2017-2018 Season

[jacobkdoyle]

I agree. Our bench is the best it has been in years. You could make an argument that we will be bringing off the bench 3 players that would start on a majority of our opponents in the AAC in Jenifer, Brooks, and Scott.

I wonder if a team of Jenifer, Williams, Moore, Scott, Diarra, Brooks, and Nsoseme could make the tournament.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

I wonder if a team of Jenifer, Williams, Moore, Scott, Diarra, Brooks, and Nsoseme could make the tournament.

Cronin would have to get old school and really coach it up...but that team wouldn't be bad.

 

[waterhead]

I feel like there are about 4 teams that would be really tough to beat on a neutral court. I think we fall in that next tier of teams from about #5 to #15. WSU is ranked as high as #5 and I think we belong in that discussion if they do. They bring back everyone but I think we are adding by subtraction potentially in 2 different positions. We are possibly adding our two best play makers to the starting lineup...a lineup that was already very solid to begin with. I don't mind starting out lower in rankings though because there were some questions that needed to be answered.

I don't like to make too much of a scrimmage but Cane looked very comfortable and confident out there. He did exactly what we were hoping for...score some points and drop a bunch of dimes. It could not have went much better really.

Our bench looks much more capable than I was planning for as well. I was a little worried we might have to play our starters 30-35-38 minutes in some games but I don't feel that way now. This team should be able to run and press while we sub for breathers without losing a lot. We can play just about any style we want.

As of now I could see Diara red shirting. Yes it's early I know. But...we aren't going to red shirt a PG. We are a little thin on the wing so I don't see Moore red shirting (or Williams for that matter). Because of foul trouble, I would think we will need a guy like Nsoseme more than we need a 3rd option stretch 4 when small ball is another option.

Again, it's early, and one scrimmage is not enough make a call like this obviously but he would have to be a clear cut improvement on Scott in order to see much significant action this year. Cronin has a penchant for favoring the veterans. I would not want to waste his talents. He has good size, extreme length, very good athleticism, and a nice stroke on outside shot. If he is slow to adjust...let's give him another year to figure it out IMO.

 

[Bearcat513]

Saw this on Twitter, shows the rankings of every major site: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...zJQ7GeVwobgztKjZyEYTItLMWQ/edit#gid=251389930

I have said this before but there is one ranking on there that places XU in front of us. I don't get Barstool Reags hatred for UC. Should start hiding his bias a bit more now that he has gained some notoriety.

 

[justinhub2003]

I agree. Our bench is the best it has been in years. You could make an argument that we will be bringing off the bench 3 players that would start on a majority of our opponents in the AAC in Jenifer, Brooks, and Scott.

The bigs are so weak in this league that brooks would start on just about every team including UCF.

And Scott would start on a lot of teams.

Our bigs should dominate and Breast feed the AAC.

 

[mdchick]

How is jp macura a top 100 player in some of these rankings. He’s a decent player. He’s excellent at whining and complaining other than that he’s just ok. Don’t see how he is making these lists

 

[justinhub2003]

How is jp macura a top 100 player in some of these rankings. He’s a decent player. He’s excellent at whining and complaining other than that he’s just ok. Don’t see how he is making these lists

I hate that dude and his defense sucks.

But I will say he is actually a really good play maker. His passing was one of the main reasons they made their tourney run. I think he is the kinda player that every one hates except the team that has him. I think back end of the top 100 is appropriate for him, even if it hurts to say it

 

[cincyguy13]

Saw this on Twitter, shows the rankings of every major site: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...zJQ7GeVwobgztKjZyEYTItLMWQ/edit#gid=251389930

I have said this before but there is one ranking on there that places XU in front of us. I don't get Barstool Reags hatred for UC. Should start hiding his bias a bit more now that he has gained some notoriety.

I honestly don’t understand how they are a top 25 team. I think blueitt is Basically SK but the rest of their team isn’t good. They are banking on JP. That’s their plan.
Anyone ranking them ahead of us is doing it based solely on the tounrement last year. No other way around it

 

[cincyguy13]

I hate that dude and his defense sucks.

