2017-2018 Season

[justinhub2003]

I don't know. Last year and the previous few years we had a PG who was kind of flat footed and not as quick. Cronin said pressing was not a great plan with Troy in the game and I imagine (for the same reason) neither was pushing the ball up the court. Troy was flat footed, although sure footed and controlled, but he wasn't built for the press or running.

We have to play to our strengths and I don't see how playing fast is not to our strength this year with 5 scorers on the court and a very quick PG (or two).

There will never be a time when playing fast on offense means that Cronin will relieve his team from getting back on D. A faster pace on O will mean a few more points given up on D by rule...but the efficiency needs to be there on either end to accommodate.

Sure. I guess I just wonder what the expense vs gain is in a pressing defense. You know the expenses are: Potentially getting beat and giving up easy baskets on the other end, and also tiring out your players for offensive possessions. But your gain is maybe driving up turnovers. But is pressing 30 possessions worth the 3-5 additional TO it may create?

If we compare UC's Defense to West Virginia's; basically WVU did one thing better than us: Force TO"s

Our FG% D was 3 points better than WVU, They allowed a dreadful amount of offensive rebounds, Our 2pt% D was 4 points better and we defended the 3 point shot better.

We also ranked 16th in the country in fouls per game whereas WVu ranked 298.


There is some serious downsides to a full on pressing defense. It takes away our biggest strengths in a lot of ways

 

[waterhead]

I think Evans has proved he could play 40 minutes a night if he wanted. He literally never gets tired.

Just think though; in one year, mick moved to a motion offense and went from the 69th offense to the 34th. That’s a huge jump in one year.

I expect top 15 in defense and top 30 and maybe even top 25 on offense.

I don’t want to play fast for fasts sake. I want the ability to play fast which we have and to turn it up when needed. Against ucla a faster pace would have killed us, the slower pace in the first half kept us in the game.

I just want constant motion in the offense. And in terms of defense and pressing, I’d like to have it as an option but over all I’m not sure it’s a needed thing. Our man to man shuts down teams who can shoot and our zone protects the paint. It really just depends on how well we press.

We have so many options to score this year that we can game plan against anyone. I don't think "grinding it out" is really going to be our best option in most games. We can score with any team in the country. Slowing it down a little may be a good option when we can score easily down low. Other than that I think we should push the pace and let the chips fall.

Who is going to beat us when offensive fire power is the strategy? We don't have ANY weak links. When you combine that with our typical D...we are a VERY tough out! I agree with Jacob...let us dictate the pace of play and the strategy of the game. If we do...we have a great season!

 

[waterhead]

Sure. I guess I just wonder what the expense vs gain is in a pressing defense. You know the expenses are: Potentially getting beat and giving up easy baskets on the other end, and also tiring out your players for offensive possessions. But your gain is maybe driving up turnovers. But is pressing 30 possessions worth the 3-5 additional TO it may create?

If we compare UC's Defense to West Virginia's; basically WVU did one thing better than us: Force TO"s

Our FG% D was 3 points better than WVU, They allowed a dreadful amount of offensive rebounds, Our 2pt% D was 4 points better and we defended the 3 point shot better.

We also ranked 16th in the country in fouls per game whereas WVu ranked 298.


There is some serious downsides to a full on pressing defense. It takes away our biggest strengths in a lot of ways

I didn't say we have to replicate WVU press style. But Cronin intimated that he wanted to press more with his quicker guards and that he couldn't do it last year because of Troy's limitations. You can ask him...IDK.

Could it be that what we give up is less than what we gain? Hey...you might be right...but I wouldn't mind giving it a shot to see what happens.

 

[justinhub2003]

I didn't say we have to replicate WVU press style. But Cronin intimated that he wanted to press more with his quicker guards and that he couldn't do it last year because of Troy's limitations. You can ask him...IDK.

Could it be that what we give up is less than what we gain? Hey...you might be right...but I wouldn't mind giving it a shot to see what happens.

Sure and I just want to be versatile.

Teams that are versatile when in march. Can you win playing fast? can you in a grinder ? Can you defend in the half court? Can you press teams with bad guards to force TO's?

Versatility is key for me.

Before we couldn't play fast because we didn't have the right players. Now we do. Before we couldn't press, but now we can?

I think UC's offensive and Defensive versatility could be its best attribute.

 

[waterhead]

Sure and I just want to be versatile.

Teams that are versatile when in march. Can you win playing fast? can you in a grinder ? Can you defend in the half court? Can you press teams with bad guards to force TO's?

Versatility is key for me.

