Mick Cronin is “seeking comfort because your teaching is struggling”, NCAA analyst quotes Steelers HC Mike Tomlin

NCAA college basketball analyst Jay Bilas slammed Mick Cronin's statement after UCLA's loss to Michigan and connected it to what Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said about coaches who resist the responsibility of coaching.

Bilas unloaded on Cronin during Sunday's episode of ESPN College Gameday, which featured the veteran coach's comments following UCLA's 94-75 loss to Michigan. The analyst pointed out that Cronin's rant was more about blaming his team for not playing the kind of basketball you want to see.

Bilas then quoted the former Super Bowl champion coach about picking apart a counterpart who doesn't hold himself accountable for his actions.

"Oten time when I hear something like that, I think about what Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers says. He says he loves coaches that resist the responsibility of coaching because they're easy to beat," Bilas said. (3:11)

"And when you talk negatively about your players, what you're really doing is seeking comfort because your teaching is struggling,"

The college basketball analyst chastised Mick Cronin further as he felt that the coach's statements weren't showing the true meaning of accountability, but were more of bragging about what you're doing and throwing others under the bus.

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UCLA coach Mick Cronin blames poor second-half defense on loss to Rutgers

Mick Cronin and UCLA slid further in the Big Ten Conference standings. On Monday, the Bruins fell to Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, 75-68. This was their fourth straight loss and fifth in their last six games.

Mick Cronin claimed that his team's late-clock defense was horrible, pointing out they couldn't win while allowing the other team to drive to the lane when the clock was ticking down.

"You can't give up 45 points in the second half and win a conference game period," the Bruins coach said in a post-game interview. (0:49)

"You're not going to win getting beat off the dribble. We've really struggle to guard the ball. Our decision-making with not being able to guard the ball knowing teams are just going to late in the clock. They're just driving it, we're fouling. It's just horrible late clock defense by us," he added (1:05).

UCLA allowed 31 free-throw attempts against Rutgers, who made 21 of them. The Bruins also shot poorly from the field, making 42.4% of their attempts, including 31.6% from the 3-point area.

Sebastian Mack and Eric Dailey Jr led UCLA (11-6, 2-4 in Big Ten) with 16 points each while Kobe Johnson added 13 for the Bruins, who need to restore order and win games.

UCLA will be back in action on Friday against Iowa at the Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, California.