'15 UNCA Transfer G Andrew Rowsey

[JasonS]

This 2015 class is good. But it doesn't have a single player ranked in the Top 100 on any service, does it? These guys could all be nice pieces, but this class should be on the low end of what we bring in each year, not the high end.

Don't fall for the Top 100 BS. You're better than that. Outside of the top 15-20 players every year, the next 150-200 could be essentially interchangeable. Sometimes guys don't get seen by the recruiting people because they aren't playing AAU or in the same tournaments as other guys. It's not a direct correlation about how good a player is. It is a way for these services to make money.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

UC hasn't made it past the Sweet 16 in a LONG time (20 years) . In fact, they've only made it TO the Sweet 16 twice in last 19 years---1 time (2001) in Huggs' last 9 years, 0 in Kennedy's 1 year and once (2013) in Cronin's 1st 9 years, so it's a benchmark that is rarely obtained recently for this program. Why didn't Huggs make it beyond the S16 more in his last 9 years if he had superior recruits?

Compare preseason rankings (national buzz), in-srason rankings, conference titles, tournament seeds, and NBA draft picks in those 9 year sample comparisons. People always forget that part about the Huggins era.

 

[Bulldog01]

Don't fall for the Top 100 BS. You're better than that. Outside of the top 15-20 players every year, the next 150-200 could be essentially interchangeable. Sometimes guys don't get seen by the recruiting people because they aren't playing AAU or in the same tournaments as other guys. It's not a direct correlation about how good a player is. It is a way for these services to make money.

This is true. Player development is key to most guys after top 30.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Don't fall for the Top 100 BS. You're better than that. Outside of the top 15-20 players every year, the next 150-200 could be essentially interchangeable. Sometimes guys don't get seen by the recruiting people because they aren't playing AAU or in the same tournaments as other guys. It's not a direct correlation about how good a player is. It is a way for these services to make money.

I agree, and you're right about the 40-250 guys being more or less interchangeable based on program fit, AAU exposure, etc...but the majority of primetime/future draft pick players happen to be found in the Top 100. I agree completely though that it is an arbitrary cutoff and 10 slots on Rivals doesn't change a guy like Evans. We're in the ballpark with a lot of our guys, but the consensus ones, more times than not, seem to end up at the highest levels of the sport.

 

[TheLongHaul]

If you would have told me in 2006 that come are 2015 season we would have made the ncaa tournament 5 years in a row I would have called you a fool, to see how far are program has come since Huggins left it in shambles is unbelievable we could have very easily have been a Rutgers, south Florida, seton hall caliber team, if you make it to the tournament anything can happen that's why it is such a big deal they made it to 5 in a row.

Mick did one hell of a job getting the program back in good shape. And he is doing a good job with the program now. I definitely don't want a change. Doesn't mean I don't want the program to improve. You are obviously satisfied with just making the tournament. So be it, but I want this program to be better than that and think they are capable of it.

secondly its laughable to here people talk about how many points we can score. Who cares how many points we score as long as its more than the other team. we make teams play into our style of play and we are very good at playing in a slow paced hard nosed game. I find it more exciting playing like that, than a bunch of guys hitting open shots. why should our team be criticized for putting a hand up in everybody's face. Bearcat basketball is played like that physical, enthusiastic, and most importantly hard. If you want to root for a team that gets big time recruits all the time Kentucky is right down the road.

Scoring points is very important for a multitude of reasons, I'm surprised you can't see that. Points scored is a direct correlation to style of play and that affects recruiting big time. It also helps draw in fans, gets people's butts in the seats, etc. Oh, and the more points you score the better chance you have at winning. Saying it's meaningless is flat out wrong.

Don't fall for the Top 100 BS. You're better than that. Outside of the top 15-20 players every year, the next 150-200 could be essentially interchangeable. Sometimes guys don't get seen by the recruiting people because they aren't playing AAU or in the same tournaments as other guys. It's not a direct correlation about how good a player is. It is a way for these services to make money.

That's BS. Give me a starting 5 of players ranked from 21-25 and I'll give you 196-200 and I'll win just about every time. Rankings aren't everything, but they aren't a complete crapshoot.

