2013-2014 Season

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Once our bigs skills had been scouted we were done. Our big men couldn't pass, catch or make a layup. they could block shots and commit 5 fouls.
 
Btown Bearcat said:
your forgetting about jeramiah the 3rd he has a great touch from 3 and guyn actually started to show touch as well
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I agree that jd3 could be a good outside threat i think he is still an unknown but i like him. I think guyn is a hard nosed hard playing role player... Short on natural talent.
 
L-T said:
Wrong. Mick's teams have had a history of perfoming poorly in February since he has been here.
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Not in recent years, look at how well we have done in the BE tourney, it seems like we have always made a late season push, whether it was the year Lance was here, when the WV guy banked in a 3 to beat us, or the year Dion dribbled the ball off his foot, those teams were peaking at the right time. Or last year, when we made it to the BE tourney championship. Maybe early on when he had no talent we performed poorly in February, but over the past few years, we have beaten the likes of Louisville 2x, Georgetown 2x, and Marquette 2x, all in February.
 
JumpinJack5 said:
Not in recent years, look at how well we have done in the BE tourney, it seems like we have always made a late season push, whether it was the year Lance was here, when the WV guy banked in a 3 to beat us, or the year Dion dribbled the ball off his foot, those teams were peaking at the right time. Or last year, when we made it to the BE tourney championship. Maybe early on when he had no talent we performed poorly in February, but over the past few years, we have beaten the likes of Louisville 2x, Georgetown 2x, and Marquette 2x, all in February.
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Recent years would include the most recent year, which is this year, and it was brutal. The last 2 years were the only ones that went against the grain. It has been a consistant complaint against Mick since he has been here....late season meltdowns.

As to next year, I think everyone is way overestimating the impact of the incoming freshmen. I've been going to Bearcat games for a lot of years and one thing I've learned is to never expect much out of freshmen. I can name most of our all time greatest players and most of them contributed very little as freshmen....and many of them were higher than 3-stars coming out of high school. Strickland for example has almost no high school experience, and people on here are expecting him to be an impact player next year. It ain't going to happen. We all blamed some of our problems last year on not having Shaq Thomas. He came in this year and contributed very little and he had a full year of practicing with the team last year. Lawrence is a 5-star, but he's not considered to be an offensive juggernaut. He may help defensively, but we need major help offensively.

Our 2013-2014 season depends on how hard our current players work between today and the start of the season. Kilpratrick must become a more consistent shooter and improve his ball skills. Someone must step up as a legit 2nd option between Shaq, Rubles, Jackson, JDIII, or Guyn. We're going crazy because Shaq had one amazing game, but he needs to improve a lot. If one of those freshmen turns out to be an impact player, then great. But, on the surface, I don't see us being a better team next year. I think we will be strong defensively again, but I look for our offense to be even worse. This is just my gut feel and I hope I'm completely wrong.
 
L-T said:
Recent years would include the most recent year, which is this year, and it was brutal. The last 2 years were the only ones that went against the grain. It has been a consistant complaint against Mick since he has been here....late season meltdowns.

As to next year, I think everyone is way overestimating the impact of the incoming freshmen. I've been going to Bearcat games for a lot of years and one thing I've learned is to never expect much out of freshmen. I can name most of our all time greatest players and most of them contributed very little as freshmen....and many of them were higher than 3-stars coming out of high school. Strickland for example has almost no high school experience, and people on here are expecting him to be an impact player next year. It ain't going to happen. We all blamed some of our problems last year on not having Shaq Thomas. He came in this year and contributed very little and he had a full year of practicing with the team last year. Lawrence is a 5-star, but he's not considered to be an offensive juggernaut. He may help defensively, but we need major help offensively.

Our 2013-2014 season depends on how hard our current players work between today and the start of the season. Kilpratrick must become a more consistent shooter and improve his ball skills. Someone must step up as a legit 2nd option between Shaq, Rubles, Jackson, JDIII, or Guyn. We're going crazy because Shaq had one amazing game, but he needs to improve a lot. If one of those freshmen turns out to be an impact player, then great. But, on the surface, I don't see us being a better team next year. I think we will be strong defensively again, but I look for our offense to be even worse. This is just my gut feel and I hope I'm completely wrong.
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You would expect late season meltdowns from early Mick teams not as deep or as talented. The past 3 years the teams have been solid. This years team simply couldn't shoot.

