Mick wants more from Williamson
If the Bearcats are going to take advantage of what seems to be a favorable schedule down the stretch, they need to get more scoring from John Williamson to take some of the pressure off Deonta Vaughn.
“John’s a guy that’s not always aggressive," Cronin said. "He’s hard to coach because the minute you let up on him he seems to take a back seat. You’re used to coaching guys that are trying to score more. I’m appreciative of the fact that he cares about winning, but we’ll win a lot more games if he’s getting 13 or 14 a game."
Williamson has averaged only 8.2 points in his last four games, three of which UC has lost, this from a guy who averaged 13.5 last year and scored 27 a game in junior college. He says he's up to the challenge, that all Mick has to do is say the word because scoring has never been a problem for him.
We'll see.
28 Comments:
Anybody know if Brady being fired from LSU will result in Morgan re-opening his recruitment?
What a great coach we now have! It only took him until 3/4 of the season is over to figure this out. Can anyone name one player who has improved over last season? Williamson? Sikes? Gentry? Warren? Maybe Warren some. Let's take our blinders off and see what has and has not happened. We're not as bad this year because we have newcomers and a bench. I know I'll take heat for this, but I am still not completely sold on Mick. I'm not a Mick hater, but in two years all of the excuses will fall on deaf ears. And I am not a Bandwagon fan, having endured the Badger and Yates fiascos. I hope that will never be repeated.
Williamson has been playing of late without any fire in his eyes. I think he has the ability to be a force at times in a manner somewhat reminiscent of Eric Hicks. Without that flame, he is just an average player. It's all up to him how he wants to be remembered. Hicks is remembered with fondness. Williamson? We'll have to see.
No one should be completely sold on Mick. That said, there was a reason that guys on the team last year were not heavily recruited. Be it not much of an upside or what, Mick scrambled for what he could get in a short time (Bill - Why was Vaughn still available so late?). Mick has done a great job to this point with what he has. There is still much to prove. I'm enjoying watching the team grow and will continue to be patient. To me, by the time conference play starts next year we'll have a much better handle on what we've got here. In the meantime, GO CATS!
Vaughn was available because he was released by IU from his LOI when Mike Davis resigned.
Might be wrong on this, but I think Vaughn was headed to Indiana until Davis got the ax. That freed Vaughn to come here. - Anon 4:40
UC definitely needs someone to step up into that 2nd scorer role, be it Williamson or one of the others. Vaughn can't do it alone. If Adam doesn't miss so many layups, he'd be averaging double figures as well.
It's a sad document on the state of UC basketball when we're even talkling about Adam H. needing to be a scorer. He belongs in the student section where he'd be of more help. That "pro" team in Europe paid him not to play.
9:01
That's what happens when no one recruits for a couple of years. We have a coach now who gives a damn. Count on that.
Dave in Omaha, I hope you're 100% correct. Now, we just need some talented players beside Vaughn that care and we'll be back. - Anon 9:01
lolololol
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Why does everyone here hate Mick Cronin so much? Not that I know or care about U of Cinti sports, but it seems they're making progress. I don't get it.
Totally agree with you, Mr. Red Stocking Legs.
There has been a sheetload of unabated hatred directed at Cronin around this blog. It seems more fueled by people with axes to grind over Huggins being fired than anything else.
Seems like whenever a legend is replaced, the next coach spends his entire career ducking unfavorable comparisons to his predecessor. It turns into a no win situation. Witness Joe Hall after Rupp, Earl Bruce after Woody, Mike Davis after Knight. Human nature, I suppose, but it's still an unfortunate deal.
I noticed this week that UC has played eleven games against Top 50 in rpi, the most by far of any D1 team. Most teams have only 5 or 6. Had they held on to beat UConn, they would be a respectable 5-6. As it is, they are 4-7, which represents, as you said, progress and a vast improvement. People harp on the Illinois State loss, but their RPI is 50. UC"s top 100 record is 3-3. If they gets hot and win the remaining home games and 1 or 2 road games and a couple in the BE tourney, they could legitimately be looking at an Ncaa bid. A stretch, sure, but still a possibility. Who thought the Giants would win the Super Bowl?
Who woulda thought they would still be in the hunt at this point after the start they had? Nobody.
Cronin has done a masterful job developing this squad, holding them together, and switching offense and defense to match situational needs. He is not without critcism for some of his calls, as is any coach, but in general he's earned a lot of respect this season. No less a luminary than Jim Calhoun sez he's the best league coach he's seen this year. Good 'nuff for me.
I wonder if Mick wants more from the freshman class next year? I hope so because they'll score 65 points per game again if he doesn't get more.
And Mick has done a "masterful" job? The team is below average and dropping lately (again). Very little defensive fire and exruciating offense.
I would do anything to have a coach able to build a top offense or defense in the county by his second year. Certain coaches out there can do it as we all know. WE all know well.
OK, Red Hose Legs and Old Sad Timer. I see how it works. If we say anything that is not 100% in favor of, unquestioning, totally pro-Mick, then we are automatically a Mick hater. Question Mick not!! How narrow minded some of the thinking can really be. Try taking the rose colored glasses off for a while. Aren't we all just delighted that we don't have to put up with a coach like Bill Self or Roy Williams here?
Nobody even cares about UC basketball anymore. Not just in the suburbs but in Clifton also. It's a DEAD program.
We know that's what you're praying for, Mr. XU, but no chance.
7:57 -
yawn. That's why you're here clamoring for attention.
nicely done.
Reread some of my posts....if you can read. Maybe the problem is on the comprehension end.
I've said many times I'm not completely sold on Mick. How does that opinion translate out into 100% support in your feeble brain?
Mr Redlegs comment was about the abusive level of negativity being thrown around, such as the deragotory comments about his size, water bottle, etc., all of which are pretty hateful and out of bounds. I think we all get it that some folks out there despise the guy. Spewing venom and repeating epithets get old quick.
Some digs are OK and fair. Constant repetition is boring and more a statement about the blogger's deficiencies the coach's. Just sayin.
Hitting below the belt makes someone a cheap shot artist in my book.
All the negativity goes away if UC starts playing good BB and winning 75% plus of their games, while garnering top 15 rankings. Until then, expect UC and MC to get slammed by some. The bandwagon crowd lost patience long ago with UC BB.
Uh oh, What is Nancy going to say about the Yancy Gates incident?
CSA, Zdog won't say anything. That policy only was enforced by her during the Huggins/Kennedy era. She's such a stinkin' hypocrit!
Anon 1:27,
How can somebody be a hypocrite if they haven't said anything?
Look up hypocrite in the dictionary if you need to. It's a great tool.
Monclova Steve, Hit the Archives of the Huggins/Zimpher fiasco. It was one of the items Zdog hung her jock strap on. And, by the way, hypocrisy can also be demonstrated by action or inaction.
Agree with Redlegs & Oldtimer >> Mick is no good simply because he replaced Huggie (and of course had the nerve to leave Huggie to try to better himself, which he did).
Facts can't change that mindset.
The Huggie devotion is a mystery to me.
Anon 9:46,
Are you Redlegs or Oldtimer? Has to be one or the other. Noone else agrees with either.
That's the mystery to us.
Yet another Cincinasti "student"-athlete has made the police blotter. So much for changing the criminal culture down there at Cincinasti College!
UC = UNLV East
...Or maybe not - UNLV has cleaned up its act, has a winning record, & will make the NCAA tourney this year.
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