University of Cincinnati Sports: UC's remaining schedule

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

UC's remaining schedule

UC still has a lot of work to do to become one of the 12 teams that qualify for the Big East tournament, but the schedule is set up nicely for them. Beginning with Saturday's game at Rutgers, five of their remaining eight games are against teams that are a combined 12-34 in the league and those are precisely the teams the Bearcats must beat to nail down one of those tournament slots. In addition, four of those games - vs. St. John's (2-7), South Florida (1-8), Providence (3-6) and DePaul (4-5) are at Fifth Third Arena. If they win all four of those games, they'll be at least 9-9 in the league. If they can beat Rutgers this weekend plus take care of business at home, you're looking at 10-8. To be sure, UC has some difficult road games remaining - at Georgetown, at Pitt and at UConn - but if they take care of business against those other teams, especially at home, they should be in good shape to play in New York in March.

108 Comments:

at 11:53 AM

Anonymous said...

BB season is over. I'd like more coverage on UC FB recruiting.

at 11:59 AM

Anonymous said...

10-8 seems like a realistic goal for the team, considering its inconsistent play. So if the 'cats finish 15-15, does it mean they have to go 2-1 in the Big East Tournament if they hope to get a chance to play in the NIT? Or would a .500 record suffice?

Usually fatigues come into play at the end of the season, but since Cronin plays so many guys in the rotation, this shouldn't be a factor. I just hope the team continues to improve and comes ready to play every game.

at 12:29 PM

Anonymous said...

this is what it has come to, trying to get a spot in the big east tourney. how sad.

at 12:34 PM

Unknown said...

basketball season is not over. Its more exciting than I could have hoped for so I'd like to hear what Mr. Koch has to say until at least Mid March.

I really dislike the dismissive attitude some people have towards the basketball team in favor of the football team. years ago it was the other way around and that bothered me then too.

I like UC sports. This is the UC sports blog. If its in season I want to hear about it. If its not in season, but its news worthy I want to hear about that too.

at 12:41 PM

Anonymous said...

In the Big East, the Cats will always be playing to improve their seed in the Big East Tournament. If they finish 8th or 9th, then they may have a second opportunity to beat Georgetown, which should be entertaining.

Geoffrey B,
I agree with you. What Bill has to say is 1,000 times more interesting than the comments by the Anons. Try to ignore them.

at 12:56 PM

Anonymous said...

10-8 big east record would be huge. What a foundation for next year.

Next year we will be down at the 5 and 4 spot:

sikes
williamson
adam

we add

mike williams
yancey gates
aldridge

plus one more year of experience in
Belton and Mcclain.

The only weakness next year will be the point unless Cash steps up with a short learning curve.
One would also have to believe that Mick has one or two more good prospects yet to commit in the spring.

at 1:13 PM

Anonymous said...

Prediction - Bearcats finish 14-16 regular season. Sit home again at tourney time.

Bill - Will you share how you voted top 25 on your ballot.

at 1:20 PM

Anonymous said...

at 1:13 PM Anonymous said...
Prediction - Bearcats finish 14-16 regular season. Sit home again at tourney time.

Bill - Will you share how you voted top 25 on your ballot.""""""""""""""""""

Bill Koch is not a voter, Dustin Dow is a voter. Here is Dustin's last vote,

14
1 Memphis
2 Duke
3 Kansas
4 North Carolina
5 UCLA
6 Tennessee
7 Georgetown
8 Texas
9 Indiana
10 Butler
11 Wisconsin
12 Stanford
13 Washington St.
14 Michigan St.
15 Xavier
16 Drake
17 Marquette
18 Vanderbilt
19 Saint Mary's, Calif.
20 Texas A&M
21 Connecticut
22 Notre Dame
23 Kansas St.
24 Purdue
25 Louisville

Ville and UConn are moving up

at 1:24 PM

Anonymous said...

1:20 Thanks.

I thought Bill voted in Dustin's place while he was on honeymoon.

at 1:39 PM

Anonymous said...

Still debating whether we'll make the Big East Tournament or the back of the NIT. Sad how slow the climb is for Sippin' Mick; I think “The Beast” moves faster up its hill.

To say this year’s team has underachieved is an understatement. The recruiting class is top-15, yet they don't even look top-50 as we approach the end of a full year; and that doesn't even count the seniors on the roster.

If only we had Kennedy and thus a much faster ascent to the top.

at 1:45 PM

Anonymous said...

If only everyone would shut the @#$! up about if only Kennedy and Huggins were still around. Godalmighty.

at 1:55 PM

Anonymous said...

From now on I will read Bill's initial post, but I won't read the stupid comments anymore.

It's a waste of time.

at 2:13 PM

Anonymous said...

For UC BB to finish 500 would make for a very exciting season. We have improved from cellar dweller to average.
Go Cats !

at 2:39 PM

Anonymous said...

