“Is that a joke?”: Mick Cronin lashes on reporter after being asked Big Ten basketball schedule

Road trips haven't been pleasant for Mick Cronin and the UCLA men's basketball team. They've had to travel all over the country for the past few weeks, specifically from Los Angeles to New York.

Cronin talked about the organization of his team's schedule that was put together by the Big Ten. Throughout last month, UCLA has played in New York against North Carolina, and was on the road against Nebraska, Maryland and Rutgers. They lost all those games.

When a reporter asked him about teams on the East Coast having similar scheduling situations following the team's victory over Iowa on Jan. 17, he lashed out.

“Wear and tear on them? Is that a joke? Please tell me that’s a joke," Cronin said. "Comparable? Ask me UCLA’s record East of the Mississippi in the last 20 years. Because when I got the job, I looked it up for scheduling purposes. It’s under .500, OK.

“We have to go back four times. ‘Oh, the Big Ten teams get to come to Los Angeles where it’s 70 degrees one time a year.’ They don’t even have to switch hotels. We’re 12 miles apart. Are you kidding me? Please tell me you’re kidding me. I mean is this a plant? Is this a planted question? I mean you cannot be serious with that.”

What's next for Mick Cronin, UCLA

Mick Cronin can be justified in his frustration towards the way the Big Ten organized UCLA's schedule. However, they are games the team must win to boost the postseason odds.

The Bruins are 12-6 on the season, losing four of their first seven games in conference play. They are averaging 75.7 points on 46.8% shooting from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc, beating opponents by a margin of 11.9 points per game.

Tyler Bilodeau leads the way with 14.6 points, five rebounds, and 4.4 assists on shooting splits of 50.5% overall and 38.8% from downtown. Eric Dailey Jr. comes next with 12.2 points and 4.2 rebounds, while Sebastian Mack provides 9.9 points, two rebounds and two assists per contest.

Mick Cronin and the Bruins will focus on their next matchup, hosting the No. 24 Wisconsin Badgers at the Pauley Pavilion on Jan. 21 at 9:30 p.m. ET.