I get what you're saying, but I think UC will have a solid 1-2 punch with Killa and Thomas. Reggie Miller and Len Elmore know talent and they raved about Thomas after seeing him practice.

UC only needs 2 freshmen to contribute. One in the post and one of the guards. I completely agree the returning players offseason holds the key, but I like that openings at the 1 and 3 should be a huge motivation from Thomas, Sanders, GG and JD3.

As far as post scoring, I believe we need one of the new guys to step up. Jackson has not been the most diligent in offseason work outs and extra time in the gym. Rubles has some decent skills, no bb iq or confidence. Gaines and Nyarsuk are Gaines and Nyarsuk.
 
L-T said:
Recent years would include the most recent year, which is this year, and it was brutal. The last 2 years were the only ones that went against the grain. It has been a consistant complaint against Mick since he has been here....late season meltdowns.

As to next year, I think everyone is way overestimating the impact of the incoming freshmen. I've been going to Bearcat games for a lot of years and one thing I've learned is to never expect much out of freshmen. I can name most of our all time greatest players and most of them contributed very little as freshmen....and many of them were higher than 3-stars coming out of high school. Strickland for example has almost no high school experience, and people on here are expecting him to be an impact player next year. It ain't going to happen. We all blamed some of our problems last year on not having Shaq Thomas. He came in this year and contributed very little and he had a full year of practicing with the team last year. Lawrence is a 5-star, but he's not considered to be an offensive juggernaut. He may help defensively, but we need major help offensively.

Our 2013-2014 season depends on how hard our current players work between today and the start of the season. Kilpratrick must become a more consistent shooter and improve his ball skills. Someone must step up as a legit 2nd option between Shaq, Rubles, Jackson, JDIII, or Guyn. We're going crazy because Shaq had one amazing game, but he needs to improve a lot. If one of those freshmen turns out to be an impact player, then great. But, on the surface, I don't see us being a better team next year. I think we will be strong defensively again, but I look for our offense to be even worse. This is just my gut feel and I hope I'm completely wrong.
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Strickland, Caupain, and Lawrence all have the potential to make immediate impacts. Does that mean all of them will? No. Could I mean one of them will? Yes. I don't think they will all come in and be studs right away, but all of them have the potential to fill glaring weaknesses on our team. If Strickland is a big guy with half a brain and somewhat filled out, he will help. If Caupain can do some of the smaller things that he does in HS, like rebound and play gritty, he will help. And finally, Lawrence has the potential to help lift the burden off of our main scorers some nights next year. Does that mean he will score 25 ppg? No. Does that mean he will play great every game and have no off nights? No. But each could contribute in their own way.
 
L-T said:
Recent years would include the most recent year, which is this year, and it was brutal. The last 2 years were the only ones that went against the grain. It has been a consistant complaint against Mick since he has been here....late season meltdowns.

As to next year, I think everyone is way overestimating the impact of the incoming freshmen. I've been going to Bearcat games for a lot of years and one thing I've learned is to never expect much out of freshmen. I can name most of our all time greatest players and most of them contributed very little as freshmen....and many of them were higher than 3-stars coming out of high school. Strickland for example has almost no high school experience, and people on here are expecting him to be an impact player next year. It ain't going to happen. We all blamed some of our problems last year on not having Shaq Thomas. He came in this year and contributed very little and he had a full year of practicing with the team last year. Lawrence is a 5-star, but he's not considered to be an offensive juggernaut. He may help defensively, but we need major help offensively.

