‘I was wrong’: Mick Cronin apologizes for ejecting UCLA F during game

UCLA men’s basketball coach Mick Cronin apologized Friday, Feb. 20, for how he personally ejected Bruins forward Steven Jamerson II during UCLA’s 82-59 loss to Michigan State.

Jamerson II was called for a Flagrant 1 late in the second half of UCLA’s blowout loss on Feb. 17. It wasn’t a foul that resulted in an automatic ejection — Cronin ejected Jamerson himself.

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REQUIRED READING: UCLA basketball coach Mick Cronin ejects own player in lopsided loss

Cronin said Jamerson II made a “dirty play” in his apology on Feb. 20, but acknowledged he went too far with how he handled the situation.

“I apologized to Steve,” Cronin told reporters. “I thought he took the guy out like the kid at Providence took out the guy from St. John’s out. It’s the only reason I sent him to the locker room. I thought he literally made a dirty play and tried to wipe the guy out.

“Once I saw the film, I mean, he still got a (Flagrant 1). But to be honest with you, I don’t know if he deserved that. … I was wrong. I apologized to him.”

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Cronin later said he needs to dial back some of his antics. He also had a heated exchange with a reporter after UCLA’s loss to Michigan State, calling a question the worst he has ever been asked. Cronin later asked the same reporter if the reporter was raising his voice at him.

“I need to dial back some of my humor bends, and so for that I apologize,” he said. “Sometimes I’m too candid, like for example talking about how bad our flight was after the NCAA Tournament. … In this climate, you have to be careful about what you say. … The brand matters here, the school matters. The last thing I want to bring is negative publicity to our school.”

The 54-year-old coach is in his seventh season at UCLA and has the Bruins firmly on the NCAA Tournament bubble in 2026. He has led the Bruins to a Final Four, two Sweet 16s and a Round of 32 appearance in 2024-25.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UCLA coach Mick Cronin apologizes for ejecting Steven Jamerson during game

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/wrong-mick-cronin-apologizes-ejecting-191926333.html

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Publish date : 2026-02-20 19:19:00

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