But I will say he is actually a really good play maker. His passing was one of the main reasons they made their tourney run. I think he is the kinda player that every one hates except the team that has him. I think back end of the top 100 is appropriate for him, even if it hurts to say it

I disagree. I don’t think he is good. He’s can shoot

 

[Bcatfollower]

I honestly don’t understand how they are a top 25 team. I think blueitt is Basically SK but the rest of their team isn’t good. They are banking on JP. That’s their plan.
Anyone ranking them ahead of us is doing it based solely on the tounrement last year. No other way around it

Jones will be good a good big and Scruggs is supposed to be good.

 

[justinhub2003]

I honestly don’t understand how they are a top 25 team. I think blueitt is Basically SK but the rest of their team isn’t good. They are banking on JP. That’s their plan.
Anyone ranking them ahead of us is doing it based solely on the tounrement last year. No other way around it

I completely disagree here. I hate Xavier as much as the next UC fan but Im college basketball obsessed and they have a damn good team. They are nothing like UC's team with SK as the senior. They have a top 10 recruiting class that they won't be depending on to start for them. Tyrique Jones is going to be tough, Kasier Gates has been largely overrated but also played hurt last year and is their 3 and D guy. Omara might be over matched against UC, but he has good footwork and fundamentals, he showed in the tourney run.

Karem Kanter is going to help them a ton, he can stretch the floor and even drive the ball a little bit. He can score in bunches but sucks on Defense. He's Kyle Washington only a lot less athletic

Goodin had a terrible inefficient year but also was the lead guard on a Elite 8 team and he played well at the end of the season. IF he learns to finish at the rim look out.


Xavier will be able to score. I think their issue might be on the defense end. But make no mistake they are a top 25 team. I find very few rosters 15-25 that are better.

that said, I hope they suck and lose every game

 

[AZ BEARCAT]

I completely disagree here. I hate Xavier as much as the next UC fan but Im college basketball obsessed and they have a damn good team. They are nothing like UC's team with SK as the senior. They have a top 10 recruiting class that they won't be depending on to start for them. Tyrique Jones is going to be tough, Kasier Gates has been largely overrated but also played hurt last year and is their 3 and D guy. Omara might be over matched against UC, but he has good footwork and fundamentals, he showed in the tourney run.

Karem Kanter is going to help them a ton, he can stretch the floor and even drive the ball a little bit. He can score in bunches but sucks on Defense. He's Kyle Washington only a lot less athletic

Goodin had a terrible inefficient year but also was the lead guard on a Elite 8 team and he played well at the end of the season. IF he learns to finish at the rim look out.


Xavier will be able to score. I think their issue might be on the defense end. But make no mistake they are a top 25 team. I find very few rosters 15-25 that are better.

that said, I hope they suck and lose every game

I hope x wins every game before UC then gets crushed. Good for ratings. What they do after that, do not care

 

[cincyguy13]

I completely disagree here. I hate Xavier as much as the next UC fan but Im college basketball obsessed and they have a damn good team. They are nothing like UC's team with SK as the senior. They have a top 10 recruiting class that they won't be depending on to start for them. Tyrique Jones is going to be tough, Kasier Gates has been largely overrated but also played hurt last year and is their 3 and D guy. Omara might be over matched against UC, but he has good footwork and fundamentals, he showed in the tourney run.

Karem Kanter is going to help them a ton, he can stretch the floor and even drive the ball a little bit. He can score in bunches but sucks on Defense. He's Kyle Washington only a lot less athletic

Goodin had a terrible inefficient year but also was the lead guard on a Elite 8 team and he played well at the end of the season. IF he learns to finish at the rim look out.