Before we couldn't play fast because we didn't have the right players. Now we do. Before we couldn't press, but now we can?

I think UC's offensive and Defensive versatility could be its best attribute.

In terms of the press...that is what Cronin said basically. He will press more this year because he has the quickness he needs. He said it wasn't Troy's forte but Broome is quick enough.

Whether we do or not remains to be seen. We replace KJ with Cumberland so it seems like a wash to me in terms of quickness.

 

[waterhead]

Sure and I just want to be versatile.

Teams that are versatile when in march. Can you win playing fast? can you in a grinder ? Can you defend in the half court? Can you press teams with bad guards to force TO's?

Versatility is key for me.

Before we couldn't play fast because we didn't have the right players. Now we do. Before we couldn't press, but now we can?

I think UC's offensive and Defensive versatility could be its best attribute.

I agree 100% here. We can beat you inside or out depending on our advantage. We can slow you down and now we can speed you up. We have scorers at all 5 positions so we can game plan a little easier or ride the hot hand. We can press or drop back to half court when tired. We have depth to run out fresh legs and wear teams down. We can attack the lane or pop some 3's. We can go zone or man. We have bigs who can stretch the floor. We have some BB players and some athletes.

I can't think of too many areas we are deficient. Perhaps the best all around squad we have seen in close to 15 years.

 

[waterhead]

We haven't been to the Elite 8 in over 20 years now. 1996 we were a 2 seed and made elite 8. We have made the Sweet 16 twice since then. From 1997-2002 we were a 1-3 seed 5 times out of 6 (including a 1 seed and a 2 seed twice) and the other year we were a 5 seed and the 5 seed was the Sweet 16 in 2001...lol! We went Sweet 16 in 2012 under Cronin as a 6 seed.

All 3 of Huggins Elite 8's or better happened within a 5 year span from 1992-1996. I was a junior during the Final 4 run in 1992 and I'm not sure I have had that much fun since. I won a basketball signed by the coach and the entire team at a game early that year and went on to use it in open gym until the signatures wore off because I wasn't expecting it to be the year it turned out to be. I guess I don't have to tell you I didn't make honor roll very often...lol!

I can't take a whole lot more of this drought and we are likely to keep up with poor/under seeding unless we do something extraordinary. I like this team on paper. I am ready for the drought to end. Elite 8 or bust...lol!

Pretty please!

 

[jacobkdoyle]

@BearcatJournal
Bearcats are 13th, The Problem is a 4th team Pre-Season All American https://t.co/rNB7asKXnS

 

[justinhub2003]

We haven't been to the Elite 8 in over 20 years now. 1996 we were a 2 seed and made elite 8. We have made the Sweet 16 twice since then. From 1997-2002 we were a 1-3 seed 5 times out of 6 (including a 1 seed and a 2 seed twice) and the other year we were a 5 seed and the 5 seed was the Sweet 16 in 2001...lol! We went Sweet 16 in 2012 under Cronin as a 6 seed.

All 3 of Huggins Elite 8's or better happened within a 5 year span from 1992-1996. I was a junior during the Final 4 run in 1992 and I'm not sure I have had that much fun since. I won a basketball signed by the coach and the entire team at a game early that year and went on to use it in open gym until the signatures wore off because I wasn't expecting it to be the year it turned out to be. I guess I don't have to tell you I didn't make honor roll very often...lol!

I can't take a whole lot more of this drought and we are likely to keep up with poor/under seeding unless we do something extraordinary. I like this team on paper. I am ready for the drought to end. Elite 8 or bust...lol!

Pretty please!

All it takes is one elite 8 or final four to turn around this " mediocre Mick" talk. Huggins is loved in this city even though he did all his damage in his first 5 years then was "mediocre bob" for the rest of his time here. But all it takes is a really great run to end your critics. It changes your entire perception. Villanova had a series of years of getting bounced out early in protected seeds. Then they won it all, now Jay Wright is a winner.

I want that for Mick just as bad as I want it for UC. I want him to have that to shut up his critics.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

All it takes is one elite 8 or final four to turn around this " mediocre Mick" talk. Huggins is loved in this city even though he did all his damage in his first 5 years then was "mediocre bob" for the rest of his time here. But all it takes is a really great run to end your critics. It changes your entire perception. Villanova had a series of years of getting bounced out early in protected seeds. Then they won it all, now Jay Wright is a winner.

I want that for Mick just as bad as I want it for UC. I want him to have that to shut up his critics.

Doesn't really seem like there are very many critics these days.

I'm also going to blow my brains out if this thread turns in to a Cronin vs Huggins debate.

 

[waterhead]

Doesn't really seem like there are very many critics these days.

