2016-2017 Season

[jacobkdoyle]

It can be some of both, you know. Doesn't have to be so black and white. If that were the case, his offense with trash players in 2006-07 would've had a higher offense than 180th in the country. I don't think anyone would disagree that his 53rd best offense in 2010-11 had more talent.

After 13 years at 2 schools and in 3 conferences, if you don't ever have a Top 50 offense, that's on you. Think of how many different players and teams he's gone through as a coach. And the deck has been stacked against him every single year, and the players have failed to get it done every single time? C'mon. It's not a coincidence that a guy who coaches the way Cronin does would never crack the Top 50. It's his philosophy. And I'm not posting this to blast him, it's just obvious to me after watching his teams and hearing his comments for so long. The guy values defense above all else. Again, not here to say if it's right or wrong. Just saying that after 13 years of head coaching, we have a big enough sample size to say that the guy coaching has trouble producing offensively sound teams. Some years are better than others (last year wasm't too bad), but the coach is the constant.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Wondering why Cronin hasn't had a Top 50 offense is like wondering why old Loyola Marymount, older VMI, or last year's Citadel teams never had a Top 50 defense.

 

[L-T]

After 13 years at 2 schools and in 3 conferences, if you don't ever have a Top 50 offense, that's on you. Think of how many different players and teams he's gone through as a coach. And the deck has been stacked against him every single year, and the players have failed to get it done every single time? C'mon. It's not a coincidence that a guy who coaches the way Cronin does would never crack the Top 50. It's his philosophy. And I'm not posting this to blast him, it's just obvious to me after watching his teams and hearing his comments for so long. The guy values defense above all else. Again, not here to say if it's right or wrong. Just saying that after 13 years of head coaching, we have a big enough sample size to say that the guy coaching has trouble producing offensively sound teams. Some years are better than others (last year wasm't too bad), but the coach is the constant.

It's not difficult to see why his offenses are so bad. It always goes back to his recruiting. He's a poor recruiter and his players take time to develop. Some have never developed. Because he rarely brings in offensively talented players, he is forced to stress defense to survive. Good players see the focus on defense and want no part of this system. It's a vicious circle that we're locked into.

Hopefully, Cumberland starts to change this cycle. We certainly have some offensive firepower this year. We need to take advantage of this and break out of this decade long trend. It was fun having the tough guy, defensive reputation in the 90s because we had some good offensive players playing the tough defense. Now we have offensively challenged players playing tough defense. It's not the same. I could care less whether we keep our tough identity anymore because we're only considered tough on one side of the court these days. We need to be tough on both for the reputation to mean something.

 

[Bearcat22]

Wondering why Cronin hasn't had a Top 50 offense is like wondering why old Loyola Marymount, older VMI, or last year's Citadel teams never had a Top 50 defense.

The above comment and the one before were 100% spot on in my opinion. This is ingrained into his philosophy and identity. It shouldn't be a surprise year after year that the Cat's aren't a more effective offense. From a fan perspective debating the merits of that style is good forum fodder, but expecting much of a change is just an exercise in futility.

 

[#BearcatNation]

After 13 years at 2 schools and in 3 conferences, if you don't ever have a Top 50 offense, that's on you. Think of how many different players and teams he's gone through as a coach. And the deck has been stacked against him every single year, and the players have failed to get it done every single time? C'mon. It's not a coincidence that a guy who coaches the way Cronin does would never crack the Top 50. It's his philosophy. And I'm not posting this to blast him, it's just obvious to me after watching his teams and hearing his comments for so long. The guy values defense above all else. Again, not here to say if it's right or wrong. Just saying that after 13 years of head coaching, we have a big enough sample size to say that the guy coaching has trouble producing offensively sound teams. Some years are better than others (last year wasm't too bad), but the coach is the constant.

I just hate the "blame it all on Mick" theme that comes around here frequently. I'm basically saying that he has failed as a coach to implement great offenses, even though it's sometimes on the players, and the general response I get is "nah it's only Mick", even though I'm giving Mick a bit of blame here. Like I said earlier, it's ridiculous to be that black and white about it.

