LOS ANGELES — UCLA coach Mick Cronin stated on Friday that he reached out to Steven Jamerson II to apologize for sending the center to the locker room late in a blowout defeat against No. 15 Michigan State after a hard foul.
Before the officials had an opportunity to review the incident and rule Jamerson received a flagrant foul 1, Cronin had already pulled Jamerson’s jersey and signaled for him to exit the court during the last few minutes of Tuesday’s 23-point loss in East Lansing.
“Honestly, I don’t think anyone has ever witnessed anything like that in a game,” Bruins guard Trent Perry remarked.
“I have already apologized to Steve, OK?” Cronin explained to reporters ahead of UCLA’s practice. “The only reason I sent him to the locker room was that I believed he made a dirty play and tried to take the guy out. After watching the footage, he still got an F-1. Honestly, I’m not sure if he even deserved that.”
Cronin mentioned that Spartans coach Tom Izzo shared the same sentiment when he communicated with him.
Cronin humorously noted that Jamerson “asked me for an additional $10,000 in NIL because of that.”
He continued to praise Jamerson, who spent three seasons at the University of San Diego before transferring to UCLA last summer for his final year of eligibility. Jamerson has started once in 26 games, averaging 2.2 points and 2.4 rebounds in 11.3 minutes. He had previously attempted to walk on at Michigan State earlier in his career.
“Steve embodies everything that is great about college basketball,” Cronin said. “He stands for everything I believe in regarding college basketball. That said, I take my responsibility seriously. Our players don’t get technical fouls. We don’t allow players to take those risks.”
Cronin acknowledged that he sometimes speaks too freely. He has expressed his frustrations about travel and tip-off times since UCLA joined the Big Ten last season and has been openly critical of his players after certain games. Following the loss to Michigan State, he also had a tense exchange with a reporter regarding Spartan fans.
“I have to improve in this area; in today’s climate, one must be cautious with their words. I’m suited for this position because I understand I am not above the brand, and the brand matters here, as does the school. The last thing I want is to bring negative attention to our institution,” Cronin stated.
“I extend my apologies to our community—school, students, everyone in our community—because it’s vital. In these roles, fundraising and maintaining relationships with donors are key, and I believe strongly in that.”
Jamerson was not available for media on Friday when he was practicing with the team. When asked about how the redshirt senior reacted to Cronin’s apology, the coach replied, “Oh, he’s the best, man. … It’s not as if I kicked him off the team.”
Perry, who shares a room with Jamerson, has been a supportive friend during this time.
“He’s handling it very maturely,” Perry said. “I’m just glad he’s keeping his spirits up, and I check in with him every day.”
Guard Skyy Clark noted the team’s support for Jamerson.
“Coach’s apology was heartfelt,” Clark stated. “Obviously, he was a bit troubled by it, but we offered him some encouraging words.”
Clark mentioned that a players-only meeting was held following the recent losses, with another one likely scheduled for later Friday.
“We just need to stick together,” he emphasized. “That’s been our primary focus.”
Cronin countered any notions that by sending Jamerson away, he is failing to support his players.
“I know my values,” the eighth-year coach asserted, “so I don’t let that concern me.”
Clark, a transfer from Louisville and the Bruins’ third-leading scorer, has learned to balance Cronin’s various criticisms.
“I think it’s best to focus on the message rather than how it’s delivered. If you do that, you comprehend what he’s truly trying to communicate instead of how he’s expressing it,” he said. “That’s simply his coaching style. He was mentored by similar coaches, and that’s how he approaches the game.”
The Bruins (17-9, 9-6 Big Ten) will host 10th-ranked Illinois (22-5, 13-3) on Saturday. They are coming off consecutive heavy losses to then-No. 2 Michigan (30 points) and Michigan State.
Their sole marquee victory this season was a close 69-67 win over then-No. 4 Purdue last month.
“We know we are capable of doing it again, so why not?” Clark said.
