'17 NY SG Keith Williams (Commit)

[L-T]

Cash was hurt pretty much that entire senior year. Parker was a glue guy and not a scorer. He was a good defensive player that contributed a little offensively (and that is not a knock - you NEED those players to win games).

JJ was never an offensive threat. Shaq didn't progress as quickly as many would have liked. Sanders, Rubles and Guyn? Those weren't offensive threats either. Seriously, SK didn't have help.

To bring this back to Williams, he is going to be a more explosive Jaquon Parker type who can get after it on the defensive end but score more on the offensive end. A do whatever it takes to win type. I love those kind of players.

Not sure you're thinking about the right season. Cash only played one less game than SK. He averaged almost 13 points per game, 36% from three, 81% from FT, 3.2 assists per game. Parker averaged 11 points per game and shot 40% from three. That sounds like decent help.

 

[#BearcatNation]

Not sure you're thinking about the right season. Cash only played one less game than SK. He averaged almost 13 points per game, 36% from three, 81% from FT, 3.2 assists per game. Parker averaged 11 points per game and shot 40% from three. That sounds like decent help.

Cash was definitely playing hurt his senior season (2012-13). I forget what the injury was, but he was barely moving around on the court in January and February. He looked to be in for a career-year up until it. Why else would his minutes-per-game drop from junior to senior year?

 

[HoosierCat]

I thought this was a Keith Williams thread

 

[Bearcat513]

Again, this is a thread regarding Keith Williams. Could discussion about recruiting be taken elsewhere, please?

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

Seems like a good pick up. It's sad that we've gone so low in recruiting that a fringe top 150 player is the headliner of a recruiting class at Cincinnati though.

 

[L-T]

Seems like a good pick up. It's sad that we've gone so low in recruiting that a fringe top 150 player is the headliner of a recruiting class at Cincinnati though.

Amen brother!

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Seems like a good pick up. It's sad that we've gone so low in recruiting that a fringe top 150 player is the headliner of a recruiting class at Cincinnati though.

Sad??? We have added talent to a line up that will have Evans and Cumberland at the wings. Clark and Washington on the baseline for next 2 years.We will replace TC with Broome. I really don't see the sad part. I guess you were looking for some 4 and 5 stars to sit behind Clark, Washington, Cumberland. Who I believe happen to be 4 stars. Mick added nice players to provide depth and who could develope into much more. Really don't see the sad part. Over the next 3 years we will compete for conference titles and league championship and make the tourney. If we stay healthy and catch a break we could make a nice run and have a special season. Really don't see the down side but to each his own.

 

[HoosierCat]

Sad??? We have added talent to a line up that will have Evans and Cumberland at the wings. Clark and Washington on the baseline for next 2 years.We will replace TC with Broome. I really don't see the sad part. I guess you were looking for some 4 and 5 stars to sit behind Clark, Washington, Cumberland. Who I believe happen to be 4 stars. Mick added nice players to provide depth and who could develope into much more. Really don't see the sad part. Over the next 3 years we will compete for conference titles and league championship and make the tourney. If we stay healthy and catch a break we could make a nice run and have a special season. Really don't see the down side but to each his own.

There is no making Debbie Downer and Negative Nancy happy

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

There is no making Debbie Downer and Negative Nancy happy

They are both entitled to their views. Both are big fans and longtime supporters of the program. The fact that their expectations and mine do not match is not a problem. We all cheer for the same team. It also is not my responsibility to make them happy anymore then its theirs to agree with every comment I make. I am very happy with the product and will be at the games this year cheering and enjoying the competition. If I wasn't happy I'd find something else to do with my time.

 

[NKY Bearcat]

There is no making Debbie Downer and Negative Nancy happy

The Bearcats would have to be a top 5 team annually to make them happy. Things have changed since the 90s and early 2000s, unfortunately them being in touch with reasonable expectations is not one of them.


Back to the point, I am excited about this kid playing for the Bearcats. Seems like he will be a huge asset, and I trust the evaluations and recruitment of Mick and his team.

 

[ZCat]

Here's the part where your thoughts disconnect with what I have said and written on Williams and his role on his New Heights AAU team. Yes he took on the "glue guy" role of being their toughest dude that wanted to draw the opponents best player on a team with a 4 star PG and 5 stars at SF and C. While filling that responsibility he was also the 2nd leading scorer, shooting 47% from the floor and 39% from 3. It wasn't like he took a back seat to any of those guys, he just took on added responsibility to the team while still being a highly productive cog in the offense.