I also hate the tempo freakout. I have no problem with a slow pace. What I do have a problem with is the frequent inefficiency. If you're playing the slowest pace in the country, but run a top 25 offense efficiency, you're going to win a TON of games (so long as the defense is serviceable). I have this crazy theory when it comes to offense: if you're open, just freakin' shoot. Don't rush, yet don't dilly-dally. I couldn't care less about how long it takes to get a shot up. Just find the open, high-percentage shots. Whenever you find them. Don't care if it's 5 seconds into a shot clock, or 29 seconds into a shot clock.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

I just hate the "blame it all on Mick" theme that comes around here frequently. I'm basically saying that he has failed as a coach to implement great offenses, even though it's sometimes on the players, and the general response I get is "nah it's only Mick", even though I'm giving Mick a bit of blame here. Like I said earlier, it's ridiculous to be that black and white about it.

I also hate the tempo freakout. I have no problem with a slow pace. What I do have a problem with is the frequent inefficiency. If you're playing the slowest pace in the country, but run a top 25 offense efficiency, you're going to win a TON of games (so long as the defense is serviceable). I have this crazy theory when it comes to offense: if you're open, just freakin' shoot. Don't rush, yet don't dilly-dally. I couldn't care less about how long it takes to get a shot up. Just find the open, high-percentage shots. Whenever you find them. Don't care if it's 5 seconds into a shot clock, or 29 seconds into a shot clock.

I made a point to say I wasn't blasting Coach Cronin. I'm just saying that realistically, and knowing his approach, there is no reason to expect Top 50 offense. It is what it is.

 

[#BearcatNation]

I made a point to say I wasn't blasting Coach Cronin. I'm just saying that realistically, and knowing his approach, there is no reason to expect Top 50 offense. It is what it is.

I don't think anyone is. Hitting around 50 would be great, though, since you know the defense will be top 20. What I just described is a sweet sixteen/shot at elite eight team.

 

[UCBearcats]

Never had a top 50 offense, average tempo is 255 in his 13 years as a HC(with the last 3 years over 300th in the country)....like clockwork the articles and quotes from Mick come out about how "this is the best offense I've ever coached" and now we can finally play the uptempo style that I've always wanted to play because of player X. Throw in a few whiny comments about officiating from the past season...rinse and repeat. Of course UC fans who have settled that we cannot do better and will buy in and coddle his whining. Mick said he evaluated if UC would be better off with a fresh start during his UNLV drama...guess he came to the wrong conclusion.

Amen........I don't trust anyone who still supports Lil' Mick. If you can be that satisfied with such mediocre results it really says something about you as a person. No wonder this country is going to hell in hand basket. Too many Mick Cronin supporters walking around these days.

 

[#BearcatNation]

Amen........I don't trust anyone who still supports Lil' Mick. If you can be that satisfied with such mediocre results it really says something about you as a person. No wonder this country is going to hell in hand basket. Too many Mick Cronin supporters walking around these days.

Wtf

 

[2bearcatdad]

There are times this site really sucks. The direction this thread has taken represents one of those times. Blah, blah, blah, I hate Mick. Blah, blah, blah, anyone who doesn't hate Mick embraces mediocrity and surely lives in a trailer just waiting for their next welfare check.

With some posters, it just never ends.

In the infamous words of Rodney King - can't we all just get along?

 

[justinhub2003]

Not sure if this has been confirmed yet or not, but I just renewed my season tickets and bought 2 extra tickets for the Xavier game (to sell potentially) and it had the game Date as Feb 1st

 

[#BearcatNation]

Not sure if this has been confirmed yet or not, but I just renewed my season tickets and bought 2 extra tickets for the Xavier game (to sell potentially) and it had the game Date as Feb 1st

Hmm. If that ends up being the date, I'm fine with that. Xavier's team next year is very similar to this past year's. I think ours is a bit different, so we'll need some time to adjust. I'd prefer to face them once we have a few months under our belt, rather than game 6 or so.

 

[UCBearcats]

Hmm. If that ends up being the date, I'm fine with that. Xavier's team next year is very similar to this past year's. I think ours is a bit different, so we'll need some time to adjust. I'd prefer to face them once we have a few months under our belt, rather than game 6 or so.

Feb 1st is a Wednesday night so I hope that doesn't hold. The Crosstown Shootout should always be played on a Saturday. I'd be surprised if that is an actual date at this point considering that game will be on national TV.

