Georgetown 73, UC 53 - postgame
For a team that was trying to make a case as a possible NCAA Tournament at-large entry, that was one poor performance. We saw again how limited UC is offensively especially against a good defense like Georgetown's and especially when John Williamson gets called for a technical foul that's his fourth of the game and puts him on the bench, depriving the Bearcats of one of the few offensive weapons they have.
"The double technical killed us because it gave us John's fourth foul," Mick Cronin said. "I didn’t see it so I can't comment on what was going on. I understand that the officials have got to do their job but it didn’t hurt (Georgetown). Their technical was on Jessie Sapp, who didn't have fouls and ours was on John.
"I thought for us win this game, we weren’t going to score maybe 55 points. We scored about as much as I thought we would unfortunately. But I was disappointed in our (18) turnovers. We’re a better team than we showed. But their defense is so good it forces guys to try to make plays that they really probably shouldn’t be trying to make and that’s where the turnovers happen."
69 Comments:
Out-played, out-manned, out-classed, and out-coached. No big surprise there.
That was one of the sorriest performances I have yet to see out of a UC team since the Yates/Badger fiasco days. It looks like even the "star" (DV) has quit on COY candidate Sippin' Mick for the remainder of the year. The main reason that UC has a winning record in the BE so far is because they were overachieving through determination. They played today like they had tonight and hot dates on their minds. If they keep at this pace, they won't have a winning record in conference and the only "tournament" they will look forward to is that new 'petite dance' tournament that Mick has been courting. Great! What an accomplishment!
Just can't wait until the Wednesday game at Pitt. We'll show 'em...LOL
I guess Georgetown is just a bit better than USF. Well, maybe we can steal one at UConn or Pitt.
UK wins a big game against Arkansas today. They continue to make a push toward the tourney. The transition to Gillispie is starting to move very smoothly and appears not even an ounce of rebuilding in Lexington.
Yet many UK fans think this year has been bad even now. Many on this blog are impressed by UC this year though, even though they haven't been as good as Gillispie's team.
Did that look like a team that was prepared? Did they play with any fire at all? What adjustments did Mick make at halftime?
Where is everybody who always telling us what a GREAT coach Mick is? Have all the members of the "We Love Mick No Matter What' Fan Club gone into hiding?
One good thing though: There was absolutely NO chance of Adam H. almost costing us the game today. After 10 minutes we were never in it.
Thats what happens when a real tournament team meets a pretender. Now maybe Sippin Mick will shut up with the ridiculous NCAA talk and go out and recruit some real players. Twenty-six games now and this year's freshman class shows nothing! Yep, the future looks bright.
This year's crop of freshmen were rated top 15. By whom? Sippin' Mick and Nancy? Maybe they were talking top 15 academically. That's what makes Nancy very happy. Then maybe we can just play intramurals and checkers. No longer anything there to get upset - or excited about. Aren't we so glad that we've got Mick slotted into his 'Dream Job.' There I go again living in the past. But at least I remember when we had a real D-1 BB team and coach on the hill. As Archie and Edith sang, "Those were the days."
...and here come the Kentucky fans!
Sorry, but the Wildcats aren't going to the NCAA tourney either. Remember that embarrassing loss to Gardner Webb at home?
Bill, why don't you get the Enquirer to turn off the comments feature of the blog. I like your posts, but the comments are worthless with all of the stupidity on here. Fans can choose to talk about your information on other message boards, e.g. Xavier's, if they care so much to comment on it. I bet even their "buddies" on there would get sick of the strange fascination with "Big Brother" UC.
Way to go Sippin Mick!
all you guys walking around with the yellow hard hats on, you know, the ones who are always crying "the sky is falling, the sky is falling"....the Doom and Gloome smart aarses:
I had this one already written off. UC does not match up well to Georgetown, didn't the first game, and didn't this game. The next two road games are the ones where they've got a better match up and could steal a win or two.
