UCLA basketball is considering playing with a larger lineup against New Mexico

After announcing his starting small-ball lineup, UCLA basketball coach Mick Cronin will soon have to make a decision about when to go big.

Does he go with the tallest man on the team in Aday Mara, a 6-foot-10 sophomore whose intense offseason training should prevent all the excitement he made as a freshman?

Or will he choose William Kyle III, a 6-foot-10 junior transfer who is trying to take a huge step up in competition after spending the last two seasons at South Dakota State?

That choice could come as early as Friday evening when the Bruins face an opponent that has three players 6-foot-9 or taller in the starting lineup.

“I expect we’ll have to play harder against big teams like New Mexico,” Cronin said Thursday, referring to the game between the No. 22 Bruins (1-0) and Lobos (1-0) at Las Vegas Hoopfest Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, Nevada.

Every great man has his selling points and drawbacks.

Kyle offers the more athletic option and was the first player to come off the bench in the Bruins’ season-opening win over Rider. He’s a natural jumper who showed off his defensive abilities with three blocks to go and five rebounds in 11 minutes against the Broncs.

But Cronin suggested that Kyle must develop a nasty streak after the game as he was too nice and should think less and be more confident. The message seemed to be delivered considering Cronin said Kyle had his best practice in a long time on Wednesday and was dominant with his rebounds.

Mara is a better passer and more sophisticated scorer than Kyle. A constant hitter, Mara has thrived in the pick-and-roll and has developed a variety of moves around the basket, including jump hooks and drop steps. He matched Kyle with three blocks in the opening game as well as five points and two rebounds in nine minutes.

But even with his new and improved conditioning, Mara is far less agile than Kyle and is vulnerable to being beaten off the dribble by more athletic opponents.

Both bigs could play a bigger role on Friday.

In contrast to Rider, the Lobos have a huge starting eleven, including the 1.80 meter tall center Nelly Junior Joseph and the 1.80 meter tall forwards Mustapha Amzil and Filip Borovicanin. Joseph was a force with 28 points and 16 rebounds in New Mexico’s 91-84 win over Nicholls, in which Amzil added his own double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

UCLA’s smaller options at fifth include Tyler Bilodeau, a 6-foot-2 forward whose speed and skill make him a nightmare for traditional big men, and Eric Dailey Jr., a 6-foot-1 forward. who has more He was a winger, but spent a lot of time with the five at Oklahoma State last season. Bilodeau and Dailey were given the starting role in the opening game, Cronin said, because they are currently better players than Kyle and Mara.

UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau drives under the basket near Rider center Alaaeddine Boutayeb (14) and Rider Broncs forward Ife West-Ingram (7) at Pauley Pavilion on Monday.

(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

But Cronin said who starts isn’t nearly as important as how his team finishes.

“The way I see us right now is we have at least eight starters,” Cronin said, “so I can pick who I want to start, but during the game they’re all going to play.”

Still being adjusted

One newcomer struggling for minutes is redshirt senior Dominick Harris, a transfer from Loyola Marymount who was expected to add long-range shooting but barely played against Rider.

Harris didn’t enter the game until there were 11 minutes, 59 seconds left and his team had a 22-point lead. Harris missed his only shot but finished with four rebounds and active defense in 6½ minutes.

Cronin said Harris’ arrival relatively late in the summer after graduating from Loyola Marymount and the time he needed to familiarize himself with the coach’s demanding defense were factors that contributed to his lack of playing time.

“We are extremely responsible defensively and that was the biggest adjustment for him,” Cronin said. “But he’s trying.”

Etc.

Cronin said he considers himself part of his New Mexico counterpart Richard Pitino’s family, having known Pitino since Cronin joined his father Rick’s staff in Louisville in 2001. Cronin helped Richard Pitino get his first coaching job at St. Andrew’s High outside Providence. RI while Pitino attended college. Cronin might have done him a greater favor if he had worked with his father to care for him. “I told his dad he had a terrible headache,” Cronin said. “His father is calling doctors and I think [to Richard]”Dude, just be honest and tell your dad you have a hangover.”…Your dad thinks you have some weird illness, you have a hangover.” He says, “I can’t tell him, I can’t tell him.” “…Cronin on the idea of ​​honoring UCLA legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton with statues next to John Wooden’s outdoor area in front of Pauley Pavilion: “There is a lot of pressure behind the scenes from their teammates and I agree with them on all points.” That. What you find in public schools is incredibly difficult to paint a wall, let alone build a statue.”