 

[L-T]

Amen........I don't trust anyone who still supports Lil' Mick. If you can be that satisfied with such mediocre results it really says something about you as a person. No wonder this country is going to hell in hand basket. Too many Mick Cronin supporters walking around these days.

The focus of the program, and any sport in general, should be to win championships. It wasn't many years ago that the university actually stated a goal to win a Big East championship in every sport within 5 years. I don't know what all the other sports did, but Men's Basketball definitely didn't do it. It's all about championships in my mind....conference, tournament, and national championship. If you can't win championships, you need to be moved on to another job.

Here at Cincinnati, our goals are now far below championships. We're happy finishing 5th and making a watered down NCAA tournament every year, and then getting bounced out early. As long as we keep doing that, let's stay the course.

I am really hoping that the 2016/2017 season proves different than the last 10 seasons and we get over the hump and achieve something significant. Maybe then, recruits will start looking at Cincinnati like they used to as a top program again and we build significant momentum going forward. I could care less if we do it with Mick Cronin leading the program, or the next guy. Just do it!

 

[UCBearcats]

There are times this site really sucks. The direction this thread has taken represents one of those times. Blah, blah, blah, I hate Mick. Blah, blah, blah, anyone who doesn't hate Mick embraces mediocrity and surely lives in a trailer just waiting for their next welfare check.

With some posters, it just never ends.

In the infamous words of Rodney King - can't we all just get along?

I agree man, I wish some of these guys would lighten up and learn to take a joke every once in a while instead of crying all the time about how they're offended by what someone wrote on a message board. Oh wait, is that what you meant?

The problem with this board is there's just soooo much sand and soooo many vaginas it's bound to get a little scratchy every once in a while.

See you guys in November!

 

[GarradJ21]

The focus of the program, and any sport in general, should be to win championships. It wasn't many years ago that the university actually stated a goal to win a Big East championship in every sport within 5 years. I don't know what all the other sports did, but Men's Basketball definitely didn't do it. It's all about championships in my mind....conference, tournament, and national championship. If you can't win championships, you need to be moved on to another job.

Here at Cincinnati, our goals are now far below championships. We're happy finishing 5th and making a watered down NCAA tournament every year, and then getting bounced out early. As long as we keep doing that, let's stay the course.

I am really hoping that the 2016/2017 season proves different than the last 10 seasons and we get over the hump and achieve something significant. Maybe then, recruits will start looking at Cincinnati like they used to as a top program again and we build significant momentum going forward. I could care less if we do it with Mick Cronin leading the program, or the next guy. Just do it!

I agree. You're right. I am a Mick supporter but you are correct on this. We should have won at least one AAC title by now. Gotta give some credit for at least making it to the championship in the Big East touney. Went through the best team maybe in the country in Syracuse that year. We need to win the AAC this year. Simple as that.

 

[#BearcatNation]

I agree man, I wish some of these guys would lighten up and learn to take a joke every once in a while instead of crying all the time about how they're offended by what someone wrote on a message board. Oh wait, is that what you meant?

The problem with this board is there's just soooo much sand and soooo many vaginas it's bound to get a little scratchy every once in a while.

See you guys in November!

I love jokes. That wasn't a joke. That was an off-the-wall sentence that just made absolutely no sense. Not offensive or anything. Just stupid.

 

[justinhub2003]

Feb 1st is a Wednesday night so I hope that doesn't hold. The Crosstown Shootout should always be played on a Saturday. I'd be surprised if that is an actual date at this point considering that game will be on national TV.

It's not uncommon to be on Wednesday. 2 out of the last 4 years were on wed. ESPN dictates a lot of it . Could be rivalry week

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

Amen........I don't trust anyone who still supports Lil' Mick. If you can be that satisfied with such mediocre results it really says something about you as a person. No wonder this country is going to hell in hand basket. Too many Mick Cronin supporters walking around these days.

Quoting yourself in your signature? Man after my own heart...

 

[westsidecat]

Quoting yourself in your signature? Man after my own heart...

His signatures are the best things i've seen on this board in awhile, well, beside that moment where i really belived Cronin was packing his shit up.