They've had bad losses bafore and bounced back. Warren was wretched today, Vaughn threw a bunch of rushed bricks, Williamson got a bush league technical. McClain looked slow and lost, got completely dominated, and got a good lesson in Basketball 101. Belton is lucky to last 5 minutes before he fouls out. I swear he's Ron Allen in disguise. They got behind and threw the ball around like a hot potato.
Bad game, which this team is capable of from time to time. I think they'll take their embarassment and apply it to a much better effort next game. Pitt at Pitt will be tough, but I look for a much better game.
The fact that freshman usually play like freshmen...duhhhhh...is a not so subtle point any intelligent savvy basketball fan knows quite well. Hey, doom and gloomers, come on over to our side of the fence, it's a lot sunnier and happier over here, and we'e having a lot more fun watching the games instead of crying or sleeping. We'll squeeze ya in, but the first sign of habitual whining and general crying and we'll probably have to send ya back to The Land of Constant Carping and Me the Whiny Fair Weather Fan. You know. one loss and the world is over.
We went to the game and UC's offense was awful. Haven't seen the box yet but UC surely had more turnovers than field goals. Something like 1,714 to about 15.
What is it about UC teams--whether coached by Huggins, Kennedy or Cronin--that can't shoot free throws? A critical turning point was UC missing the front of a bonus and Georgetown going down and popping a 3. Five-point swing, the rout was on.
As if we didn't already know, this kind of game against a Final 4 opponent shows you how much more work UC has to do. The people sitting behind us couldn't believe we had won 8 games in the league.
how can anyone even compare kentucky's situation to ours? That just shows your lack of basketball knowledge. GT is a much better team. period. UC is making strides and will be fine. We are all frustrated after the loss but some of your comments are ridiculous.
remember those embarassing losses to Belmont, BGSU, UAB, Illinois St., St. Johns...
Didn't get to see the game, but the result wasn't a surprise. The Hoyas haven't lost at home all year. No reason for me to expect UC to post a win there.
Not a bad defensive effort, but this game shows that you can't just defend and hustle your way to a win over a team the caliber of Georgetown.
Against NCAA caliber teams, having only 2 real scoring threats won't get it done. When Williamson got in foul trouble, it was pretty much over.
I hope Sippin' Mick's watching this Memphis/Tennessee game. Both these teams play the styles I like.
I'm not sure Mick knows how to find that type of offense though unfortunately.
how bad did Kentucky lose to Vandy?
why is Kentucky even being mentioned on this blog?
and why all the doom and gloom over this loss. UC was not supposed to beat the #11 team in the country.
Bearcat Tom says -
A poor performance, pretty much all the way around...turnovers, second half rebounding, Vaughn didn't have it today, nothing from the freshmen...
I think the Pitt game is a "backs against the wall" game. I don't think we can beat UConn there. NCAA is still possible, but not how UC played today.
BTW, for the poster who said UC can't beat real tournament teams, let's just take a look on Selection Sunday the NCAA tourney teams that we will have beaten, it will be a handful (or maybe two handfuls) of teams. That is a really uninformed comment.
And for the Nancy haters out there - I'm watching one of her former coaches tonight...Bruce Pearl. He's not doing too bad is he?
Bill, we need another scorer. Someone pointed out on this thread or the previous one that we're some 26 weeks into the season, and one of the freshmen phenoms should have stepped up by now.
That's a valid point.
Surely all those scholarships handed out resulted in at least one scorer, didn't they?
If Mick's got a secret weapon to unveil, it's time to unveil it.
For what it's worth folks, the "sippin" thing is unusual because it's a personal attack against someone most of us have never personally met.
Maybe all of you Mick haters would rather have your man AK. Miss was blown out by a bad LSU team today to fall to 4-8 in the conference and rapidly out of consideration, if they remain in consideration, for the dance.
Hey CSA, how is your best bud AK doing? Lost by 20 points to a 10-16 team. Hmm, how many games have they lost recently? Not looking like a very good coach now.
Bearcat Tom says -
I liked Andy Kennedy, but for those of you who have said he has done a better job than Mick this year, here is a flash...he is now 4-8 in the SEC after losing to LSU!
