UCLA's Mick Cronin Has Fiery Exchange on Video After Question About MSU Student Section

After a rough two-game road trip in Michigan, capped off by Tuesday's 82-59 loss against Michigan State, UCLA head coach Mick Cronin was not happy.

During his postgame media availability, Cronin had a tense exchange with a reporter who asked about Michigan State's student section chanting Xavier Booker's name.

Booker, a former 5-star recruit, spent his first two college seasons playing for the Spartans before transferring to UCLA last April.

That wasn't the only awkward moment for Cronin on Tuesday night. He also seemed to eject one of his own players, Steven Jamerson II, after committing a flagrant foul on Carson Cooper's fast-break layup attempt in the second half.

Cronin explained the decision to send Jamerson to the locker room was for committing a foul on a "defenseless" player who was in the air:

"You know, true toughness is how you compete and how you go to work every day. Steve's a good kid. He made a bad decision. But if you want to be a tough guy, you need to do it during the game, for a blockout, for a rebound. So, I was thoroughly disappointed; the guy was defenseless in the air. I know Steve was trying to block the shot, but the game's a 25-point game. You don't do that."

UCLA played on the road against Michigan and Michigan State in the span of three days. Things did not go well for the Bruins, who lost the two games by a combined 53 points.

Cronin's team is now 7-6 in their last 13 games after a 10-3 start to the season. Even though the Bruins are returning home for their next two games, things won't get easier as they have to take on No. 10 Illinois on Saturday.