The most interesting point of the postgame presser that I want to get into here, though, was the continued struggles of Deonta Vaughn.
A reporter asked Mick Cronin as question phrasing, "Deonta struggled tonight..." and Cronin tossed in, "that's an understatement."
This was as obviously unhappy with Vaughn's play as I have seen Cronin. Through all the problems, Mick tends to stand behind Vaughn and, rightfully so, the has worked as hard as anybody in the program over the past four years.
But he brought up some very interesting philosphical analysis of the situation I thought was very much worth sharing.
Vaughn is 6 for his last 34 from 3-point range (17.6 percent) and and 17 for 56 from the field (30.3 percent) over the last six games.
On Wednesday night, he even added some erratic plays with the basketball that led to three turnovers and zero assists.
When analyzing not only why this funk has happened to the Bearcats' senior leader at this most inopportune time, but how to pull him out of it, Cronin brought up what I thought to be some very interesting points about not only the pressure on Vaughn, but so many other seniors that would maybe be classfied on the "fringe" of the NBA radar as he is.
"He has had senioritis all year -- too much pressure on himself, knowing it is his last year. Too much pressure trying to make it. You feel for kids in that situation. It is easy for me to sit there and judge him, I have a bank account and a nice house. It's hard to judge a young guy like him. You have to understand who he is and where he comes from. Not only would these guys like to make it and help themselves, these guys would like to help other people as well. It is not only just their hopes and dreams it is maybe trying to help other live a better life. You come from some of the backgrounds these guys come from you can imagine the kinds of pressure these guys put on themselves. Combined with just individually knowing you would love to make it as a player you have people that would like to help maybe take care of that you have watched maybe struggle their whole life."
http://cnati.com/blogs/paul/2010/02/bearcats-deonta-nalysis.php
A reporter asked Mick Cronin as question phrasing, "Deonta struggled tonight..." and Cronin tossed in, "that's an understatement."
This was as obviously unhappy with Vaughn's play as I have seen Cronin. Through all the problems, Mick tends to stand behind Vaughn and, rightfully so, the has worked as hard as anybody in the program over the past four years.
But he brought up some very interesting philosphical analysis of the situation I thought was very much worth sharing.
Vaughn is 6 for his last 34 from 3-point range (17.6 percent) and and 17 for 56 from the field (30.3 percent) over the last six games.
On Wednesday night, he even added some erratic plays with the basketball that led to three turnovers and zero assists.
When analyzing not only why this funk has happened to the Bearcats' senior leader at this most inopportune time, but how to pull him out of it, Cronin brought up what I thought to be some very interesting points about not only the pressure on Vaughn, but so many other seniors that would maybe be classfied on the "fringe" of the NBA radar as he is.
"He has had senioritis all year -- too much pressure on himself, knowing it is his last year. Too much pressure trying to make it. You feel for kids in that situation. It is easy for me to sit there and judge him, I have a bank account and a nice house. It's hard to judge a young guy like him. You have to understand who he is and where he comes from. Not only would these guys like to make it and help themselves, these guys would like to help other people as well. It is not only just their hopes and dreams it is maybe trying to help other live a better life. You come from some of the backgrounds these guys come from you can imagine the kinds of pressure these guys put on themselves. Combined with just individually knowing you would love to make it as a player you have people that would like to help maybe take care of that you have watched maybe struggle their whole life."
http://cnati.com/blogs/paul/2010/02/bearcats-deonta-nalysis.php