I'm also going to blow my brains out if this thread turns in to a Cronin vs Huggins debate.

Haha...that was definitely not my intent. I hope I didn't start something. Just wanted to show how long it's been since we have been Elite 8. I supported Huggs till the very end and have had a pretty long leash for Cronin as well.

The only thing that matters to me is the current year!

 

[waterhead]

Haha...that was definitely not my intent. I hope I didn't start something. Just wanted to show how long it's been since we have been Elite 8. I supported Huggs till the very end and have had a pretty long leash for Cronin as well.

The only thing that matters to me is the current year!

In terms of Cronin he went through a very long period of 6 years where he improved the win total every year. Then we plateaued a bit but last year we had our best regular season and I think we have his best roster yet this year. That is pretty impressive to still be on somewhat of an upward trend in his 12th season. Even in the years we didn't improve we still made the dance every season.

He's made a change in recruiting style and it seems to be working. Right now the most versatile and potent offensive team under Cronin IMO. If he can get some great D out of this bunch we should be looking extremely good! Top 10 good if Broome lives up to the hype IMO. We may just have the guard play we have been looking for to advance to second weekend and beyond. I certainly am not complaining this year at all.

 

[justinhub2003]

I personally have nothing bad to say about Mick. I think he is great. He recruits good kids and he develops them.

He also has changed our style both offensively and defensively and he is still thriving in this mediocre conference (something UCONN is struggling with )

 

[waterhead]

I don't think I can say this enough but we return our top 3 scorers. 2 guys who are all conference level all around players in Clark and Evans and one who scored more per 40 minutes than anyone on our team in Washington. I think Washington per 40 minutes was actually 3rd in conference if I am not mistaken. Yes he needs to get better on D.

We add what looked to be, at the end of last year, perhaps one of our top 3 players or better (in Cumberland) in place of an average journeyman in KJ (perhaps that's being too nice). We also add, what our coach has said and some fans who watched have also indicated, is our most unguardable player if not the most talented guy on the roster in Broome. Even if it's too high of praise...it's enough to be optimistic about.

Conceivably, we are adding 2 guys to the starting lineup who could prove to be top 3-4 in scoring or better. I just can't wait to see Broome in action but I also can't wait to see what Cumberland has up his sleeve this year when he's not as worried about letting upper classmen take the reigns.

The upside seems a lot better than the downside to me. I know some fans are going to say...whoa...just hold your horses until we see a few games. They will say Broome has never played against this level before and Cumberland is only a soph. But some fans have seen Broome play against our very own guys in practice and I have seen Cumberland in action. If our defense is elite and Broome is unguardable against them...then I don't need to hear a lot more about that. Cumberland has already convinced me he is an elite talent.

I am an optimistic guy but I hope I border closer to realistic. Sometimes I fall for the hype and other times I don't. This is the most optimistic I have been under a Cronin led team. Let the chips fall where they may. I won't mind saying I was wrong in the end if I have to.

 

[skylinecat]

I don't think I can say this enough but we return our top 3 scorers. 2 guys who are all conference level all around players in Clark and Evans and one who scored more per 40 minutes than anyone on our team in Washington. I think Washington per 40 minutes was actually 3rd in conference if I am not mistaken. Yes he needs to get better on D.

We add what looked to be, at the end of last year, perhaps one of our top 3 players or better (in Cumberland) in place of an average journeyman in KJ (perhaps that's being too nice). We also add, what our coach has said and some fans who watched have also indicated, is our most unguardable player if not the most talented guy on the roster in Broome. Even if it's too high of praise...it's enough to be optimistic about.

Conceivably, we are adding 2 guys to the starting lineup who could prove to be top 3-4 in scoring or better. I just can't wait to see Broome in action but I also can't wait to see what Cumberland has up his sleeve this year when he's not as worried about letting upper classmen take the reigns.

The upside seems a lot better than the downside to me. I know some fans are going to say...whoa...just hold your horses until we see a few games. They will say Broome has never played against this level before and Cumberland is only a soph. But some fans have seen Broome play against our very own guys in practice and I have seen Cumberland in action. If our defense is elite and Broome is unguardable against them...then I don't need to hear a lot more about that. Cumberland has already convinced me he is an elite talent.

I am an optimistic guy but I hope I border closer to realistic. Sometimes I fall for the hype and other times I don't. This is the most optimistic I have been under a Cronin led team. Let the chips fall where they may. I won't mind saying I was wrong in the end if I have to.