Isn't this great? Now, going to the big dance means the Big East tournament. Don't blame anything on the BOT or Nancy though. The tournament rap on Huggins was that he couldn't get past the second round. And these days we hope that we even make it to the stinkin' NIT. Super!

at 2:54 PM

Anonymous said...

I'm glad all you UC fans have finally tempered your expectations to more realistic measures. There was a day when Huggins had everyone hoping for a NCAA Tourney run, and now....everyone has their fingers crossed for a game, wait for it, in CONFERENCE post-season...not March Madness post-season.

Pathetic what's come of the UC program and Smurf Cronin, but atleast Cat Nation has become realistic in their hopes. If UC is fortunate enough to make the Big East tourney, be proud cat fans...your team has reached its expectations.

at 2:54 PM

Anonymous said...

Stupid and impatient has returned from his slomber.

at 3:01 PM

Anonymous said...

2:54, Right! Now go back to sleep.

at 3:03 PM

Anonymous said...

For anybody not paying attention for the last few years, perhaps we should spell it out slowly. The problem isn't with the current coach, it's the lack of ability to recruit that Huggins had at the end, and that AK had when he was here, and Cronin's first season. Mick was left with absolutely nothing to work with, and had to take leftovers for his first season. There is still no senior leadership on this team. You can't expect what was torn down over multiple season to be recreated in one. That's just not how life works.

at 3:04 PM

Anonymous said...

First 2:54, How do you think the Smurfs feel after a shot like that? Poor little guys!

at 3:07 PM

Anonymous said...

Kennedy is doing ok with his "leftovers." Also, minus losing to an inferior team last week, Huggs isn't doing too poorly w/ his "leftovers."

If temper tantrums and whining were worth points....Mick would be leading the Big East in scoring.

at 3:08 PM

Anonymous said...

2:54 enjoy it for now in Norwood. X will again be a tiny blip on our radar in the next couple years.

It sure would be nice to have a stretch of games like Temple, St Bonaventure, and LaSalle.

at 3:10 PM

Anonymous said...

3:07, you're still not paying attention. While AK and Huggs didn't necessarily have their type of players when they got their, the coaches prior to them had at least been recruiting. UC coaches were not recruiting, due to the lame duck status of both Huggins and Kennedy. Players do not want to go somewhere with coaches in limbo. So you're comparing apples to oranges here.

at 3:12 PM

Anonymous said...

3:08, it was Belmont, Western Carolina and Bowling Green and UC lost 2 of 3 and barely won the other one against powerhouse Western Carolina. Are these elementary schools?

at 3:14 PM

Anonymous said...

Thanks, JT, for a nice, tight summation of reason and common sense amid a backyard of nimrods and numbskulls too lazy or too illiterate to realize the situation with UC basketball.

These have to be the most mentally and perceptually dense people on earth. That is, if they know what that means.

Doubt it.

at 3:16 PM

Anonymous said...

"It sure would be nice to have a stretch of games like Temple, St Bonaventure, and LaSalle."

And that's what the other Big East schools think when they see UC, South Florida, and Rutgers on their schedule. What a breeze.

at 3:18 PM

Anonymous said...

3:14, JT would be a nice nickname for you. It could stand for Just Thick or possibly, Juvenile Thinker.

at 3:20 PM

Anonymous said...

Jesus, you people can't even get over a past that was even two months ago. What is it with you people?

You just need something to bellyache about all day, every day. Not gettin' it at home? Dog hit by a bus? Goldfish flushed down the toilet?

A lot of top 25 teams lost in the first month of the season like they do every year and the UC team today would beat Western Carolina, Belmont and Bowling Green pretty handily. That's because teams grow and develop as the seasoon unfolds and this team has certainly done that.

3:14 is right--dense and dumb.

But you don't notice that progress. You just keep looking over your shoulders, pining and whinbing

at 3:36 PM

Anonymous said...

3:20, You're absolutely right. Every little thing just bothers me to no end. But, of course, everything is just swell in Bearcat land. After all, Mick is the coach and we all just have to love Mick, no matter what. And, maybe you should hit spell check. In your great wisdom, and probably great excitement also, more than one word is not spelled correctly. Yes, it's quite obvious that you are neither dense nor dumb!

at 3:37 PM

Anonymous said...

AK would have this team ranked. Mick can't coach. He may be able to recruit, but he can't coach.

at 3:37 PM

Anonymous said...

If UC can win the games you mention, Bill, then their #4 in the nation Strength of Schedule should make them an NIT pick.

Then we'd get to see how much they've improved.

Making the NIT would be a HUGE win and boost for Cronin and this team.

I've got my fingers crossed!

at 3:54 PM

Anonymous said...

