One didn’t need to squint across the Pacific Ocean to see Mick Cronin’s new lump of blue-and-gold clay starting to take form.
The arms belonged to Ilane Fibleuil, snagging rebounds over players several inches taller.
The legs were those of Lazar Stefanovic, gutting out 40 minutes to give his team a chance.
The heart was that of Sebastian Mack, the gritty guard constantly driving into harm’s way to get his team a basket or two free throws.
UCLA (4-2) lost two of three games in the Maui Invitational but might have found a way to turn promise into success with its freshman-heavy roster.