4:22 anon I guess we had as much of a chnace as the coach down south did against those tigers of LSU. Wow what were we thinking by not keeping him. You have to be a pretty good coach to start 15-1 & then lose 7 of your next 10. Good thing he thought of scheduling the mighty Blue Hose of Presbyterian in the middle of conference play to stop all those losses. I guess giving LSU 1 of there ONLY 3 conference wins isn't so bad when you consider he also gave Auburn 2 of their 3 conference wins. Maybe he will get lucky and not get swept by Alabama this week. Probably not.
CSA I was thinking the exact same thing this week watching Chuggy Bear get blown out by Villinova. But then I remembered Villinova won't make the tournament this year. So I guess that was just a case of an overated coach being exposed. Much like what Mick did to him at his own place earlier.
There's a silver lining to everything. Yes, UC got blown out, and Bearcat fans are down about it.
But at least the anti-UC small band of warriors have had their chance to vent. That's fine.
6:17,
We don't want the comments turned off just because some (actually most of the posts I described are coming from 1 person -- not CSA) can't wait to rip the Bearcats. They have a right to say things too, just as you have the right to judge their opinions for what they are worth.
I do find it interesting that the poster I described above only waited until 12:19 to start ripping Coach Cronin, Deonta Vaughn, and others when the game had only been going on for about a few minutes (see the Bob Staak comments) -- then simply continued to do so every 5 minutes or so.
As fans who WANT UC to succeed, we should allow those anti-UC people to speak out. I have no problem with that, because they (only a few ) expose themselves for what they are.
Simply ignore them. That's what most of us do.
hey 12:54-
Except Huggins' team looks like a tourney team right now and Sippin' Mick's doesn't.
Kennedy's team is still closer than UC right now as well.
I wish someone would teach Mick what quality offensive players look like.
Sippin' Mick Moniker Maker
Mick was nuts to be talking up an NCAA bid. Who did he think was buying that? Does he think we don't watch this game?
I like Mick and I hope he straightens it out, but he's crazy to be blowing smoke about NCAA bids right now. And he's not even close to being a candidate for coach of the year. COY? How could he even possibly be considered? It is more than funny.
My morning Enq says MC says NCAA at large bid still possible.
Huh? Bearcats at 13-13 w. BE of
8-6 think Mick is delusional.
Bearcats were 5-7 outta conf. altho w. losses to top 10 teams X and Memphis, but some really bad losses.
Have Bearcats improved since early non conf losses - undoubtedly.
Winning record in BE probably due to BE not being all that good compared to previous yrs.
UC to go to CBI tourney.
Here's the situation for all of you AK lovers or MC lovers. There's a choice between those two great coachees. Wow! What a tough decision. Like choosing between a six and a half dozen. I know many of us don't want to believe the following. But, this is a very average team and probably still at least two years from the NCAA tourney. That should not be surprising for a program that was destroyed by its own administration and has a somewhat unproven coach.
Letters to the sports editor of The Columbus Dispatch state Ohio States basketball team is immature, has not improved, taken poor fundamentals to a new low,can't dribble, can't pass, won't box out and their picks are lazy at best. Perhaps UC and OSU can meet in the NIT.
I really do not understand what Andy Kennedy's and Bob Huggins' teams or the Kentucky team or the X team have to do with the fact that UC stinks and Mick Cronin is not getting the job done.
St CSA
CSA
I've been trying to figure out what UK/X/Ohio State/AK/BH have to do with UC and MC all year long and can't figure it out either. Yet there are/were some posters on here earlier in the year who yearned to have AK and BH back because they were doing so much better (at the time) than UC and MC. A solid argument can be made that since January, UC has performed better than both AK and BH. Bottom line - it seemed to matter back then to some, so why shouldn't it matter now.
On to your point about Mick not getting it done, how do you back up that statement? Year 1 - UC finishes 11-19 (2-14 in conference) and does not play in any postseason tourneys. Year 2 - as it stands right now, UC will at least be 13-17 (8-10 in conference) and play in the Big East tourney. Seems like he is moving in the right direction doesn't it? More than likely Year 2 will finish at 15-15 (10-8), a Big East birth and a spot in the CBI tourney, if not the NIT. Given the conference they play in and the lack of experience/talent and offensive production this team has, I think it's pretty good.
