'12 NY PF Christopher Obekpa

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I don't understand all the Cronin bashing regarding his recruiting ability. Do some of us really believe Cincinnati is the end all be all of college sports? The only recruit in my mind that Cronin might have lost was Chane Behanon because he had an early commit and he was local. Behanon moved to Kentucky and then chose to play under Pitino and a perrenial winner in Louisville against a still at the time rebuilding Cincinnati that hadn't yet been back to the Dance. And I don't consider that being a sign that Cronin can't recruit. Cronin has an eye for talent and gets these high schoolers to look at Cincinnati seriously, that's all he can do. Other factors play into a recruits decisions. Most notably winning, which we've just gotten back to, and location which you can't do anything about. Oh and the recruits have other good coaches and recruiters talking in the ear just like Cronin. If a kid that lives in NYC chooses to go to St. Johns or somewhere within an hour of NYC over moving accross the country that's just tough luck. Steve Lavin is just as accomplished a coach as Cronin (honestly more so) and St. Johns is just as big a name as Cincinnati in today's landscape. If Cronin loses out on Obepka it's not because he got outrecruited. And we still bring up Marcus Teague's name like any of us could have convinced him to come here over a very realistic possibility of a one-and-done year and a national title at the historically best college basketball program there is, which he got.

I get frustrated by losing out on recruits as well, but Mick's shown he can win with less talent and each year the recruits have gotten better, so I have faith that he will start landing these bigger names soon. Until then I'll root for the team we do have and put my trust in Cronin to get the most out of what he has.
 
david aka the TYZ said:
I get frustrated by losing out on recruits as well, but Mick's shown he can win with less talent and each year the recruits have gotten better, so I have faith that he will start landing these bigger names soon. Until then I'll root for the team we do have and put my trust in Cronin to get the most out of what he has.
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I think that the players Mick gets do have talent. Cash and Kilpatrick are both right near the top of their positions in the Big East. That's not even debatable. Thomas has an excellent shot of playing in the NBA. Sanders was the consensus 1-2 player in NYC. Caupain is going to be an excellent player and I'm betting he will crack the rankings at some point this season. Everybody wants to talk ratings and rankings. BJ Mullins was the number 1 ranked player in the country and this was said about him "but the pieces are there for him to be a number one pick in the draft and premiere big man in the League" (Not!), in August 2008 and Yancy Gates was 22nd.
 
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Mick can recruit and ST JOHNS is not as presitgous as UC in my opinion.
Last I checked there university in terms of athletics has been where exactly ?? in the NCAA in recent years have done what??? And football??? Lavin is a good recruiter yes and it still hurts that his team beat the UC team with Steve Logan to go to the sweet 16 but that was at UCLA..
ST JOHNS IS NOT UC---thats what is frustrating I get it if Christopher Okepa chooses Kentucky but UC is the better program CURRENT snd PAST PERIOD:D:D:D
 
bearcat jeff said:
I think that the players Mick gets do have talent. Cash and Kilpatrick are both right near the top of their positions in the Big East. That's not even debatable. Thomas has an excellent shot of playing in the NBA. Sanders was the consensus 1-2 player in NYC. Caupain is going to be an excellent player and I'm betting he will crack the rankings at some point this season. Everybody wants to talk ratings and rankings. BJ Mullins was the number 1 ranked player in the country and this was said about him "but the pieces are there for him to be a number one pick in the draft and premiere big man in the League" (Not!), in August 2008 and Yancy Gates was 22nd.
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You know, I keep seeing you post about Sanders but he looked terrible to me and I worried every time he was on the floor. He has a long way to go, IMO. I sure hope you are right.
 
bobbrannen said:
Mick can recruit and ST JOHNS is not as presitgous as UC in my opinion.
Last I checked there university in terms of athletics has been where exactly ?? in the NCAA in recent years have done what??? And football??? Lavin is a good recruiter yes and it still hurts that his team beat the UC team with Steve Logan to go to the sweet 16 but that was at UCLA..
ST JOHNS IS NOT UC---thats what is frustrating I get it if Christopher Okepa chooses Kentucky but UC is the better program CURRENT snd PAST PERIOD:D:D:D
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Smh
 
cincycpaw said:
You know, I keep seeing you post about Sanders but he looked terrible to me and I worried every time he was on the floor. He has a long way to go, IMO. I sure hope you are right.
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Improving, was getting time in tournament play so Mick must be having some faith in him. Sanders is going to be a good player.
 
Jeff, i agree with you on Sanders. i think you'll see a HUGE jump in his level of play this year. He would be my preseason pick for the player who will show the most improvrmrnt. He really understands the game and if his physical skills take a leap forward he'll be a big asset to the team. He won't be flashy but he'll very effective. Guy wasn't one of NYC's best player without skills.