Xavier will be able to score. I think their issue might be on the defense end. But make no mistake they are a top 25 team. I find very few rosters 15-25 that are better.

that said, I hope they suck and lose every game

I don’t really hate Xavier. I’ll watch them if they are on. Don’t get me wrong, I want to kill them when we play but I don’t think Gates is good. Jones and omara are ok players but nothing special. I’m not as big on a lot of their players as you I guess. Overall my point was they shouldn’t be ahead of us in any poll. I don’t really care about polls but if cane is decent, we are better at 4 out of the 5 positions. And by a lot

 

[Garybearcat]

I don’t really hate Xavier. I’ll watch them if they are on. Don’t get me wrong, I want to kill them when we play but I don’t think Gates is good. Jones and omara are ok players but nothing special. I’m not as big on a lot of their players as you I guess. Overall my point was they shouldn’t be ahead of us in any poll. I don’t really care about polls but if cane is decent, we are better at 4 out of the 5 positions. And by a lot

Well I really don’t like Xavier. I want them to lose ever game. Go to a crosstown shootout at Xavier and you will feel the same way. Their fans for the most part are spoiled rich kids that are complete buttheads. Bearcat fans are for the most part from blue collar families. Mommy and Daddy didn’t raise us with silver spoons. Just one mans opinion.

 

[HExus]

You would think that most UC fans would know how the X game works by now. How many times have they handed it to us when we had the superior team on paper?

While I think we have regained control, at least for now, these 2 teams are closer in quality than they have been in the past when X has put a beat down on the Cats.

I never sleep on them, and I agree 100% that they have a top 25 team.

 

[Garybearcat]

You would think that most UC fans would know how the X game works by now. How many times have they handed it to us when we had the superior team on paper?

While I think we have regained control, at least for now, these 2 teams are closer in quality than they have been in the past when X has put a beat down on the Cats.

I never sleep on them, and I agree 100% that they have a top 25 team.

Well we lead the series 50-34. So the past has us providing the beat down as you say it the majority of the time.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

You would think that most UC fans would know how the X game works by now. How many times have they handed it to us when we had the superior team on paper?

While I think we have regained control, at least for now, these 2 teams are closer in quality than they have been in the past when X has put a beat down on the Cats.

I never sleep on them, and I agree 100% that they have a top 25 team.

I think X is a Top 25 team too. No question. There aren't that many college teams that are actually good. X is good. No one wants to play them in a loser goes home setting.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Whoever was saying they think Diarra should redshirt, I agree.

I would've bet on Nsoseme all offseason, but with Scott looking solid, having 2 years in between Scott and Diarra could be huge. Diarra could be a 4th year JR when we need him to start and play a major role. I mean, losing Clark and Washington will mean we need him sooner to at least give us minutes. But it's looking like it'll take some time to learn how to play a serious high level of basketball.

 

[waterhead]

One thing I noticed from scrimmage is we have two new players who really know how to use their body well when going to the rim. Broome and Williams look like they can finish very well regardless of size. They initiate the contact so they know how to react rather than waiting for the defender to initiate the contact. They don't shy away from it when they know it's coming. SK had a very good grasp on that. I am not sure Evans does...but he could learn a thing or two by watching. We haven't had a lot of guys who knew how to do this. KJ, Cobb, and Thomas were not very good at it. Cumberland is just a brick house so I'm not sure it matters as much with him but he is decent at it too.

Williams can get to the rack and he's got some great change of pace action to get that done. Once he gets a half step on you...he's gone.

 

[waterhead]

Whoever was saying they think Diarra should redshirt, I agree.

I would've bet on Nsoseme all offseason, but with Scott looking solid, having 2 years in between Scott and Diarra could be huge. Diarra could be a 4th year JR when we need him to start and play a major role. I mean, losing Clark and Washington will mean we need him sooner to at least give us minutes. But it's looking like it'll take some time to learn how to play a serious high level of basketball.

If he is not going to prove better than Scott there just isn't any time for him out there other than cupcakes. He would likely be the 6th big off the bench. 3rd PF. When you throw in the option of playing small with guys like Evans, Cumberland, and Williams with one PG and one big on the court...he could be the 4th option at his position and 7th option as a big.

I've seen it happen again and again...there simply isn't enough time to get that type of guy minutes in anything but cupcake games. He is already getting higher quality work in practice than he will against patsies. I don't see the advantage to getting him game experience if the experience is less quality than our own practices.

It is still early and one scrimmage is certainly not a large enough sample.