I think at worst Williams is going to be a highly valuable rotation guy. If he develops as I think, he'll be an all conference starter on the wing by his junior season...

Thanks so much Chad! I hope so! Sometimes players are productive because of their teammates are drawing a lot of attention. But it sounds like you watched him a lot, & I am very excited!

Can anyone with Insight tell us how we landed him. Was it because of the recruiter Savino, he likes the urban campus it reminds him of New York? Because we had Sean and Lance? I'm just curious what hit made him tick. I read someone reminded him of his dad I think. Was he referring to the head coach?

 

[Bearcat513]

Thanks so much Chad! I hope so! Sometimes players are productive because of their teammates are drawing a lot of attention. But it sounds like you watched him a lot, & I am very excited!

Can anyone with Insight tell us how we landed him. Was it because of the recruiter Savino, he likes the urban campus it reminds him of New York? Because we had Sean and Lance? I'm just curious what hit made him tick. I read someone reminded him of his dad I think. Was he referring to the head coach?

In one of the articles I read, it might have been the one Chad posted here, Williams said Cronin reminded him a lot of his current coach. He, Williams, was comfortable when he visited and the current players seemed to have welcomed him to their 'brotherhood' as he called it. He thinks of himself as someone who can defend the opposing teams best player and that he has high energy at all times. UC's mentality and playstyle were a perfect fit for him.

I don't have any inside information, just what I have gathered from the articles that Williams has tweeted about his commitment.

 

[L-T]

Sad??? We have added talent to a line up that will have Evans and Cumberland at the wings. Clark and Washington on the baseline for next 2 years.We will replace TC with Broome. I really don't see the sad part. I guess you were looking for some 4 and 5 stars to sit behind Clark, Washington, Cumberland. Who I believe happen to be 4 stars. Mick added nice players to provide depth and who could develope into much more. Really don't see the sad part. Over the next 3 years we will compete for conference titles and league championship and make the tourney. If we stay healthy and catch a break we could make a nice run and have a special season. Really don't see the down side but to each his own.

Waite, nobody said what Mick has done is terrible. You make great points. However, no matter how positive you spin this, it is still a long way from our ceiling. Yes, it looks good. But, it can be so much better than this, and it has been. There are lots of teams with 4 and 5-star players sitting behind existing starters. That is what you want. That is better than 3-star players waiting behind existing starters. NTS is 100% correct. It's sad that we can now only get 3-star players with an occasional 4-star mixed in.

Take for example that basketball powerhouse to the south....Auburn. I don't think if you asked 1000 people who has the better program a few years ago that even 1 person would answer Auburn. They've had 7 straight losing seasons. They currently have the number 1 recruiting class in the nation per Rivals for 2017. They've signed a 5-star and (2) 4-stars to a program with 7 consecutive losing seasons. Why? It's simple. They hired a decent coach who can recruit and who plays an exciting brand of basketball.

#2 on the Rivals list is another basketball powerhouse...Washington. Four straight non-20 win seasons. 5 straight seasons not making the NCAA.

How about #4 on the list....Western Kentucky in good old Conference USA. They've signed a 4 star and a 5-star. Western Kentucky hasn't been even ranked in the top 25 since 2003.

Then there's Illinois who had a losing season last year and hasn't made the tourney in 4 years.

Virginia Tech hasn't been ranked in 6 years and hasn't made the NCAA in 10 years and only once in 20 years.

These are all Rivals TOP 10 recruiting classes for 2017. Why don't all these so-called big changes in college basketball affect these pathetic programs? Why can these pathetic programs get blue chip signees and the University of Cincinnati can't? I am proud to be a Debbie Downer or a Negative Nancy. I refuse to make silly excuses for why we can't do better. I know we can do better and most of our fanbase is just like me and NTS.

Bravo for the signing of Keith Williams. He looks like a good player. He may become a great player. He may lead us to an NCAA title. However, the overall recruiting picture is still sad when these are the best players we can get and some fans continue to make excuses why this is the best we should expect, and are actually elated each year even though we never sniff a Top 25 recruiting ranking.

 

[#BearcatNation]

Christ.