The worst part of all this is that little sister 'x' will be going dancing and we may not even make it to the "also rans" NIT. I am NOT living in the past, but this is why I still feel a measure of anger toward some members of the BOT and Nancy Z. Why? Because, we are still experiencing the ramifications of their ignorant actions. And none of us really knows for sure how much longer. We can only hope that it'll be sooner rather than later that the 'Cats are back, respected and feared once more!

at 4:13 PM

Anonymous said...

Getting to the NCAA tournament is nice. But if you are a 2 and outer every year, what's the difference? I think we are done with moral victories such as: NCAA tournament eligible. It was time for a change, and I don't necessarily like how that was done... but here we are regardless. CLEARLY REBUILDING. Some of you dolts don't get that.

We can't go back, we have to move forward. Whining about Huggs and Kennedy won't bring them back, and won't help the team win. Support the team, cheer loud, and be the 6th man- or shut up.

at 4:19 PM

Anonymous said...

Some of you dolts don't seem to get it either. We are behind UC 100%, we know that this team is rebuilding and we are not living in the past. That doesn't prevent us from being unhappy about what was done to the BB program. What part of that don't you understand? Or, are you possibly Z's understudy?

at 4:19 PM

Anonymous said...

Wonder where we'd be if Huggins wasn't screwed over by Nancy....sure wouldn't suck to have Beasely and Mayo in red and black, would it? Beasely or Adam H? OJ Mayo or Genry? Hmm....

but, here's to hoping Micky doesn't fail to make the friggin conference tourny for the second straight year. Good job Nancy!!

at 4:27 PM

Anonymous said...

The Big East is very ordinary at best this season and the Bearcats conference schedule is quite soft compared to last season. At this point anything less than 10-8, 15-15 would be totally unacceptable. That should put them in the league tourney and give them one more loss to ruin the .500 season, which is what the Mikc lovers seem to cherish as a successful season. Be careful what you wish for.

at 4:35 PM

oldtimer said...

Gawd, you folks with the perpetual ax to grind against Cronin, Z, BOT, and even this year's players are starting to resemble another cancer around towm. Chad Johnson.

Look, I'm still not 100% sold on Cronin, but geez give the guy some credit. He's COACHED these guys to where they are, which is vastly improving over the course of the season. Yes, there's still growing pains, only an idiot wouldn't recognize that, but in general they are playing so much better and beating teams far ahead of then it's pretty amazing.

Jim Calhoun is a hall of fame coach and if he sez Mick's coach of the year so far, welll, then, I'm gonna have to put more stock in his opinion than you boobirds with no coaching skills who have nothing better to do with themselves than hang around blogs trolling for attention and pizzing on anything good with UC BB.

Hmmm, trolling for attention...kinda sounds like the guy mentioned at the beginning of this, Chad Johnson. Ever think you might be behaving like his royal highness?

Hmmmm.....

at 4:46 PM

oldtimer said...

And those who say the Big East is down, or very ordinary, this year.....

How can you dolts figure that a conference dthat has 5 teams currently ranked in the polls and has had pretty much regularly throughout the season is "ordinary" or down? Two or three other teams usually get votes, too. What kinda drugs are you guys on?

Enuff with the electric kool-aid, get a grip.

at 4:46 PM

Anonymous said...

The best part of watching a UC game anymore is seeing Sippin Mick dance around on the sidelines. Its kind of like a mix between the Icky Shuffle and the moonwalk. Maybe Dancing With the Starts would be a better fit for Mick.

at 4:50 PM

Anonymous said...

Wonder if anyone is ever going to be allowed to have a different idea from some of the very opinionated folks who appear on this blog. Sometimes I wonder if we are even on a UC BB and FB site. Both sides in the ongoing BOT, Z, BH, AK, MC, & MT situation have some valid points. Let's allow our fellow Bearcat fans to be entitled to his or her opinion without being called some childish names. Aren't all of us Bearcat fans?

at 4:52 PM

Anonymous said...

Red, you and CSA always seem to want to bring out the 'We Love Mick No Matter What' Fan Club members. Now, they'll soon be on the way!

at 5:01 PM

Anonymous said...

Well OldTimer,
What would you expect Jim Calhoun or any other Big East coach to say publicly about Mick Cronin's coaching? or any other coach's coaching for that matter. Coaches do not criticize other coaches very often.

You don't think that the Big East is down this season? OK;
South Florida, Rutgers, Seton Hall, Providence, DePaul, St Johns, Cincinnati are all terrible. West Virginia despite their record is not very good, Louisville is having a down year. Other than Georgetown, who is having a great season? Perhaps you are the one who needs a new prescription.

at 5:22 PM

Anonymous said...

CSA, Agree with almost everything you said. Louisville though is starting to make a run and if they win their next game will likely be ranked.
Your buddy - 4:52

at 5:26 PM

Anonymous said...

RicknMD,
I don't see much about Dixon or Kilpatrick on the other sites, but will you settle for Scotty Hopson?
http://cincinnati.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=2&pr_key=50129

at 5:27 PM

Anonymous said...

