2016-2017 Season

[justinhub2003]

I know people hate the preseason talk about offensive flow but Ive been saying this all summer long, that we wont have two cogs in middle who cant shoot. We have the personel for a more flowing offense.

Caupain said this:
"We don't have two 6-10s like we did last year that were always in the paint," Caupain said. "Like the Spurs and the Warriors play, there's only one big in the paint. They set screens, then they move without the ball. They're always looking to get one man open. It's not really a play-calling type offense. It's more cut without the ball, set screens and when you're open anybody can score one through five, not just always depending on the top three. Our bigs can shoot this year."

And KJ said this:
"It's just putting all of our pieces together," Johnson said. "We've got a lot of experienced players back. We understand each other. Now it's just jelling and learning defense, getting back in that rhythm that it takes to win games. It's gonna be hard to tell what we're gonna do. It's all free flow and it's all playing off each other, which opens up opportunities for everybody. It allows Troy to become a playmaker. It allows me to get open shots. It allows Gary and Kyle to dominate down low and Jacob to attack the rim."

 

[jacobkdoyle]

I know people hate the preseason talk about offensive flow but Ive been saying this all summer long, that we wont have two cogs in middle who cant shoot. We have the personel for a more flowing offense.

Caupain said this:
"We don't have two 6-10s like we did last year that were always in the paint," Caupain said. "Like the Spurs and the Warriors play, there's only one big in the paint. They set screens, then they move without the ball. They're always looking to get one man open. It's not really a play-calling type offense. It's more cut without the ball, set screens and when you're open anybody can score one through five, not just always depending on the top three. Our bigs can shoot this year."

And KJ said this:
"It's just putting all of our pieces together," Johnson said. "We've got a lot of experienced players back. We understand each other. Now it's just jelling and learning defense, getting back in that rhythm that it takes to win games. It's gonna be hard to tell what we're gonna do. It's all free flow and it's all playing off each other, which opens up opportunities for everybody. It allows Troy to become a playmaker. It allows me to get open shots. It allows Gary and Kyle to dominate down low and Jacob to attack the rim."

That quote by Caupain is right in-line with what I've been hoping for with this roster. We'll see if it happens.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

That quote by Caupain is right in-line with what I've been hoping for with this roster. We'll see if it happens.

Jake I'd say a lot of it will come down to execution and results. Last year we ran lots of up tempo early in the season. Especially through the cup cake part of the schedule. As the competition got better Coach indicated the team fell into a, we can out score the opposition and don't have to guard mentality. I will be most interested to see if we in fact learned from our experience. Even against inferior competition if memory serves me we gave up many uncontested 3's off dribble drive penetration which carried over into the meat of our schedule. I really want our team to play both ends of the floor.

 

[Bearcat513]

I know people hate the preseason talk about offensive flow but Ive been saying this all summer long, that we wont have two cogs in middle who cant shoot. We have the personel for a more flowing offense.

Caupain said this:
"We don't have two 6-10s like we did last year that were always in the paint," Caupain said. "Like the Spurs and the Warriors play, there's only one big in the paint. They set screens, then they move without the ball. They're always looking to get one man open. It's not really a play-calling type offense. It's more cut without the ball, set screens and when you're open anybody can score one through five, not just always depending on the top three. Our bigs can shoot this year."

And KJ said this:
"It's just putting all of our pieces together," Johnson said. "We've got a lot of experienced players back. We understand each other. Now it's just jelling and learning defense, getting back in that rhythm that it takes to win games. It's gonna be hard to tell what we're gonna do. It's all free flow and it's all playing off each other, which opens up opportunities for everybody. It allows Troy to become a playmaker. It allows me to get open shots. It allows Gary and Kyle to dominate down low and Jacob to attack the rim."

If we have a free flowing offense where guys are constantly moving without the the ball with purpose, I will be genuinely surprised. I hope that this is true.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

If we have a free flowing offense where guys are constantly moving without the the ball with purpose, I will be genuinely surprised. I hope that this is true.

