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As UCLA prepares to face Nebraska this Saturday, Coach Mick Cronin offered a candid assessment of the challenges his team will encounter when stepping into one of the most energetic atmospheres in college basketball. With the Cornhuskers averaging a crowd of 14,000 fans per game at Pinnacle Bank Arena, the Bruins will have to contend not only with a tough opponent on the court but also with the undeniable energy of a passionate home crowd.
“It’s going to be harder to win, but I can tell you as a player, it’s much more exciting,” Cronin told reporters on Thursday. “Players want to go out and play in energy arenas.”
He acknowledged that Nebraska’s fans create an atmosphere that can elevate their team’s performance.
“You better play with toughness, you better travel your defense, because teams with home crowds like that tend to play harder," Cronin said. "It’s fool's gold to think you are going into those types of places and scoring 80 points.”
Nebraska’s basketball culture, Cronin explained, is emblematic of many college towns, where the team serves as the heartbeat of the community.
“It’s the way it is in those college towns — it’s the only show in town. So, they get great attendance,” he said.
For UCLA, the matchup represents another opportunity to prove its mettle in hostile environments. The Bruins have already compiled a 3-1 record in December games played under similarly challenging circumstances, a testament to their resilience and focus.
“If you don’t have a will to win, you’re going to lose,” Cronin said. “I thought our fight, and our will to win and caring about winning was where it needed to be.”
The game will also test the Bruins’ ability to solve Nebraska’s disciplined defensive schemes. Cronin praised the Cornhuskers’ commitment to team-oriented defense, describing them as a “tremendous shell team.”
He added, “They’re having a great year defensively, and it’s more based off of team defense.”
For Cronin, the key to success lies in his team’s ability to embrace the challenge. While he relishes the opportunity to compete in high-energy environments, he is keenly aware of the thin margin for error in such settings. The focus will be on defense, grit, and execution — elements the Bruins have leaned on throughout the season.
Saturday’s game offers a unique opportunity for the Bruins to grow and prepare for the intensity of conference play and postseason tournaments. Beyond the X’s and O’s, Cronin hopes his players will take in the electric atmosphere and use it as fuel to elevate their own performances.
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4 takeaways from Wisconsin Badgers final open basketball practice of the summer
MADISON, WI -- The Wisconsin Badgers took to the practice court at the Nicholas Johnson Pavilion on Thursday for its last open practice of the summer. Everyone but Hayden Jones and Aleksas Bieliauskas were present, as both have been playing for their respective countries' national team overseas. Most of the practice featured 4-on-4 and 5-on-5 scrimmages, giving media plenty of insight into how the Badgers' new and returning players look as a unit. Here are four takeaways from Thursdsay's session; Boyd might be next Badger transfer to shine Wisconsin's leading scorer the last two seasons has been a first-year transfer. Nick Boyd, who comes over after two seasons at Florida Atlantic University and San Diego State University, could be next in the line of transfers to take their game to another level in Madison. The 6-foot-3 point guard plays at only one pace: full speed. His intensity and energy on the floor are unrelenting. Boyd is almost constantly talking or clapping between plays, and he's always on the move when the ball is live. It's a feeling that seems to radiate throughout the team, a unique impact from a guy who's been with the program for just a few months. But it's his on-court presence that makes Boyd special. He is lightning fast and has the processing speed to keep up with his physical capabilities, making him lethal when attacking downhill. On defense, it's a similar story. Boyd made multiple deflections, pulled in several rebounds and knifed through screens. Kinziger ahead of schedule Zach Kinziger doesn't play like a typical freshman. He knocked down most of his open looks from beyond the arc and maneuvered his way around the perimeter as his teammates pressured the rim to create passing lanes. Beyond his shooting shooting, the game didn't look too fast for him. He made the right decisions with the ball in his hands, whether that was as a dribbler or passer. He looked under control at all times. Defensively, Boyd tested Kinziger's mettle. The freshman didn't shy away, matching Boyd's intensity even though the more experienced guard got the better of him on most occasions. If Kinziger can shoot and defend like he did Thursday, it'll be hard to keep him out of the rotation this fall. Backup bigs emerging One of the looming questions on this year's roster is front court depth. Behind Austin Rapp and Nolan Winter is Temple transfer Elijah Gray, rising sophomore Riccardo Greppi and true freshmen Will Garlock, along with the incoming Bieliauskas. At 6-foot-9, Gray seems more fit to play power forward, and he was quiet during Thursday's session. That leaves Greppi and Garlock to duke it out for reserve minutes at the center spot. Walking into the gym, Garlock has the type of size that catches your eyes. He's listed at 7-foot, 243-pounds — the same height as Winter but eight pounds heavier. Garlock's weight advantage is apparent when the two stand side-by-side, most of it looking like muscle. The freshman seemed to even have a slight vertical advantage as well. The problem is, he's incredibly raw. Garlock was out of place frequently on both ends of the floor and seemed unsure what to do with the ball in his hands. Coaches were often instructing Garlock between reps and sessions. He'll be a work in progress, but it's hard to not get excited about his upside. Greppi looked more ready than Garlock, creating space as a screener and cashing in at the rim on pocket passes. He had a few nice finishes and flashed some passing skills, whizzing a pass by Boyd's turned head to Kinziger, who got fouled underneath the basket. Defensively, Greppi had some issues with Winter's quickness, even in back-to-basket scenarios. Still, he teamed up with Rapp for a double block, and he poked the ball out of bounds defending a perimeter ball screen. Unless Bieliauskas steps in, it looks like Greppi has a leg up on the backup center position Rapp looks as advertised Austin Rapp looks the part of a sharpshooting stretch big. He possesses a quick trigger and plenty of confidence to let it fly. Throughout individual and team sessions, Rapp was hitting from all over the floor, including a pair of catch-and-shoot triples during a scrimmage from multiple feet beyond the arc. He knocked down contested threes over Nolan Winter and Jack Robison from atop the key on passes intended just to move the ball to the opposite side of the floor. If his defender gives him just an inch too much space, Rapp looks content to shoot it, and there's nothing in his stroke that says he isn't capable of making them at a high clip. More Wisconsin Badgers News: Wisconsin Basketball: 4 biggest strengths and weaknesses of Badgers 2025-26 roster 3 former Wisconsin Badgers announce their next stops in professional basketball careers overseas Greg Gard sees Jack Janicki showing traits of iconic Wisconsin Badgers guards Ranking the 4 most important non-conference games on Wisconsin Badgers basketball schedule