Yeah, you are right about Louisville. They seem to peak around tourney time. Thats a sign of a good coach.

at 5:30 PM

Anonymous said...

CSA, I'd mention how good that once was, but of course I'd be accused of living in the past. However, it is good that some of us can see things clearly in the preent. - Your buddy

at 5:47 PM

Anonymous said...

What was the original Koch post again? They all dissolve immediately. The comments on this blog are always the same crap. Over. And over. And over. And over.

at 6:09 PM

oldtimer said...

OKay CSA so now Jim Calhoun's a liar. Nice. In your dim view of the world anybody who thinks Cronin is doing a terrific job must be "publicly lying". Yeah, right, anybody who praises Mick must be posturing for the press.

Geez bro you gotta stoop pretty low to keep up the Cronin hatin'. I take what Calhoun sez over what you say any day in terms of BBall knowledge. No contest, my man, you lose ALL credibility pretty quick with the off=the-wall stuff. But have at it, the mark of a fool is the blissful unawareness of his own foolishness.

Oh and every league has lesser teams at the bottom. That's why they're at the bottom. Pointless comment on your part.
But then when was the last time you made a new point around here?

Oh and you and yours champion the VIlle as a rising team. Uh, didn't poor crappy UC beat them too?

Keep drinkin the kool aid. At least your Sippin' Mick only drinks water, which is healthy.

at 6:11 PM

Anonymous said...

5:47, are you a Bobby Day or Dave Clark 5 fan. Remember Over and Over and Over Again? LOL

at 6:13 PM

Anonymous said...

CSA, wouldn't you know it? Nothing is permitted to be stated that is not 100% pro-Mickie - Your Buddy

at 6:22 PM

oldtimer said...

Oh and as for the perpetual comparisons to Kennedy and Huggins......

apples to oranges.

But then you still don't get it.

Kennedy had two pro level seniors, White and Hicks, who were seasoned in D1 ball, as well as a magician frosh at point, Downey. He also had McGowan, a prototype small college forward. When he left, the cupboard was completly bare. Period. No comparison.

Cronin grabbed a bunch of left overs the first year, since they hired him after recruiting season ended. This year he has a few guys left from that fiasco, who have improved significantly, as well as a freshman class that is dturning out to be quite good. Vaughn has developed nicely for a sophmore and will probably be second team all Big East.

I liked Huggs, I really liked Kennedy. He's a great coach. And he's proving it at Ole Miss. But it's an entirely different situation, a simple fact you seem incapable of grasping. We'll never know how well Kennedy would have built UC back in a similar situation to Cronin, and just because you like to rant and rave that you DO know the answer to that thought doesn't hold water with many here.

Oh and I've never said your opinion isn't wanted. Just doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

at 6:28 PM

Anonymous said...

If you're doing talent to performance proportions, Kennedy is mutilating Sippin' Mick at this juncture.

I have yet to see a well-reasoned argument show otherwise, other than to say Kennedy had a few (mostly not so good) players coming in.

at 6:33 PM

Anonymous said...

Anyone else notice that CSA's comments are almost always followed by a suck-up job from "Your Buddy." How transparent.

at 6:37 PM

Anonymous said...

I6:28 if you haven't seen a reason Kennedy is doing better than Cronin at this point it's because you can't read, or refuse to read.

Kennedy inherited four starters and seven returnees, and he didn't need the number of players to fill out a roster like UC did when the coaching change was made.

There, read it, adhere it.

Situations are not close to being the same.

at 6:48 PM

Anonymous said...

Hey Bearcat in Atlanta, I generally don't follow recruiting but I have been interested in what UC does this year given the status of their programs.

I just saw this ESPN.com note on football:

Michigan steals Patrick Omameh from Cincinnati
Lean offensive tackle Patrick Omameh has switched his commitment from Cincinnati to Michigan after recently visiting Ann Arbor. Omameh is expected to add bulk to his 6'4" 238 pound frame in college, the Detroit News reports.

This is news to me--again because I don't follow it all that closely. But having seen in the Enquirer that that Kelly didn't have much in high-tiered recruits, I guess I should have known.

Thanks for the Hopson link.

at 6:52 PM

Anonymous said...

Since I don't live in the Cincinnati area, is there a regional online source for high school recruiting?

Since high school football is so big there, I'd like to know if there is some local ranking of the top 50 or top 100 players in the region and where they are committed.

Even with such great high school football, how many are actually 4 and 5-star recruits?

at 6:59 PM

Anonymous said...

I was just reading a Field of 65 projection and while it still has Ole Miss in the tournament, they are fading quickly. They have them ranked as the 41st team in and note that they are 3-4 in the conference and the SEC is not the "powerhouse" conference they are usually.

To those who say the Big East is having a down year, this projection has 8 Big East teams making the tourney, next conference only has 6 teams.