Also, FYI, Georgetown is a pretty good basketball team and Notre Dame lost by 19 at Georgetown too this year.
UC just doesn't match up well against G-town this year and I think they are allowed to have a clunker of a game every once in a while.
Wow....lose to a top 25 team and the UC haters are back out in full force. Can't you guys find something better to do with your spare time? Here is a thought, get a job?
G'town is a better team. It's that simple. Nothing complicated there, DUH. So take your comments and post them on a HATERS site, and stay off this one. Most people in the city support the Cats and the coaching staff.
Cheviot, perhaps it is because Mick is getting more out of this team than perhaps any other coach in the country. A number of college basketball analysts have mentioned Mick for consideration as national COY, or perhaps they are all delusional and only you really see what is happening.
The reason that this basketball team is not a complete total disaster this season is: one player (Vaughn) and the left-over seniors that Cronin picked up when he took over. I was told that this years' recruits were one of the best classes in the country. The season is nearly over, why have we not seen anything out of these guys? Were they over-rated coming in? or have they been poorly developed since they have been here? There are always some freshmen who never become good college players but to be O-fer after 26 games with a highly regarded class seems inexcusable to me. If next season's class responds like this season's did, they will have a tough time matching even this year's record.
Mick needs to stop making excuses and show me something. He comes off to me as a coach lacking confidence when he goes out making ridiculous statements about his team not being 'noticed' or campaigning for a tournament bid with a .500 team.
Yes, It is obvious that they don't 'match up' well with Georgetown. I heard that from Mick before it showed up here. Lets hope they 'match up' better against Pitt and UCONN. If they play the way they played yesterday and in the S Florida game, they will have a tough time beating Providence and DePaul.
St CSA
11:40 -
Probably the same people who supported Marvin Lewis and still do even after on and off the field nightmares that show no signs of going away. His tenure grows and so does the underperforming. Will Mick get such a leash if he performs like Marvin?
Sippin' Mick Moniker Maker
By the way for all you uninformed people Notre Dame went to Georgetown and lost by 19. I will repeat.
ND lost to GTown at GTown by 19.
1:55 anon WVU is 4-4 in their last 8 games with a 23 point home loss to Mick & the boys & a 22 point loss on the road to villinova. That really doesn't look like a tourney team. As for Ole Miss the only thing they are closer to is getting swept by the bottom three teams in the SEC (Alabma, Auburn, LSU). Nothing like losing to a team that has already fired their coach when your trying to make the tournament.
As a UC alum living in east Tennesseee, watching last night's game between Memphis and Tennessee, I could not stop myself from thinking back to the time Huggins led teams mopped the floor with Alan Houston led Vol teams - and who could forget the Bearcats beating Penny Hardaway's Memphis team 4 FREAKIN TIMES IN ONE YEAR (if I remember correctly)...ah the good 'ol days.
Bigger question ought ot be why was mick wearing KAnsas State purple colors yesterday? Does he not have a red or black tie?
CSA,
We actually agree again about something. The comparisons to Bob Huggins' team, Andy Kennedy's team, UK or X are meaningless.
Whether UC "stinks" at 13-13 is open to debate, as is Mick Cronin's performance as a coach.
I would like to see how some of the "pro-Mick" and "anti-Mick" crowd would DEFINE success for this program, both right now and in the near future.
Otherwise, it's just screaming in generalities. But whether other coaches would do in this situation is not worth discussing.
Good point about this year's freshman class being a disappointment so far.
Bishop shows potential. Biggie has struggled -- hopefully his foot has hindered his progress. Davis has been OK. Wilks, Mitchell, Belton -- not much there right now.
We'll know more next year. Hopefully they develop into D-1 players.
Yes, with the adamant help of three referees, the Wildcats barely beat Arkansas at RUPP ARENA. They are REALLY coming on strong!