I definitely agree with you Re: Cumberland. There were times during the UCLA game, which featured 3 draft picks that he was far and away the most dominant player on the court. If you put him in Evan's body, he'd already be an NBA starter.

 

[ThomasMac]

This is the most optimistic I have been under a Cronin led team.

I agree. I have similar sentiments, even into future years as well. I was looking at our depth and I feel this is the most depth under a Cronin lead team in years.

Starting 5:
PG: Cane Broome (Junior)
SG: Jarron Cumberland (Sophomore)
SF: Jacob Evans (Junior)
PF: Gary Clark (Senior)
C: Kyle Washington (Senior)

Bench:
PG: Justin Jennifer (Junior)
SG: Keith Williams (Freshman) / Trevor Moore (Freshman)
SF: Tre Scott (Sophomore)
PF: Mamoudou Diarra (Freshman)
C: Nysier Brooks (Sophomore) / Eliel Noseme (Freshman)

Try not to get caught up in where I have each player (SF/PF/etc) I was just playing with the depth chart a bit. Also, I know its debatable on whether Moore comes off the bench over Williams but I'll admit I'm biased toward Williams and I think he will have a similar freshman year as Evans and Cumberland had.

Now with the 2018 class and landing a PG like Logan Johnson, I see this trend of depth continuing.

2 years in the future:

PG: Logan Johnson (Sophomore)
SG: Jarron Cumberland (Senior)
SF: Keith Williams (Junior)
PF: Tre Scott (Senior) / Mamoudou Diarra (Junior)
C: Nysier Brooks (Senior)

Obviously, a lot can happen until then (injuries, transfers, NBA, new commitments, etc) but it's exciting to see an upward trend in the caliber of basketball player we are getting and the type of recruits we are going after.

2018 Class:
Logan Johnson (Cincinnati)
Tyrese Haliburton (ISU)
Nate Hinton (Houston)
Tyler Harris (?)

2019 Class:
Alonzo Gaffney (?)

 

[jacobkdoyle]

I don't think I can say this enough but we return our top 3 scorers. 2 guys who are all conference level all around players in Clark and Evans and one who scored more per 40 minutes than anyone on our team in Washington. I think Washington per 40 minutes was actually 3rd in conference if I am not mistaken. Yes he needs to get better on D.

We add what looked to be, at the end of last year, perhaps one of our top 3 players or better (in Cumberland) in place of an average journeyman in KJ (perhaps that's being too nice). We also add, what our coach has said and some fans who watched have also indicated, is our most unguardable player if not the most talented guy on the roster in Broome. Even if it's too high of praise...it's enough to be optimistic about.

Conceivably, we are adding 2 guys to the starting lineup who could prove to be top 3-4 in scoring or better. I just can't wait to see Broome in action but I also can't wait to see what Cumberland has up his sleeve this year when he's not as worried about letting upper classmen take the reigns.

The upside seems a lot better than the downside to me. I know some fans are going to say...whoa...just hold your horses until we see a few games. They will say Broome has never played against this level before and Cumberland is only a soph. But some fans have seen Broome play against our very own guys in practice and I have seen Cumberland in action. If our defense is elite and Broome is unguardable against them...then I don't need to hear a lot more about that. Cumberland has already convinced me he is an elite talent.

I am an optimistic guy but I hope I border closer to realistic. Sometimes I fall for the hype and other times I don't. This is the most optimistic I have been under a Cronin led team. Let the chips fall where they may. I won't mind saying I was wrong in the end if I have to.

No one is questioning Cumberland.

 

[justinhub2003]

I definitely agree with you Re: Cumberland. There were times during the UCLA game, which featured 3 draft picks that he was far and away the most dominant player on the court. If you put him in Evan's body, he'd already be an NBA starter.

He may end up having a Trevon blueitt kinda problem. Elite scorer but not physically as gifted as a guy like Evans.

Then again he could work his ass off like SK

 

[justinhub2003]

I posted this a few days ago. But just watch these highlights of jarron I put together. He is an elite scorer and was a fearless freshman

https://youtu.be/2Px-t7UoHgA

The roar of the crowd when it gets to the Xavier game is sooo good

 

[waterhead]

I posted this a few days ago. But just watch these highlights of jarron I put together. He is an elite scorer and was a fearless freshman

https://youtu.be/2Px-t7UoHgA

The roar of the crowd when it gets to the Xavier game is sooo good

Thanks for posting. I almost forgot just how good he is. bombing 3's without leaving the floor. Best pump fake perhaps we have seen at UC in well over a decade. Instincts are off the charts. Body control is excellent. NO fear. Timing is impeccable. Running floater is deadly.

Gonna be fun to watch this year!