I agree with you about the Cats being good with or without Obekpa. That said I still would lover to have him. His defense could be game changing. Hope he comes here. With things dragging out I have to think grades are a big factor in why he hasn't made a decision yet. This was floated last week. I hope I'm wrong and he ends up a Cat. I'm probably in the minority but I have no issue with him taking his time. Big decision for him. I fully subscribe to the saying to thine own self be true. If he comes we'll cheer him if not we'll try to beat him. All the conspiracy theorys are BS. At the end of the day the only thing that matters is what he wants.Our your scources still saying he will be a Cat?
 
WAITE HOYT 2 said:
Jeff, i agree with you on Sanders. i think you'll see a HUGE jump in his level of play this year. He would be my preseason pick for the player who will show the most improvrmrnt. He really understands the game and if his physical skills take a leap forward he'll be a big asset to the team. He won't be flashy but he'll very effective. Guy wasn't one of NYC's best player without skills.

I agree with you about the Cats being good with or without Obekpa. That said I still would lover to have him. His defense could be game changing. Hope he comes here. With things dragging out I have to think grades are a big factor in why he hasn't made a decision yet. This was floated last week. I hope I'm wrong and he ends up a Cat. I'm probably in the minority but I have no issue with him taking his time. Big decision for him. I fully subscribe to the saying to thine own self be true. If he comes we'll cheer him if not we'll try to beat him. All the conspiracy theorys are BS. At the end of the day the only thing that matters is what he wants.Our your scources still saying he will be a Cat?
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Pure speculation on my part but my thoughts are that UC is 1B right now. I think if he were pressed to pick he'd be a Johnnie but believe it could teeter either way. That said if he makes it to SMU something tells me everything changes. Larry Brown can flat out coach and there will be instant opportunity for him. That's where my eye is on this.
 
bobbrannen said:
Mick can recruit and ST JOHNS is not as presitgous as UC in my opinion.
Last I checked there university in terms of athletics has been where exactly ?? in the NCAA in recent years have done what??? And football??? Lavin is a good recruiter yes and it still hurts that his team beat the UC team with Steve Logan to go to the sweet 16 but that was at UCLA..
ST JOHNS IS NOT UC---thats what is frustrating I get it if Christopher Okepa chooses Kentucky but UC is the better program CURRENT snd PAST PERIOD:D:D:D
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I think the average fan with no ties to either city would think the same about St. John's as they do Cincy. Neither would be considered elite. The average fan wouldn't know we had two titles in the 60's, the average fan on name recognition would consider us about even keel. That is my opinion. I think we have a better program overall and better history. Obviously having football helps our overall name recognition, but doesn't matter to a basketball recruit. And 15-18 year olds don't really care what we did in the mid 90's or even 2000. They've been following college ball for maybe five years.
 
bearcat jeff said:
I think that the players Mick gets do have talent. Cash and Kilpatrick are both right near the top of their positions in the Big East. That's not even debatable. Thomas has an excellent shot of playing in the NBA. Sanders was the consensus 1-2 player in NYC. Caupain is going to be an excellent player and I'm betting he will crack the rankings at some point this season. Everybody wants to talk ratings and rankings. BJ Mullins was the number 1 ranked player in the country and this was said about him "but the pieces are there for him to be a number one pick in the draft and premiere big man in the League" (Not!), in August 2008 and Yancy Gates was 22nd.
Click to expand...

I didn't really mean it like that. I just mean he's shown he can win with guys that weren't considered elite recruits. Poor choice of words on my part. My point was more we aren't getting the high-level recruits that would appease some fans on here and yet we're still winning.
 
bearcat jeff said:
Improving, was getting time in tournament play so Mick must be having some faith in him. Sanders is going to be a good player.
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Interesting tidbit, a friend of mine was sitting at a table with Sanders at the awards banquet and was talking him up and asked him what he thought about getting on the floor as much as he did in the post-season and Sanders said he was surprised. But it definitely shows Mick has trust in him and I think he'll turn into a very solid player. I don't think he'll be a superstar, but he is a team player and he won't hurt you out on the floor with dumb mistakes. He's smart and knows the game and will play the role Mick expects of him. That goes a lot further than most people think. I can see him having the type of career Dixon had, he's not as athletic but I think he'll make up for it in basketball IQ.

I think the ESPN era has ruined peoples impressions of what freshman should be. They hype the few stud freshman that come in and fans think every freshman should come in and start and be a superstar.
 
Bcatfollower said:
I go to u.c., and go ahead and remove me. I don't plan on coming back to this board.
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PEAAACE!

Jeff wont remove you but I will. Be constructive or dont post. You dont have to agree but dont come on here just to talk shit out our coach.
 
Five Star Basketball ‏@5starbasketball
Chris Obekpa is one of the top unsigned recruits in 2012 and is proving why this morning; Dominating the paint on defense for New Heights
 
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