UCLA Basketball: Mick Cronin Expects Returning Bruin To Be Heart Of Defense

The story of the past three impressive UCLA basketball seasons and the Mick Cronin era at large in Westwood has been defense, as the Bruins have ranked inside the top-10 amongst Division 1 teams each of those seasons. 

Much of the team's defensive success can be attributed to former Bruins Jaime Jaquez Jr., who was a 2x All-Pac-12 First Team defensive player, and Jaylen Clark, who was the Naismith, NABC, and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in the 2022-2023 season. 

While Jaquez Jr. and Clark have taken their careers to the next level, being drafted by the Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves, respectively, Head Coach Mick Cronin is unfazed, and seems to believe that the next anchor of the Bruin defense is a familiar face. 

The former Pac-12 Freshman of the Year is a long, athletic big man with a great feel for the game. Bona was named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team last season, despite just being a freshman and seeing only 22.9 minutes per game, while battling a number of injuries.

Evidently, his defense is, and has been a pivotal part of the Bruins' success. His absence was felt to a large degree in UCLA's Sweet 16 loss to the Gonzaga Bulldogs, where, without Bona, they were left with no answer for Gonzaga big man Drew Timme, who churned out an absurd 36 points and 13 rebounds. 

Bona's 6'10" frame and 7'4" wingspan make for a defensive force around the basket.

SportsKeeda explains in a scout of Bona, that "he covers a large area on the floor and effectively restrains the opposing offense. He is agile and is able to space the floor, enabling him to contest and block shots which may be thought to be out of reach." 

Defense is every Cronin team's calling card, and with a wide open Pac-12 to win, and a Sweet 16 loss to avenge, expect Bona and this Bruin team to again have one of the nation's top defenses. 

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