Mick Cronin had himself quite the night in East Lansing on Tuesday, throwing his own player out after a hard foul on Carson Cooper and then snapping at a Michigan State reporter post-game.
None of this is surprising, though.
Cronin is known as one of the most fiery head coaches in college basketball and he’s never been afraid to speak his mind. If he believes he’s asked a poor question, he’ll let you know.
Unfortunately for one Michigan State reporter, he found that out the hard way.
Mick Cronin lashes out at a Michigan State reporter
A Michigan State reporter was asking what seemed like a harmless question about the student section cheering on Xavier Booker and chanting his name, and Cronin lashed out. He hit the reporter with a kudos for “the worst question I’ve ever been asked” and then awkwardly went at him again when that media member defended his stance a bit.
The entire awkward interaction has gone viral.
Mick Cronin, to a reporter defending his nonchalant question
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace) February 18, 2026
“Are you raising your voice at me?”
Then points out cameras are rolling. This keeps getting awkward at UCLA, but you just can’t stop watching 📷 @Owen_Oszust pic.twitter.com/NpZAqZNzcd
Cronin snapped back at the reporter for defending his question and things were just way too awkward for their own good. To be honest, the question was actually pretty fair and harmless, but I understand Cronin not wanting to talk about the opposing team’s student section after losing his second game by 20-plus points in the past few days.
The UCLA head coach was not thrilled with the silly questions following the blowout, and I can’t blame him because I’d honestly be the same way. Still, I would’ve shown a little more respect to the reporter.
It feels like we see a new Mick Cronin post-game rant every time UCLA plays, and I don’t know if that’s because he’s so unfiltered or because he’s slightly unhinged.
Either way, it makes for some must-see TV.
Cronin had a rough night. He came to East Lansing looking to bounce back and get off the NCAA Tournament bubble and was instead greeted with a blowout Michigan State win thanks to a season-high 14 made threes. Then he ejected his own player before roasting a Michigan State reporter after he asked a harmless question in his post-game interview.
What a banner night for Cronin in East Lansing.