Which brings me to another point, Ole Miss played nobody in the non-conference to pad their record to 13-0 out of conference. Then get to conference and start 3-4. UC is at least at 5-5 in a conference with the most teams in the tourney.

And to those who post about the "Mick defenders coming to chime in and defend", how come everytime we (Mick defenders) post something about the future of the program, do the "Mick haters" coming flying out to tear our comment down. Maybe the Mick haters should look themselves in the mirror first before posting - pot meet kettle.

I am not happy with the W/L record of this year but am not too dumb, blind, short-sighted, whatever the reason, to see that this team has improved throughout this year and to see that this team is on the rise in the years to come. Honestly, I would like to hear from the Mick haters what your basis is for thinking the team is headed in the wrong direction under Mick.

at 7:15 PM

Anonymous said...

Hey "Your Buddy",

Do you have any original thoughts to add to the discussion? Or do you just get a thrill of licking CSA's boots?

Why do you always wait for him to post, then immediately follow it with hero worship?

Just wondering.

at 7:25 PM

Anonymous said...

6:37 —

Kennedy inherited VERY little in terms of talent yet he's molded them and brought in his own extreme offensive talent.

Mick's class was ranked top-15 yet has NOT been molded nearly as well.

The top-15 class should be better than the terrible but more experienced players Kennedy had when he got there, yet that's not the case.

Kennedy has coached circles around Icky Micky up to this point.

at 7:31 PM

Anonymous said...

Take your medicine 'Oldtimer'. You are trying to twist what others say and are making yourself look a bit ridiculous. You accuse others of repeating the same old crap, but what new and interesting points of view have you added? As for comparing Cronin with Kennedy and Huggins, there are some who do that, but from what I see, it is usually the Mick Lovers bitching about anything good that is said about either Huggins or Kennedy. I am not a Huggins fan, but here, just to piss you off, Huggins and Kennedy are both far superior coaches to Mick Cronin.

Oh, and I almost forgot, Hicks, a fine player was long gone when Kennedy took over. Just to jog you convenient memory.

I will expect some name calling and other distortions of my views to be forthcoming.

at 8:15 PM

Anonymous said...

CSA - perhaps a mea culpa is in order. Hicks played for Kennedy

http://ucbearcats.blogspot.com/2006_02_01_archive.html

at 8:20 PM

Anonymous said...

another thing while i'm grinding my axe,,,, i love to wear women's undergarments, it makes me feel pretty. if only i could get in Nancy Z's closet. oh the possibilities!!!

at 8:32 PM

Anonymous said...

no, i am the sippin mick guy!!!!
I am very creative!! my mommy tapes my blog comments on the fridge in the basement so i can see that i am published. she is very proud

at 8:33 PM

oldtimer said...

Thank you CSA for showing me the light about how smart you are compared to the rest of us. Making it up as you go is always easier than actually using facts.

Uhh,Hicks was gone? HO HO HO... reality check on aisle 5, the crossdressing extra large petite from Cheviot needs some help with a dose of reality.

Hicks was all Kennedy had for a post player. He had one of the greatest seasons I've seen a UC player have in quite a while, battling guys much bigger and leading the charge. The Nova game was the capper for the year. If you're gonna blather on, at least check your facts. It's not Calhoun who's playing with the truth, bro, it's you.

Back off the kool aid, have a bottle of Sippin Mick and you might get smarter.

at 8:35 PM

Anonymous said...

hey,, i'm sippin mick guy,,, quit pretending to be me,,,my mommy won't let me have scissors yet so i can't cut out my published works.
i gotta go take a bath now.

at 8:39 PM

Anonymous said...

Who Cares?

Who Cares?

Who Cares?

Who Cares?

Who Cares?

Who Cares?

Who Cares?

Who Cares?

Who Cares?

Who Cares?

Who Cares?

Who Cares?

Who Cares?

Who Cares?

Who Cares?

Who Cares?

Who Cares?

Who cares what Huggins and Kennedy are doing?

IT'S IRRELEVANT NOW!!!!

Get an effing life. PUH-leez.

at 9:08 PM

Anonymous said...

8:39, you obviously have the IQ of a field mouse. No, that's not fair to the field mice.

at 9:24 PM

Anonymous said...

I graduated from UC with honors, pinhead.

That's more than most of the numbskulls here who never went a day to UC, who never donated a dime, who watch on the games on TV without paying for a ticket, who do nothing but bitch and complain about things they have absolutely no intimate knowledge, or the common sense to learn about these things, who come here and pine for Huggins and Kennedy and make neverending disparaging remarks about the coaches, administration and the school.

Just go away to your own little corners and let the rest of us talk about the ball teams without your 50 times day of telling us how much better it would be if you were in charge and the earth could rotate backwards.

You have absolutely zero point and zero chance of your Huggins and Kennedy dreams coming true. None.

at 10:05 PM

Anonymous said...