I think personnel is driving this decision. Washington is not a back to the basket kind of player. Ellis and Deberry were. Clark has that in his game but is still a work in progress and has range out to the 3 point line. Last year we tried to run a inside out game but Ellis just was not that good of a passer or ball handler. This year it looks like teams will have to guard all 5 guys out to the 3 pt line which should create a lot of space.

 

[Bearcat513]

I think personnel is driving this decision. Washington is not a back to the basket kind of player. Ellis and Deberry were. Clark has that in his game but is still a work in progress and has range out to the 3 point line. Last year we tried to run an inside-out game but Ellis just was not that good of a passer or ball handler. This year it looks like teams will have to guard all 5 guys out to the 3 pt line which should create a lot of space.

I agree with you 100% and I think the personnel this season is way better suited to run this free flowing offense they are talking about.

But, I believe Caupain's quote was along the lines that the Spurs and Warriors only have one true big out there and he sets screens and such. Last season we had Ellis, a true big, so why couldn't he be used for setting screens as players cut through the high post, baseline, etc? Clark showed he could hit 3s and jumpers from the high post so he was capable of floating away from the basket at times, leaving Ellis as the only true big man in the post. I am just thinking this free flowing offense could have been used last season. But, I am still excited for the personnel for this coming season.

I'm just playing devil's advocate here.

Edit: Also, I've brought this up before but I feel like Ellis was a lot more comfortable his junior season shooting jumpers than he was his senior year. I loved when he could move 10-12 feet away from the basket and drain a jumper along the baseline.

 

[UCalum08]

https://t.co/IkjdKpvXwb

They think UC will win the league! Good stuff. I think it will come down between us and UConn.

 

[justinhub2003]

Jake I'd say a lot of it will come down to execution and results. Last year we ran lots of up tempo early in the season. Especially through the cup cake part of the schedule. As the competition got better Coach indicated the team fell into a, we can out score the opposition and don't have to guard mentality. I will be most interested to see if we in fact learned from our experience. Even against inferior competition if memory serves me we gave up many uncontested 3's off dribble drive penetration which carried over into the meat of our schedule. I really want our team to play both ends of the floor.

I think is spot on. Last year we changed offensive styles because Mick was frustrated with the arrogance the team had now that they could finally score big and thought they didn't have to play D, just outscore their opponents.

So Mick, corrected (and maybe even over correct a bit), and had the team turn back into the slugfest kind of games that have proved mostly successful. This year I want to see them understand they can be an offensive team but also don't let teams scorer easy.

Also, it seems to me that Mick might have hinted at us playing some man to Man with this years team. Saying that Kyle was better on the perimeter and saying that we plan on guarding tighter on the perimeter. This team has the personel to play Man to Man and while I dont want to exclusively play it, because I know how effective the matchup Zone has been for us

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

I agree with you 100% and I think the personnel this season is way better suited to run this free flowing offense they are talking about.

But, I believe Caupain's quote was along the lines that the Spurs and Warriors only have one true big out there and he sets screens and such. Last season we had Ellis, a true big, so why couldn't he be used for setting screens as players cut through the high post, baseline, etc? Clark showed he could hit 3s and jumpers from the high post so he was capable of floating away from the basket at times, leaving Ellis as the only true big man in the post. I am just thinking this free flowing offense could have been used last season. But, I am still excited for the personnel for this coming season.

I'm just playing devil's advocate here.

Edit: Also, I've brought this up before but I feel like Ellis was a lot more comfortable his junior season shooting jumpers than he was his senior year. I loved when he could move 10-12 feet away from the basket and drain a jumper along the baseline.

Changing you offense schemes in season is very difficult. You can make adjustments but I would have to think the system you implemented in the off season is what you are going to have to run. Ellis handles were horrible his senior year. he also could not stretch the defense. What he did do was board and alter shots at a good rate. Clark also improved offensively in season. Having Washington here all last season and the off season will be a huge boost to playing to the strengths of our team. The only new comers will be Cumberland and Brooks. Returning experienced players should be nice thing to build on this season. One reason I'm so excited. As well as our health.