Our 2013-2014 season depends on how hard our current players work between today and the start of the season. Kilpratrick must become a more consistent shooter and improve his ball skills. Someone must step up as a legit 2nd option between Shaq, Rubles, Jackson, JDIII, or Guyn. We're going crazy because Shaq had one amazing game, but he needs to improve a lot. If one of those freshmen turns out to be an impact player, then great. But, on the surface, I don't see us being a better team next year. I think we will be strong defensively again, but I look for our offense to be even worse. This is just my gut feel and I hope I'm completely wrong.
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Shaquille (don't call me Shaq) didn't put up numbers because he didn't get minutes. He is a coiled spring and very quick with lots of innate ability. Once he learns to put more arc on his shots (FT's included) he will be a high minute player and a serious threat. He's got the finesse if he slows his tempo down a little. Rubles has no finesse, but he's a good defensive player and if someone gets it into his head to not shoot 3's and go to the hoop and finish, he'll give us a few points. We need him to bang the boards. Shaquille's leaping ability will be enhanced when he learns to protect the ball on rebounds - a little weight training will help that aspect. You're right about incoming freshmen having an immediate impact. probably not going to happen, but whoever plays 5 can't be worse than Nyarsuk.
 
ya im pretty excited about next year. i think our offense will be way way way better. im very excited about shaq thomas his upside is the sky. when he started getting more playing time towards end of the year he got better and better. the one worry i have is center although nyrasuk and gains can only get better im sure he can atleast give us 24 minutes. i think we can get enough scoring next year where our center will be almost strictly defense. im not sure if they will play a small lineup and use lawrence but it is a worry. im not so sure who will run the point my guess is rotating guyn and the freshman and maybe even j the 3rd. well see what happens but i for one am extremely excited for next year it will be cronins best team imo without a doubt. i dont see anyway kilpat is not a bearcat next year and long jermaine lawrence gets inked on signing day wow im excited
 
I, like most, really liked what I saw in Thomas against Creighton. He has shown flashes throughout the season. Hopefully he continues to work on his shot because he will be very dangerous if his midrange improves. IMO he should have gotten more minutes this season, especially in replace of Sanders minutes. I still don't think he is suited for the Big East. How a supposed shooter can miss the entire rim on a WIDE open three boggles my mind.

I'll be looking forward to DSL to get a chance to watch the newcombers play. It's never good to count on freshman but I think this class will be needed to contribute right away. Hopefully Capauin and Strickland are the real deal. I don't doubt that Lawrence is.
 
TheLongHaul said:
I, like most, really liked what I saw in Thomas against Creighton. He has shown flashes throughout the season. Hopefully he continues to work on his shot because he will be very dangerous if his midrange improves. IMO he should have gotten more minutes this season, especially in replace of Sanders minutes. I still don't think he is suited for the Big East. How a supposed shooter can miss the entire rim on a WIDE open three boggles my mind.

I'll be looking forward to DSL to get a chance to watch the newcombers play. It's never good to count on freshman but I think this class will be needed to contribute right away. Hopefully Capauin and Strickland are the real deal. I don't doubt that Lawrence is.
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I think my biggest disappointed in Mick and the staff are their failure to build the bench, and I cite Shaq as exhibit A. Clearly the most physically gifted player on the team. It isn't even close. He sits a year and then barely play him in year 2. Doesn't make sense. He got to practice as a true freshman, this wasn't new to him. He needed game time and his length, athleticism and ball skills made him a nightmare match up that would have freed SK, Parker and Cash more. It would have given us a scorer at 4 positions instead of 3, and more importantly, a penetrator. I think Shaq would have really helped this team if he had been given minutes earlier in the season.

Sanders is not a 2 guard. He needs to be playing the 3 and used to facilitate and midrange like a Rashad Bishop. That is his game. He has the ability to shoot but has a tendancy to drift backwards when he is missing as he releases the ball. Correctable, but he takes too may 3s. He is becoming a decent defensive player.

Part of building a bench requires understanding your talents strengths and getting them to buy into their roles. Either out of necessity or intentionally, Mick and staff tend to try to train or coach a player into a role. Sanders game has never been predicated on shooting 3s.
 
