2015-16 "Too Early" Preseason Basketball Top 25

[rogerOH]

To me i'll know when UC has reached the next level when we expect the blue chip local players to sign with UC and not go elsewhere like now.

 

[KJ's#1Supporter]

I guess I'm a little confused about how UC is supposed to "go to the next level". It's been stuck at nearly the same level for almost 2 decades. The program has 1 Final Four in last 50+ years. If you compare the last 18 years (9 with Cronin, 9 without) there isn't much change, even accounting for Mick's 1st 4 years after the program gave itself a near death penalty. Surely no one could have expected NCAA appearances in the 1st couple of years of his tenure.
1998-2006--8 NCAA apps., 1 S-16 and 8-8 record in Tourney
2007-2015--5 NCAA apps., 1 S-16 and 4-5 record in Tourney.

So either Huggs was doing less with more in his last 8 years plus Kennedy, or Mick is doing nearly the same with less. Now I realize Huggs had more success earlier in his tenure, but that success was definitely not maintained in terms of "going to the next level" of NCAA success as indicated by the above comparison.

1 conference title, 0 conference tourney titles, 1 top 5 NCAA seed, 1 McD AA, 1 2nd round pick in 9 years.

 

[indydoug]

1 conference title, 0 conference tourney titles, 1 top 5 NCAA seed, 1 McD AA, 1 2nd round pick in 9 years.

And yet the NCAA results were basically the same. Having MCD All-Americans is great, but you still need to win in the tourney. Didn't UC have MCDAA's, conference titles, top 4 seeds and NBA draftees during Huggs' last 8-9 years? Didn't seem to make much difference in the tourney success. Duke did ok this year despite not winning the regular season or ACC tournament. So did UConn in 2014 in the AAC so I don't care about conference titles. UC needs deep tourney runs which it hasn't had in nearly 2 decades under multiple coaches.

 

[KJ's#1Supporter]

And yet the NCAA results were basically the same. Having MCD All-Americans is great, but you still need to win in the tourney. Didn't UC have MCDAA's, conference titles, top 4 seeds and NBA draftees during Huggs' last 8-9 years? Didn't seem to make much difference in the tourney success. Duke did ok this year despite not winning the regular season or ACC tournament. So did UConn in 2014 in the AAC so I don't care about conference titles. UC needs deep tourney runs which it hasn't had in nearly 2 decades under multiple coaches.

Well if we can't have NCAA tournament success, I'll at least settle for the conference titles and McD AAs we used to have.

 

[indydoug]

Well if we can't have NCAA tournament success, I'll at least settle for the conference titles and McD AAs we used to have.

In the same time frame as my original post it's 2-1 on McD's All-American's recruited to UC. D. Johnson and Satterfield in 1999 vs. Lance S. in 2009. UC did have James White (Huggs)and Mike Williams (Cronin) transfer in to UC.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cincinnati_Bearcats_men's_basketball#McDonald.27s_All-Americans
And you'll notice UC had 3 in 1993-94 (Flint, Wingfield and Fortson)....right after their deep run to the Final 4 in 1992. So again, it's a chicken-or-the-egg thing. Do MCD's get you deep NCAA runs or vice versa. I'd say there is more evidence in UC' s case that the deep run lead to the 3 McD AA's shortly therafter. I think we all want the same---for UC to be more relevant on the national stage but it's been 2 decades since that was true.

 

[KJ's#1Supporter]

I think we all want the same---for UC to be more relevant on the national stage but it's been 2 decades since that was true.

It hasn't been 2 decades since we've been relevant on the national stage.

 

[indydoug]

It hasn't been 2 decades since we've been relevant on the national stage.

Ok, but 2 Sweet 16's in last 18 years doesn't sound too nationally relevant to me. I did say "more relevant". Perhaps "not nationally relevant" is a bit harsh, but that is not a record young athletes are going to rush to. I do think, however, with another big and a shooter with the last 2 schollys (assuming Morman is gone) this year may lead to a deep run. That in turn might lead to signing McD AA's similar to 1993-94. Let's hope so! Go Cats!

 

[KJ's#1Supporter]

Ok, but 2 Sweet 16's in last 18 years doesn't sound too nationally relevant to me. I did say "more relevant". Perhaps "not nationally relevant" is a bit harsh, but that is not a record young athletes are going to rush to. I do think, however, with another big and a shooter with the last 2 schollys (assuming Morman is gone) this year may lead to a deep run. That in turn might lead to signing McD AA's similar to 1993-94. Let's hope so! Go Cats!

I hope you're right!

 

[Bulldog01]

To me i'll know when UC has reached the next level when we expect the blue chip local players to sign with UC and not go elsewhere like now.

What blue chip local?

 

[Bulldog01]

Develop your players. Mick basically gets a top 70 player every year. Start making sure their eligible and really want to be bearcats. Stop letting Mormon and Lawrence of world's transfer so easily.

 

[Bearcat22]

What blue chip local?

Did the Cat's recruit Semaj Christon?

 

[Bulldog01]

Did the Cat's recruit Semaj Christon?

Pretty sure we did. With all their football players going to uc pretty sure we could've locked him up if wanted to. X probably got deep connections at prep school he went to.

 

[CincyForLife6]

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebas...n-ridiculously-early-preseason-top-25-and-one

not ranked anymore

 

[bearcat jeff]

And nobody picked them to beat Purdue. UC will perennially be underappreciated. That's OK. I believe they will be very good next season.

 

[CincyForLife6]

And nobody picked them to beat Purdue. UC will perennially be underappreciated. That's OK. I believe they will be very good next season.

Oh trust me I know! It didn't make me lose any confidence at all in the team. Just pointing out how underappreciated we are, like you said.