 

[JackBauer151]

What's going on everybody? I see you guys are as passionate as ever haha. I tried to stay away but with so much activity going on I wanted see everyone's take and throw my two cents in. First off some of you guys are teetering on the edge. Take a step back it's going to be okay. Look I understand the frustration. Every time we miss out on a recruit especially to what we perceive as an inferior school it puts a spotlight on the shortcomings of the program. Yes the offense needs to improve. Yes the recruiting needs to improve to take the next step. However those things take time. Mick Cronin's recruiting philosophy has shifted dramatically over the last two classes. Cobb, Jenifer, Evans, Clark, Moore, and Deberry, were all brought in to create offense. They are not defensive minded athletes. When you change a philosophy it takes time to see the results from that change. Tempo started to improve as the guys got more comfortable with each other. We shot the highest percentage collectively under Mick. The trend is turning. If you look at the people who are being targeted in 2016 the majority fit that role as well. 5 years ago Andrew Rowsey never would have been on the radar. He is too small, too slow, not a good defender, and not athletic enough. Mick gets what needs to change. Now landing the big time recruits is more tricky. I know people hate hearing this but we just arent what we used to be. We are not living in the Bob Huggins era. Things have changed. The school has not invested in basketball and they are paying for it. We are perceived as a nice team. Not an elite one even if the numbers give us a case to say otherwise. I feel like some on here just think you can go get better recruits because you want to. You dont think Mick and his staff tried to get Nick Ward, Malik Beasley, or Moustapha Diagne? Of course they did. Teams with better facilities, resources, conferences, budgets, and perceived situations came a calling. Mick and his staff are doing what needs to be done right now. They are getting players that keeps the program relevant until they can strike. New locker rooms are coming. A new arena is coming. The best team Cronin has had is coming. A new recruiting philosophy is being implemented. These things take time and Cincinnati Basketball is about to take a step forward. So relax, get excited about next year and always remember to breathe. Oh, one last thing. Stop worrying about not having anybody locked up for 2016. The summer AAU period hasnt even started. Staff usually locks two guys up in that period and the transfer game isnt over yet. Panicking about the 2016 class in May of 2015 is like panicking about the weather report for a vacation you are taking in a month. A lot of factors involved, a lot can change. Go bearcats.

 

[JumpinJack5]

I am tired of the excuse of claiming that if we make a deep run recruiting will improve! What deep run has Cal made recently? Why were they able to land two big time recruits? What run has LSU made lately? Why can they land the #1 or #2 recruiting classes? Why are we competiting with schools like Texas Tech, South Carolina, Tulane, FIU, UAB and Penn State for our 2015 signees? What does that say about UC...we can make 5 straight at-large bids and still have to compete with mediocre programs (and lose out to a few) for recruits? Mick simply isn't getting it done as a recruiter. If the talent level does not increase we will not make it past the Sweet 16 anytime soon.

I disagree somewhat. Yes, to be a team that can perennially get past the Sweet 16, we need to upgrade talent. But the tourney is a crapshoot and if your team gets hot at the right time, then you always have a chance to get pretty far. Northern Iowa, George Mason, Dayton, VCU (in their early years), Wichita, etc. have all proved that you can go far with inferior talent in an individual year. We just need to catch a break and go far one year.

 

[Bulldog01]

I disagree somewhat. Yes, to be a team that can perennially get past the Sweet 16, we need to upgrade talent. But the tourney is a crapshoot and if your team gets hot at the right time, then you always have a chance to get pretty far. Northern Iowa, George Mason, Dayton, VCU (in their early years), Wichita, etc. have all proved that you can go far with inferior talent in an individual year. We just need to catch a break and go far one year.

Dayton has gotten pretty good talent

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

I disagree somewhat. Yes, to be a team that can perennially get past the Sweet 16, we need to upgrade talent. But the tourney is a crapshoot and if your team gets hot at the right time, then you always have a chance to get pretty far. Northern Iowa, George Mason, Dayton, VCU (in their early years), Wichita, etc. have all proved that you can go far with inferior talent in an individual year. We just need to catch a break and go far one year.

The goal is to give yourself the best chance to advance, sure teams can make flukish runs but we need multiple top 75 recruits to consistently be in the hunt. Having guys that work hard and play tough defense is great during the season but doesn't advance in the tournament (see Pitt and Villanova even the Bulls in the NBA fit this model).

 

[mdchick]

The goal is to give yourself the best chance to advance, sure teams can make flukish runs but we need multiple top 75 recruits to consistently be in the hunt. Having guys that work hard and play tough defense is great during the season but doesn't advance in the tournament (see Pitt and Villanova even the Bulls in the NBA fit this model).

What about a team like butler

 

[ccmbearcat]

Huggins didn't leave it in shambles. AK was there to keep everything flowing. Mick didn't want players already on team wanted ENTIRE new roster. Mick was hottest young coach in America at the time. I believe he thought recruiting was going be easy being in big east. Most of his best recruits as assistant was from east coast. he hasn't lived up to hype about being top recruiter.

Maybe the most ridiculous post I've seen. Where were the players Mick ran off? UC had no recruits for the two years before Mick got there and started with exactly one scholarship player two weeks before the late signing period, and facing an APR death penality. No coach ever walked ino a worse situation. It would have been nice to keep Downey but he was looking at his third coach in 10 months so you can't blame him for leaving and it's certainly not Micks' fault.

 

[bearcat jeff]

We're past done with this.