I must say that this Huggins and/or Kennedy vs. Mick Cronin debate (I use that term loosely) is ridiculous.
Andy Kennedy or Bob Huggins will never be back to coach the Bearcats.
In fact, I doubt if either one of them are spending any of their time even thinking about UC or any of us.

To discuss Kennedy or Huggins is simply living in the past. Criticize Cronin's actions as a coach? Perfectly legitimate. The personal attacks about any of them, though, simply serve to make the poster look small and stupid.
Criticize Nancy's actions? Perfectly legitimate. The comments about her clothes, teeth, etc. only make the poster look small and stupid.
The fact is that UC basketball is currently in a state of transition. If you are a UC fan, it would seem to me that you would focus on both the upcoming games and the future of the program.

Those who are enthralled with putting down Mick Cronin will NEVER root for his success as a coach. So they are stuck with rooting AGAINST the Bearcats.

How can you people call yourselves UC fans?

at 10:15 PM

Anonymous said...

Hey 'Monclova Steve'

I don't listen to anyone who lives in the "Armpit of Ohio" AKA Toledo. If you don't have enough sense to move out of that joke of a city, you can't have much of an IQ.

at 10:20 PM

Anonymous said...

OK Folks, let's all just pretend that none of this ever, ever happened. Huggins and Kennedy did not coach and were never successful at UC. Certain non UC alums on the BOT and Nancy Z. never destroyed the BB program and the stupid thing collapsed all by itself and is in a state of transition. I love UC, but I won't be happy until Z and certain moronic members of the BOT are gone. - Pinhead Living In The Past

P.S. Let your ignorant verbal garbage attacks now commence.

at 10:31 PM

Anonymous said...

UC = UNLV East

...Or maybe not - UNLV has cleaned up its act, has a winning record, & made the NCAA tourney last year!

at 10:39 PM

Anonymous said...

Buckeye Mike,
I understand the SEC really loves you and o$u! Bowl record of 0-9 against the SEC! Yes sir, that is ZERO wins in NINE tries...LOL

at 11:03 PM

Anonymous said...

10:15 Anon,
Thanks for responding to my post. Of course, you didn't add anything to the discussion.
Your insults only make you look small, and don't bother me in the least -- especially coming from someone who doesn't know how to sign his name.
So, if you want to engage in an adult conversation, I'm all ears. If you simply want to throw juvenile insults, go to the kiddie blog, not the UC Sports blog.

at 11:29 PM

Anonymous said...

Does Mick have a clue how to build an offense? I really wonder at this point. Even his supposedly "great" shooters appear to be average or well below. Very concerning.

at 12:00 AM

Anonymous said...

UC's offense can indeed be ugly. We still need players who can shoot the ball consistently, other than Vaughn.
We still need players who understand basic offensive concepts like pick and roll.
We still need players who can shoot free throws consistently.
Defensively -- assuming the effort is there -- this team is fine. The same for rebounding.
But, watching Xavier play offense is usually a pleasure. Watching the 'Cats do it is like scraping fingernails on the blackboard.
Whether that's coaching or not, I guess we'll find out.

at 12:15 AM

Anonymous said...

12:00 -

I wish Mick would take a page from the Kennedy offense instead of the Huggins offense.

at 1:01 AM

Anonymous said...

I think Kennedy ran a much better offense than Huggins and made in-game adjustments even better. The difference was defense and talent level.

I saw UC play at Georgetown that year and they were horrible. We were a few minutes late for the game and it was already over when we got settled into our seats. UC couldn't do anything offensively. You have those days.

What I've liked about Cronin's offense thus far is while the team has no inside presence and no power, they tend to run varying sets that work halfway decently against an assortment of defenses.

The problem with this bunch, like most young teams, is they are wildly (and aggravatingly) inconsistent. You never know what you're going to get from one night to the next.

at 1:25 AM

Anonymous said...

Rick,

Mick might run some good plays on offense but he doesn't seem to know how to recruit pure offensive talent at this point. His offense seems too slow to develop and he doesn't seem to recognize quality shooters thus far. I hope that changes.

at 2:28 AM

oldtimer said...

UC is in a developmental stage right now.

They have talent with little experience and they have experience with little talent.

When they have talent with some epxerience mixed with experience with some talent, they will start to play consistently.

Yes, they have shot poorly most of the year. You can chalk some of that up to youth and the rest to lack of talent. The lesser talented players will graduate this year. Over the next two years UC will begin to develop its true character as a Cronin team, and then we can decide how good a coach he is. My guess is that he'll be pretty damn good.

at 8:19 AM

Anonymous said...

The guy's had one-half of one recruiting class, taking late-signees or kids who were still developing or fell through the cracks. Give 'em a damn break.

Some of you act like recruiting is as easy as showing up in the 11th hour and pulling out an NBA all-star. Like 100 other schools aren't competing for them. Like UC has ever attracted the top-shelf recruits.

Cronin's first full recruiting group is this year's and he's already signed Wright and Yates. That's pretty dang good.