Sanders was supposed to be a natural spot up shooter. I agree he isn't a 2 but IMO he isn't athletic or quick enough to be a 3. I'm just not sure what he does well. He is also a terrible FT shooter and that usually isn't a good sign that they can shoot from the outside. Bishop, for all his lack of abilities, was pretty athletic and was much much quicker than Sanders. To me the only similarities are they are both lefties and Bishop was somewhat methodical in his movements.
 
bearcat jeff said:
I think my biggest disappointed in Mick and the staff are their failure to build the bench, and I cite Shaq as exhibit A. Clearly the most physically gifted player on the team. It isn't even close. He sits a year and then barely play him in year 2. Doesn't make sense. He got to practice as a true freshman, this wasn't new to him. He needed game time and his length, athleticism and ball skills made him a nightmare match up that would have freed SK, Parker and Cash more. It would have given us a scorer at 4 positions instead of 3, and more importantly, a penetrator. I think Shaq would have really helped this team if he had been given minutes earlier in the season.

Sanders is not a 2 guard. He needs to be playing the 3 and used to facilitate and midrange like a Rashad Bishop. That is his game. He has the ability to shoot but has a tendancy to drift backwards when he is missing as he releases the ball. Correctable, but he takes too may 3s. He is becoming a decent defensive player.

Part of building a bench requires understanding your talents strengths and getting them to buy into their roles. Either out of necessity or intentionally, Mick and staff tend to try to train or coach a player into a role. Sanders game has never been predicated on shooting 3s.
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And exactly why didn't he get playing time? Only the coach can utilize his assets. He plays his personnel. Part of me being in the 10%, I guess?!
 
CaptDale said:
And exactly why didn't he get playing time? Only the coach can utilize his assets. He plays his personnel. Part of me being in the 10%, I guess?!
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What part of me saying, "I think my biggest disappointed in Mick and the staff are their failure to build the bench" didn't you get?
 
I agree with UCBEARCATS. The more we accept mediocrity, the deeper we'll fall into it. As I said at the beginning of this thread, there's nothing good about this conference, and I don't think Mick has us positioned to even do well as we launch into what most of America will see as a Mid-Major conference. Memphis is coming in with a recruiting class of (2) 5-star recruits and (3) 4-star recruits. Louisville is back. We saw how good Temple looked over the weekend, but they are losing Wyatt. This conference won't command 8 or 9 spots in the NCAA like the Big East did, so we'll need to be near the top of the conference.

We have a serious...almost critical situation centered around our inability to shoot the ball and we're not going to get much help (at least initially) from our recruits. We lose Cash and Parker, neither a dead-eye shooter, but both at least decent. We lose our best interior defender, and outside the two stiffs we have coming back, we're pinning a lot of our hope on a center who has almost no high school experience. So, we're down to Lawrence. We need him to be a 5-star 1st year contributor in the mold of what we've seen from Kentucky's five-star recruits. Anything less and we're in serious trouble. We've already had a few posters who have seen him play live this year and have not painted a very pretty picture. So, if their assessment is accurate, he doesn't sound like a Kentucky-type 5-star.

We can argue over Mick Cronin all we want, but this year we will definitely see if he is an elite coach or not. Because, I think he has a major challenge on his hands for the next season, and it will take a damn good coach to overcome these challenges. This season ended on a major downer. There's no disputing that. Mick must stem the tide of how this season ended, and has to do it in spite of the negativity that also surrounds this new league, which could have a serious impact on recruiting as well. If he wasn't a great recruiter in the Big East, will he be one in the America 12?

After the next season, the Mick Cronin debate should be over. He'll either prove he is elite, or he'll crash and burn.
 
bearcat jeff said:
What part of me saying, "I think my biggest disappointed in Mick and the staff are their failure to build the bench" didn't you get?
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He had the opportunity but failed to utilize it - exactly! He had something on the bench but it gathered cobwebs. I think he underutilized Guyn, too. He gets in, fouls, gets yanked. Never gets a chance to get into a into a rhythm, or get warmed up to playing temperature.
Not worth the rehash . Season's over. I hope he does better next year. What I do like(and I'm not sure who learned it from whom) Mick's facial expressions. Did he learn them from JJ or vice versa:p
 

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