 

[BearcatSpaniard513]

I'm sure those teams with top 10 recruiting classes are on their forums bitching about not making the tourney or not seeing results soon enough. Nothing is ever good enough in the world of sports and critical fans. You can cry about it, or look for the good. 99% of the fan base is excited for this season and has high hopes. If landing an explosive talent like Williams isn't good enough for you, maybe write Mick a letter. Not us.

Love,

Everyone on here

 

[coverley]

I'm sure those teams with top 10 recruiting classes are on their forums bitching about not making the tourney or not seeing results soon enough. Nothing is ever good enough in the world of sports and critical fans. You can cry about it, or look for the good. 99% of the fan base is excited for this season and has high hopes. If landing an explosive talent like Williams isn't good enough for you, maybe write Mick a letter. Not us.

Love,

Everyone on here

Well said!!

 

[UCalum08]

I'm sure those teams with top 10 recruiting classes are on their forums bitching about not making the tourney or not seeing results soon enough. Nothing is ever good enough in the world of sports and critical fans. You can cry about it, or look for the good. 99% of the fan base is excited for this season and has high hopes. If landing an explosive talent like Williams isn't good enough for you, maybe write Mick a letter. Not us.

Love,

Everyone on here

Its okay, we just need to use our ignore button or report certain posters agenda for hijacking every single thread. Stinks clicking threads to think you're going to read something interesting or pertaining to the thread but then realize it's just the same crap.

 

[#BearcatNation]

Its okay, we just need to use our ignore button or report certain posters agenda for hijacking every single thread. Stinks clicking threads to think you're going to read something interesting or pertaining to the thread but then realize it's just the same crap.

Tried the ignore option for a little, and it doesn't help. Posts still show up in quoted tweets, and makes threads harder to follow. Just a heads up.

 

[UCalum08]

Tried the ignore option for a little, and it doesn't help. Posts still show up in quoted tweets, and makes threads harder to follow. Just a heads up.

100% agree with you brother. I was trying to be facetious. It's really tiresome.

 

[CliftonCat]

Waite, nobody said what Mick has done is terrible. You make great points. However, no matter how positive you spin this, it is still a long way from our ceiling. Yes, it looks good. But, it can be so much better than this, and it has been. There are lots of teams with 4 and 5-star players sitting behind existing starters. That is what you want. That is better than 3-star players waiting behind existing starters. NTS is 100% correct. It's sad that we can now only get 3-star players with an occasional 4-star mixed in.

Take for example that basketball powerhouse to the south....Auburn. I don't think if you asked 1000 people who has the better program a few years ago that even 1 person would answer Auburn. They've had 7 straight losing seasons. They currently have the number 1 recruiting class in the nation per Rivals for 2017. They've signed a 5-star and (2) 4-stars to a program with 7 consecutive losing seasons. Why? It's simple. They hired a decent coach who can recruit and who plays an exciting brand of basketball.

#2 on the Rivals list is another basketball powerhouse...Washington. Four straight non-20 win seasons. 5 straight seasons not making the NCAA.

How about #4 on the list....Western Kentucky in good old Conference USA. They've signed a 4 star and a 5-star. Western Kentucky hasn't been even ranked in the top 25 since 2003.

Then there's Illinois who had a losing season last year and hasn't made the tourney in 4 years.

Virginia Tech hasn't been ranked in 6 years and hasn't made the NCAA in 10 years and only once in 20 years.

These are all Rivals TOP 10 recruiting classes for 2017. Why don't all these so-called big changes in college basketball affect these pathetic programs? Why can these pathetic programs get blue chip signees and the University of Cincinnati can't? I am proud to be a Debbie Downer or a Negative Nancy. I refuse to make silly excuses for why we can't do better. I know we can do better and most of our fanbase is just like me and NTS.

Bravo for the signing of Keith Williams. He looks like a good player. He may become a great player. He may lead us to an NCAA title. However, the overall recruiting picture is still sad when these are the best players we can get and some fans continue to make excuses why this is the best we should expect, and are actually elated each year even though we never sniff a Top 25 recruiting ranking.

It's funny to me that you express so much interest into the fact that they are top 10 RECRUITING CLASSES and UC isn't in the top 25. I'll take higher AP, Coaches Poll, and KenPom rankings than a Rivals Recruiting class ranking any day of the week. We had a lot of great recruiting classes prior to Mick that didn't go much farther than the teams we have seen lately. I take recruiting rankings with a grain of salt as I think most people on here do. I'd rather have a top 25 team year in and year out than a recruiting class.