Overview

• Mick Cronin, 53, will become the youngest active Division I coach to reach 500 career wins if UCLA defeats Minnesota on Tuesday night.
• Cronin's career spans 22 seasons, including successful stints at Murray State, Cincinnati, and six seasons at UCLA, where he has led the team to a Final Four and multiple Sweet 16 appearances.
• UCLA, currently 19-7 overall and 10-5 in Big Ten play, has won eight of its last nine games and is positioning itself for the NCAA Tournament with a strong resume of Quad 1 victories.
• Cronin attributes his success to a focus on continuous improvement and learning from every game, a philosophy he emphasizes to his players as they prepare for postseason play.
• Freshman Trent Perry is emerging as a key contributor for UCLA, with his defensive skills and basketball intelligence earning him a larger role as the team eyes March success.