Sherrone Moore says Michigan will do away with controversial celebration
Michigan and Ohio State are sure to play another spirited game on the gridiron this season, but it sounds like there will be no flag planting afterward regardless of the outcome. Michigan won its fourth straight game against Ohio State last season, and the Wolverines' latest victory was the biggest upset the rivalry has seen in years. The eventual national champion Buckeyes were ranked No. 2 in the country when an unranked Michigan team went into Columbus and beat them, 13-10. A huge scrum broke out after the game when Michigan players stood on Ohio State's midfield logo and pretended to plant their flag in enemy territory. The brawl got so out of hand that stadium police wound up using pepper spray. While speaking with reporters on Thursday, Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore said his players will not be partaking in any flag-planting activity going forward. "There will be no more flag planting. There will be no more grabbing the flag," Moore said. "We talked about our new tradition and what we do when we win a game is go beat the band, go sing our (fight song) and stay over there until the other team departs. That's how we'll operate — shake hands after the game, show sportsmanship, be cordial." While there has been no formal ban of flag planting, Ohio State coach Ryan Day also expressed opposition to the act after last year's incident. Ohio State and Michigan have one of the best rivalries in sports, so there is always going to be bad blood between the two programs. Moore and Day are doing what they can to make sure things don't get out of hand again the next time their teams meet.
Caitlin Clark Had to Be Held Back by Fever Coach During Intense Moment Against Aces
Aari McDonald did not exactly turn in a mind-blowing performance in the Indiana Fever’s 80-70 win over the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday night. The 5-foot-6 guard, however, came up big down the stretch as she helped lead the Fever to their first win in three games. It was McDonald who slammed the door shut on the Aces with a big triple with 33.8 seconds remaining in the game. The first-year Fever guard closed out Las Vegas with a clutch three in the final minute to give Indiana a 78-70 lead. McDonald’s trey was one of the biggest moments of the game, and it drew quite a reaction from Fever superstar Caitlin Clark, who sat out for a third consecutive contest due to a lingering groin injury. Clark was so hyped that she had to be held back by one of the Fever coaches as the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year celebrated McDonald’s clutch heroics. It is important to note that no timeout was called after McDonald made the shot, which means that Clark could have been called for a technical foul for entering the court while the game was still in progress. From another angle, Clark can be seen screaming loudly after seeing McDonald’s step-back triple hit the bottom of the net. Aari McDonald Has Stepped Up for the Indiana Fever in Caitlin Clark's Stead McDonald got her third straight start for the Fever on Thursday night as Clark’s primary replacement in the lineup. She responded with another solid performance, registering nine points, two rebounds, four assists, two steals and three triples against the Aces. In the last three games, the former third overall pick has put up averages of 8.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.0 steals in 27.4 minutes of action. She’s also knocking down 1.7 triples per game on a 38.5% shooting clip. It doesn’t seem like Clark will be coming back anytime soon, which should mean an increased load for McDonald in the interim. Clearly, she’s more than happy to answer the call.
New York Giants QB Russell Wilson had dinner with a free agent during his visit with the team, and it seems to have been a hit
Among multiple big moves this offseason, the New York Giants decided to sign 10-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson to be their starting QB in 2025. Although Wilson has undoubtedly taken a step back over the past couple of years, for the Giants, this looks like a significant upgrade compared to what they endured at quarterback for most of last season. In addition to his on-field play, Wilson's successful career lends a status that seems like a perfect fit for the New York market. It didn't take long for the Giants to put that status to work, either, with Wilson taking part in a free agent WR's visit with the team earlier this offseason. Russell Wilson joined in on WR Gabe Davis' free agent visit with the Giants Former Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars WR Gabe Davis had a free agency visit with the Giants earlier this offseason, back in May. His experience playing under now Giants head coach Brian Daboll, when he was his offensive coordinator with the Bills, led many to believe that this pairing could make a lot of sense for both sides. Months have gone by, and many are still wondering if the Giant will choose to sign the deep threat WR. Davis recently appeared on the "Up and Adams" show hosted by Kay Adams. He spoke about his visit with the Giants and how it was pretty awesome to have dinner with Wilson, along with other team personnel. Davis shared that he believes Wilson is "a legend" and that they had "a good dinner, a good night for sure." Adams then brought up how much she liked the idea of Wilson and Davis connecting on a deep ball, which led Davis to share his thoughts on the pairing, "Yeah, that's me and Russ' game for sure, a deep ball threat, and Russ knows how to sling it downfield. It's something I've looked into for sure."
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