UCLA's Mick Cronin, a prominent figure in college basketball, has called for more funding for the National Investment Independent (NIL) after his team's second-round NCAA Tournament loss to UConn. Cronin's comments follow a disappointing 73-57 loss to the Huskies, marking the team's fourth consecutive postseason exit. The Bruins, who were playing without top scorer Tyler Bilodeau due to injury, were largely comprised of former transfers this season and finished sixth in the Big Ten and earned a No. 7 seed before facing UCF in their NCAA Tournament opener. Despite this setback, Cronin remains optimistic about a larger payroll for the team, stating that he is "concerned about tonight and consoling the guys" and "worried about five more million dollars." He also advocated for the ability to exceed the revenue-sharing cap to aid with roster retention. The transfer portal opens for a 15-day period on April 7.