been one of the best programs in college basketball. Legendary coach John Wooden won 10 national titles in 12 Final Four appearances. Jim Harrick won the Bruins' 11th championship, and Cronin intends to be the coach that delivers the 12th.
The road to No. 12 will not be easy, but making back-to-back Sweet 16s in his first two NCAA Tournaments is a strong start. UCLA made it to the Final Four last season.
Mick Cronin's UCLA Bruins fight hard
On the second night of the Sweet 16, the Bruins and the Tar Heels played a game worthy of two titans.
UCLA led with under two minutes remaining. But UNC's Caleb Love swung the game with a pair of 3-pointers. He tied the game at 64-64 with his 3-pointer with 1:40 to play and put the Tar Heels in front for good, at 67-64, with 1:06 left.
North Carolina scored 12 points in the final two minutes, although UCLA aided that total by resorting to fouling to get more chances. Plus, UNC made a pair of meaningless free throws in the final second after the Tar Heels had already celebrated, thinking the game was over when the buzzer sounded. The teams were called back to the court after a monitor review.
The Bruins' difficult finish led to the dour vibe of their postgame news conference.
The players were not the only ones who were tired and upset, as their coach was also not happy during the interview session.
While no one is happy after a loss, the Bruins are taking it harder and are feeling the exhaustion and emotion of losing in the Sweet 16. This moment could be critical in the future of the program, one way or another.