UC doesn't get the players who are going to go to UK, North Carolina, Duke, UCLA, UConn, Arizona or Kansas. UC ends up with the developing player or the project player. The few times they've landed the top-shelf talent, it was a waste of time. They bolted for the NBA in a year.

I agree the jury is out (and will remain out for a couple of years) on Cronin as a floor coach but how anyone can criticize him as a recruiter is stupid.

He was the chief recruiter for Huggins and Pitino. Obviously, those coaches and their programs sucked.

at 9:04 AM

Anonymous said...

I liked AK, but for people to come on here and say that we would be a winning ball club at this juncture with AK at the helm- is pure unadulterated speculation.

You want to talk about the Big East being weak this year? How about the SEC? 2 teams ranked in the top 25 and how much longer is Vandy gonna stay there? Let UC play that conference schedule and see where they end up.

I know Ole Miss had a really tough out of conference schedule- big wins over Lamar and Troy. But heh, not everyone can play Memphis, Xavier, and NC State on the road.

at 9:04 AM

Anonymous said...

UC is a work in progress for BB.
Give mick another 5 years and we may have a better BB team.

at 9:05 AM

Anonymous said...

at 3:16 PM Anonymous said...
"It sure would be nice to have a stretch of games like Temple, St Bonaventure, and LaSalle."

And that's what the other Big East schools think when they see UC, South Florida, and Rutgers on their schedule. What a breeze

That's brilliant!

I'm sure that's what Louisville, Pitt, Villanova, West Virginia, and Syracuse thought.

at 9:12 AM

Anonymous said...

Andy Kennedy and Bob Huggins are the greatest coaches in the history of organized basketball. AK is a miracle worker. I'll be surprised if Ole Miss doesn't win the NCAA title - winning a close one in 14 OT's to Bobby Huggins WVU squad. They may even just call it a tie since both deserve to win it.

Forthat matter, why even have the tournament? Just put WVU and Ole Miss in the title game now since that's probably what will happen.

at 9:15 AM

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Wonder where we'd be if Huggins wasn't screwed over by Nancy....sure wouldn't suck to have Beasely and Mayo in red and black, would it? Beasely or Adam H? OJ Mayo or Genry? Hmm....

but, here's to hoping Micky doesn't fail to make the friggin conference tourny for the second straight year. Good job Nancy!!

4:19 PM

Wonder where we'd be if Huggins hadn't put UC on probation, hadn't had an embarrassing DUI, did not have way too many players, coaches, and recruits get in trouble with the law, and did not think he ran the university?

at 9:25 AM

Anonymous said...

Since every single thread seems to deteriorate into a pro-Huggs thread, I'm going to just keep on posting how ELATED I am that jack is gone. Since his old drinking buddies continue to post here, I'll just continue to post right back about how friggin happy I am with things now, just to make sure Bill doesn't get the idea that the Huggs' lovers are the majority. They aren't, but too many of us who were happy with his firing sat on our hands during the uproar. Well the times they are a changing. Bill is right about Mick, and he's right about the direction men's basketball is taking. You idiots keep posting and the rest of us will just post right back at ya. You can't win. Huggs is gone, thank God. So guess what: we win. You lost. Game over. Take your friggin basketball to your local corner bar that carries WVU's games and GO HOME.

at 9:25 AM

Anonymous said...

So Mick has had one recruiting class, and zero senior leadership, and now he can't coach or recruit? It just keeps getting worse.

at 9:28 AM

Anonymous said...

Some seriously dripping sarcasm here already this morning. I like it.

Anon 1:25 and Oldtimer, I think UC's offense is tailored to the talent and that the surprise wins they've had were the result of some pretty good coaching of breaking down those opponents' vulnerabilities.

That's why I mentioned some of their play sets. Some people here are criticizing the offense, but when you have the roster makeup and the talent level UC does right now, you can't exactly be in a run-and-shoot with quicker, more experienced teams.

A lot of whiners here want UC to be the teams of Huggins' prime. There's no comparison. The talent and depth just aren't there yet. You have to work with what you have. Plus, not all of your recruits work out. Happens to most every team. We don't know what this freshman class is going to be but for right now they're fairly inconsistent and at many times limited.

That's not coaching stifling them; that's coaching trying to put them in positions for the team to succeed, play by play, piece by piece, game by game.

And there's no question there's some dogs in this litter that can't hunt. It's mostly the roster fill of last year like Adam H and Williamson. No question, next year when Williams is healthy (maybe) and Yates arrives to steady the frontline, some of this year's freshmen will gradually be pushed aside, I believe, as the talent level improves.

at 9:30 AM

Anonymous said...

9:25

Amen!

And by the way, in case they did not see it, Sippin Mick (the guy that can't coach or recruit) and the Bearcats just destroyed Chuggin Huggins and WVU.

at 9:43 AM

Anonymous said...