 

[waterhead]

After today I can't wait for the season to start. I'm ready to find out which of the following things I've heard will actually turn out to be a significant factor this year.

Washington...can score 10 points falling out of bed

Scott will surprise us

Brooks came into camp in shape on his own

Moore is in much better shape

Cumberland will have a similar season to Evans

KJ is an improved player

Jenifer might be most improved


I have been around long enough to know some of this won't mean much if anything...but just maybe some will.

 

[waterhead]

After today I can't wait for the season to start. I'm ready to find out which of the following things I've heard will actually turn out to be a significant factor this year.

Washington...can score 10 points falling out of bed

Scott will surprise us

Brooks came into camp in shape on his own

Moore is in much better shape

Cumberland will have a similar season to Evans

KJ is an improved player

Jenifer might be most improved


I have been around long enough to know some of this won't mean much if anything...but just maybe some will.

I haven't heard much on Troy or Gary but not too worried about them. Haven't heard much on Evans other than he's got his body in prime shape.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

I'm so geared up for this season. I've probably been KJ's biggest supporter on here. I'm ready to see if he can take that senior leap. I really think he is the difference in whether or not we a good or we are really good. Excited to see what Washington brings and excited to see Evans progression, if Clark can be more consistent and how big a year Caupain can make his senior season. The starting five has alot of potential to be great. The bench is the obvious question mark. We are insanely young and inexperienced on the bench. Quadri Moore and Jenifer are our only two bench players with D1 playing time and we all know what that play has been. Yes Cumberland should be good enough to contribute. Scott could impress in small doses, Jenifer and Moore could show some of the hype they came in with. Brooks could surprise us and contribute, but I think it's fair to have a wait and see approach on any of them. But it's October, the glass is half full right now. I can't wait till the season starts.

 

[Bearcats Sports]

I was with Gary this weekend downtown and you can tell how good of shape he is in coming into the offseason. He sounded hungry and you could tell that our players are going to come in with a chip on their shoulders from losing so many close games last season. They know how good they can be, and he said this was the hardest they have ever worked in the offseason since he's been at UC. We have had some bad luck in the past years, and it seems like they are using that to work even harder for this season.

 

[crimedogg27]

Really just want to see Gary looking fresh throughout the game. Many times last year he looked severely winded.

 

[Bearcats Sports]

Really just want to see Gary looking fresh throughout the game. Many times last year he looked severely winded.

He was dealing with a high ankle sprain that caused him to be slowed down. Mick also came out and said that Troy was playing the last 3 months of the season with a groin tear(didn't seem like it considering how well he played). He said he rested them at the beginning of the off season and they are both now 100%.

 

[crimedogg27]

He was dealing with a high ankle sprain that caused him to be slowed down. Mick also came out and said that Troy was playing the last 3 months of the season with a groin tear(didn't seem like it considering how well he played). He said he rested them at the beginning of the off season and they are both now 100%.

That high ankle sprain occurred late in the season. There were plenty of times he was the last man up the floor. Needs to better his fitness level.

 

[Bearcats Sports]

You are right with that. That was probably a top priority for him in the offseason.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Really just want to see Gary looking fresh throughout the game. Many times last year he looked severely winded.

He was energetic enough to be the conference defensive player of the year.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

You are right with that. That was probably a top priority for him in the offseason.

he boarded,scored and defended and was on he floor for 30+ a game. How fresh you think he should look.

 

[crimedogg27]

he boarded,scored and defended and was on he floor for 30+ a game. How fresh you think he should look.

Gary's my favorite current bearcat so I know how valuable he is to the program. With that being said, even Kenyon Martin mentioned to Gary that his fitness level needed to get better to take his game to the next level.