For 2:43
Criteria to grade improvement
SOS
RPI
Big East wins
Tournaments
Wouldn't you think XU deserves a blog? After all, they are the best team in Ohio.
CSA the class was rated high when it included:
Jason Henry and
Mike Williams
If the cats had those two guys they wouldnt be losing by 20 to anyone.
It is quite an accomplishment to Mick to what he has been able to do without the class' best player
MC brought on the avalanche of negative comments by lobbying for NCAA bid. Win the Big East Tourney and you will earn the ticket to the dance. Otherwise, prepare for NIT date @ Rupp v. UK, or Value City at OSU, if you win enough of remaining games.
Call it "progress".
Here come the "woulda-shoulda-couldas"...
You guys sound like Dayton Cryers fans. How the mighty have fallen. How do you Bearcat fans enjoy being the #2 basketball program in your own city?
Anon 10:51,
How it must pain you eggsavior fans to be a little mid-major school. Truly you are to be pitied. Because you will ALWAYS be no more than a little mid-major school. And' if that's not bad enough, your football team hasn't won a game in decades. HOW SAD!!!
Anon 10:51,
How it must pain you eggsavior fans to be a little mid-major school. Truly you are to be pitied. Because you will ALWAYS be no more than a little mid-major school. And' if that's not bad enough, your football team hasn't won a game in decades. HOW SAD!!!
X barely beat UC at HOME when they were a down and out team. There is a pretty good chance that they would beat them now.
Also, X wouldn't be ranked #10 if they were in the BEast. Maybe #10 in the BEast.
hey 9:10 -
Pretty sure rivals didn't consider Mike Williams as part of UC's top-15 recruiting class. Henry was part of it but I believe that was BEFORE they brought in Wilks, who should have kept the rating around No. 15.
The fact is those players have greatly underperformed and have shown very little future promise at this point.
I had heard how several of them were supposed to be able to score points. Either they can't or Mick has hindered them with his slow-down style and his focus on appeasing Gentry, Sikes, H and company by focusing his attention their way.
Sippin' Mick Moniker Maker
UC #2 program in their own city. At least UC plays top teams by being in the Big East. Mid Major Xavier storms through the A-10 beating up on other mid major teams. Now that's impressive. Losses to Miami (of Ohio not Florida) and Tennessee shows what happens when mighty mid major X plays real teams.
Hey 10:51
Since you're such an expert know- it- all, can you tell us UC's ranking and RPI? What kind of seed do you think UC will get in the NCAA tourney?
11:15
Xavier's football team hasn't lost a game in decades; we think positive at X.
I prefer to root for the "little school that could" and will be playing post season.
Your jealousy is showing!
Why do X fans comment on a UC blog? Oh that's right, the little school the can't doesn't have one. Thinking positive at X translates to denying the fact that you are a mid major.
Anon 11:14 am
Little x fella,
The only jealousy that I have regarding the little sister 'x' school is that you at least have an administration intelligent enough not to destroy your BB program. Of course since that's ALL your mid-major school has, it's more necessary to safeguard it.
Anon 11:15 PM
Rivals stars is projected on the upside of the player.
In Wilks case he was a 4* his junior year and he skipped his senior year to be at UC and learn. Other than Wilks and Henry Biggie was the only player rated 4* and in the top 50.
15. Cincinnati Bearcats
Details Jason Henry SF 6-7, 190
Anthony McClain C 6-11, 220
Rashad Bishop SF 6-6, 190
Kenny Belton PF 6-7, 225
Larry Davis SG 6-3, -
Alvin Mitchell SF 6-5, 205
Mick Cronin and his staff had to fill a number of spots in 2007 and did so with a deep class this year. Four-star prospects Jason Henry and Anthony McClain were two late additions, and the duo boasts great upside. Florida wing Alvin Mitchell enjoyed a tremendous senior year as a scorer. Rashad Bishop, Kenny Belton and Larry Davis are all four-year players. Former Texas forward Mike Williams should help right away inside for the Bearcats.