I started out with respect for Caoch Huggins and like most, wished him well.

But the people that can't let go and have turned him into a god or a martyr are almost making me start to hate the guy.

at 10:04 AM

Anonymous said...

CORRECTION: Hicks obviously was long gone when Cronin took over. NOT "long gone when Kennedy took over". Once in a while the fingers don't type what the mind tells them. This was only a a meaningless reply to an idiotic post anyway and has no relevance to anything. Offending finger has been cut off as punishment. Now continue your mindless assaults and name calling until recess.

at 10:17 AM

Anonymous said...

9:04, give Mick five years!? Give my little grandchild FIVE years and that might happen.

at 10:21 AM

Anonymous said...

CSA, some of these folks are disturbed that I refer to myself as 'Your Buddy', but that won't stop me from realizing the factual nature of your posts. These pinheads that I'm referring to would be much happier if you would just write after viewing matters through rose colored glasses. Keep up the good work! - Your Bubby

at 10:23 AM

Anonymous said...

For those who argue Mick has not done much with a top 15 recruiting class this year, the main reason they were ranked so high was because of signing "bone spur" Mcclain. With the limitation placed on practice and playing time due to injury Mcclain's playing time and presence is barely felt. Take Mcclain out of the class and they would barely be top 50.

at 10:26 AM

Anonymous said...

10:23

There you go again - inserting facts into a thread filled with mindless drivel.

at 10:27 AM

Anonymous said...

First 9:25,
Spoken like a true little sister 'x' fan or Z's secret lover. Which?

at 11:18 AM

Anonymous said...

Cheviot Sports "Authority" - reference your comment at 4:27pm yesterday - "The Big East is very ordinary at best this season and the Bearcats conference schedule is quite soft compared to last season." - Very ordinary compared to what? Other seasons for the Big East, or other conferences this year? Rankings, RPIs, and projected NCAA picks all show a pretty deep league to me. BTW, UC's strength of schedule per Jerry Palm is #4 in the country. Some soft schedule!

at 12:12 PM

Anonymous said...

League Schedule, genius, look at the upcoming games. Looks pretty easy to me. The whole season does count. Tell me where their schedule ranks at the end of the season. All I said was that it is not as tough as last year's. I guess it is useless to try to explain things to those who just don't get it.

at 12:27 PM

Anonymous said...

Looks pretty easy to me.

Yeah it all looks easy to the loser who's athletic prowess doesn't extend beyond their Playstation.

at 1:14 PM

Anonymous said...

Cheviot Sports "Authority" -

I'm a little slow, so maybe you could explain some of the finer points of Cheviot "logic." I looked at ALL of the UC league schedule, including the games we have already played. This year Big East schools play each team at least once, and three teams a second time. The three "mirror" teams for UC are Pitt, UConn, and St. John's (RPIs of 22, 16 and 138). UC has already beaten Pitt, U of L, Syracuse, West Va, and Villanova (RPIs of 22, 23, 36, 45, and 75). Yes, some easier games remain, but we still have away games at Georgetown, UConn, and Pitt (AP ratings of 6, 19, and 21). Might be a "soft" schedule for the Celtics, but not any college team that I'm aware of.

at 2:06 PM

Anonymous said...

Hey Rick,

If players in this freshman class get pushed aside,it will just illustrate Mick can't coach in all likelyhood, as they are part of the top-15 class.

at 5:07 PM

Anonymous said...

No one said all the freshman class will be pushed aside but some undoubtedly will as more talented players come to the program.

And duh, that's not an indication of coaching. Schools sign kids all the time who were top recruits but for various reasons become nothing more than practice players by the time they graduate.

Not every player can be a star, and not every player develops, and many times a player peaks at a certain point, and sometimes they are escalating to their ceiling.

It's not fantasy basketball. There is no standard or generic. It's individuals. It's also program growth. You got a kid who's your sixth man and two years from now you find someone who's even better for the role, Option 1 gets moved back a notch. Happens all the time.

at 10:10 PM

Anonymous said...

Huggins deserves a monument on the UC campus - he rebuilt the program into a national powerhouse.
If the monument has to be a glassy-eyed drunk puking on his shoes - just do it!

at 11:18 PM

Anonymous said...

10:10, why don't you puke on yourself!

at 7:42 PM

Anonymous said...

11:18 (10:10 here) >> Sorry but picking on Huggie-Bears is too much fun!

Obvious answer to your question = I won't puke on myself because ... I DON'T want to be like Huggie.

You saying he didn't?

at 9:27 PM

Anonymous said...

Don't really know, I wasn't there. Were you?

at 10:11 PM

Anonymous said...

Of course I wasn't there. The cops were and reported it. If it wasn't true, your Huggie would've sued them for 10 mill.
You related or somethin'?

at 10:34 PM

Anonymous said...

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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Tuesday, February 05, 2008

UC's remaining schedule

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