Previous rank: NR
Scoring points against high school competition is different than scoring in the BEast. This is not HS or Atlantic 10, this is the best league in the country.
Mick has done a phenomenal job with what he has been given. He has 8 BEast wins, 4X as many as last year. This is without his go to post presence, and without Henry and basically Mitchell who thinks he could have gone to the NBA he just had to go to basketball school for one year. There is also mention of Mike Williams in their rating.
You notice it also says Belton, Davis and Bishop are 4 year players, this means that they won't be expected to produce for at least 2 years, non impact players.
Mick has done a great job, he has the pedigree and his winning percentage reflects it.
MSteve & CSA,
I defined success for UC roughly at the time of the UAB game as demonstrated improvement by the end of the season. I wasn't really thinking so much of this team, because I considered it weak, as I was thinking of Coach Cronin.
I was hoping they could get to this point of the season and win over USF, Providence, and a few of the weaker teams.
They beat that before they even got to the end of the season. I think Cronin and the team have demonstrated improvement.
I agree, however, that the freshmen should be stepping up more than they are. In reality, they are sophormore's minus by now.
This team desperately needs a 3rd scoring threat.
Big Bearcat 3:03
They won't post most of my blogs, but maybe you can tell me your school's national ranking, RPI, and potential NCAA tourney seed.
Hey Cub 3:03
At the end of the day, I'd rather have a great BB team than a blog site.
A "mid major" that wins trumps an "Elite" that loses.
I think Mick's a good coach, but your fans won't give him a chance.
Relax and enjoy the competition.
Anon 4:44,
Please enjoy your short flirtation with the collegiate basketball elite. Soon enough your little school will return to its proper mid-major place. Could you please tell me what bowl games little 'x' has been to in decades??...LOL
Do you X fans honestly believe that Xavier could go into Freedom hall and beat Louisville, or go to WVU and beat them by 25? I didn't think so. They can barely beat great teams like Saint Louis and Rhodie Island. You better enjoy Miller before he is gone to IU.
JT,
x will have to face REAL teams from REAL conferences soon. The only way they advance past the second round if it the seeding favors them. Remember though that their AD is now on the selection committee. Even though he must leave the room, we know (wink, wink) how those things go. But, eventually they'll be faced with REAL competition.
Why though do x fans feel the need to troll a UC site? I'd view an x blog if they actually had one. It would be like checking in on the kids.
Dustin Dow's blog IS the Xavier blog, idiot.
Bill's blog is for the weak little sister basketball program in Clifton.
The Cats will be lucky to make the Not-In-Tournament, despite all the bluster from Sippin' Mick Cronin AKA "the mouse that roared."
Anon 3:08 and 3:20,
Probably one and the same person, because it's highly unlikely there can be two little sister 'x' fans as completely ignorant as you are.
Certainly, you suffer from BCS, big brother or a Sigmund Frued type envy. Possibly some quality time on the couch of a qualified therapist could work wonders for you. Or possibly not.
Anyway, as I've stated before, please enjoy your very shortlived flirtation with collegiate BB royalty. Soon, you be back to being their smallish, little middie-major subjects. Just what kind of disease is mid-major anyhow? Suppose someone with such a loathsome, permanent affliction would have to become a lowlife troll. Funny how I've NEVER felt the need to seek out a little sister 'x' blog, even if such a childish site exists.
Too bad about the Pitt game.
Looks like UC is on the bubble for the NIT.
Making the conference tourney was the goal for the team this year after starting from scratch two years ago.
UC is the ONLY team that NONE of its players have postseason experience. UC is also the only school that does not have a 3rd year scholly player.
* Our online blogs currently are hosted and operated by a third party, namely, Blogger.com. You are now leaving the Cincinnati.Com website and will be linked to Blogger.com's registration page. The Blogger.com site and its associated services are not controlled by Cincinnati.Com and different terms of use and privacy policy will apply to your use of the Blogger.com site and services.
By proceeding and/or registering with Blogger.com you agree and understand that Cincinnati.Com is not responsible for the Blogger.com site you are about to access or for any service you may use while on the Blogger.com site.
<< Home