Are we good?

[Thegreatone]

I am still trying to figure this out. I have no idea if we are good or bad. I think we are good but I am not sure.

After 16 wins I can point to 2 pretty good wins. Not great.

After 3 loses I can point to 0 bad losses.

I said for 3 games ago I would take 2-2 with probable loses @ cuse and @ND. If we beat St. Johns I will be OK with where we are but still won't be sure if we are good or not.

 

[Ryno99]

I totally agree TGO, not sure what we are, good, bad, average?

I too will be satisfied if they win at the Johnnies, but I really feel like last nights game was winnable and the opportunities given were not taken advantage of. That includes both by the players and the coaches. All the blame doesn't go to one place.

I'm very interested to see how the rest of the season pans out. I can see it going so many different ways I'm not sure what to think/expect.

 

[ralph1950]

UC is very good. The only losses are to Top 25 teams on their home court where none have lost this season.

During the game last night the announcers stated Notre Dame is 81-6 all time vs the Big East teams on ND's home court.

 

[Ryno99]

It's fine that's their home record in big east games, but UC did not play well last night and it wasn't because of ND's pressure or anything like that, I'd be fine with a Loss if they played well, but they didn't and I'm concerned. I'm definitely not confident they are "very good".

 

[ucswais]

It's fine that's their home record in big east games, but UC did not play well last night and it wasn't because of ND's pressure or anything like that, I'd be fine with a Loss if they played well, but they didn't and I'm concerned. I'm definitely not confident they are "very good".

Definitely agree. As a fan, I'd love to spin this as we have only lost to great teams in their home gyms. Realistically though, I have to be honest and say I'm very glad we played those 3 teams on those days or else we'd be looking at some bad losses on the resume right now.

The time to play your best basketball starts Saturday. Winnable games for the most part that can carry us to the tournament if we get them.

 

[BearcatAlum1]

We're not good.

We're not bad.

We're still trying to discover what type of team we really have, as are the other 4-10 teams in the BE.

It's a struggle folks. There are ups and downs. We are not the elite in this conference....we are the up and comer.

Big game against SJU.

I predict that a win against SJU will guarantee wins against Rutgers and WVU.

6-3 sounds pretty good, right?

 

[bearcat jeff]

We're not good.

We're not bad.

We're still trying to discover what type of team we really have, as are the other 4-10 teams in the BE.

It's a struggle folks. There are ups and downs. We are not the elite in this conference....we are the up and comer.

Big game against SJU.

I predict that a win against SJU will guarantee wins against Rutgers and WVU.

6-3 sounds pretty good, right?

I think the potential to be very good is there if everyone shows up every game. We can't have integral parts of this team take plays and games off.

16-3 with no bad losses. Every loss on the road to what would be a team favorite to win the game. Can't really complain, but I still felt UC gave a game away last night they coulda/shoulda won. still strictly on rank and location not a bad loss.

How good we can be will be decided by the mid-season adjustments the staff makes. You're not a secret anymore. It is obvious some changes need to be made to shake the team in some way. Last night none were made and the team paid the price. There has to be a willingness to do something different.

We are better than an A-10 team and as good as any team in the middle of the BEast. How that will translate at seasons end is beyond me. Pomeroy called for UC to lose all the games they lost and picked them to finish 10-8 in league and 23-8 overall. I'd take that in a heartbeat. FYI, he has them losing to St. Johns before beating Rutgers and WVU and finishing strong. Hasn't missed a game call yet in regard to the Bearcats.

 

[BearcatAlum1]

I think the potential to be very good is there if everyone shows up every game. We can't have integral parts of this team take plays and games off.

16-3 with no bad losses. Every loss on the road to what would be a team favorite to win the game. Can't really complain, but I still felt UC gave a game away last night they coulda/shoulda won. still strictly on rank and location not a bad loss.

How good we can be will be decided by the mid-season adjustments the staff makes. You're not a secret anymore. It is obvious some changes need to be made to shake the team in some way. Last night none were made and the team paid the price. There has to be a willingness to do something different.

We are better than an A-10 team and as good as any team in the middle of the BEast. How that will translate at seasons end is beyond me. Pomeroy called for UC to lose all the games they lost and picked them to finish 10-8 in league and 23-8 overall. I'd take that in a heartbeat. FYI, he has them losing to St. Johns before beating Rutgers and WVU and finishing strong. Hasn't missed a game call yet in regard to the Bearcats.

I echo your remarks.

I'd take 10-8, as would 99.9% of Bearcat fans. The only problem is dealing with the emotional rollercoaster in the process.

We will be the underdog at SJU. We will be expected to lose. We can get a very key victory if we win.

SJU may play matchup zone. It will be interesting...

 

[bearcat jeff]

I echo your remarks.

I'd take 10-8, as would 99.9% of Bearcat fans. The only problem is dealing with the emotional rollercoaster in the process.

We will be the underdog at SJU. We will be expected to lose. We can get a very key victory if we win.

SJU may play matchup zone. It will be interesting...

BA1, maybe I missed it but I haven't seen your take on the game plan last night. Thoughts?

 

[UCBearcats]

I think "are we good?" depends on what your definition of good is. In reading the posts by people on various message boards it seems that the benchmark set by most is making the NCAA's.
Are we good enough to make the tourney this season, I think the answer is yes and we most likely will.
Are we good enough to compete with the elite teams in the country and have a legit shot at making the final 4? I think the answer is no.

 

[swg]

Good is relative. UC is good, but lower BE echelon good. Certainly hasn't proven to be a top eight team in that league, nor tourney worthy.
However, there is still time.

 

[TheLivingLegend]

UC is very good. The only losses are to Top 25 teams on their home court where none have lost this season.

During the game last night the announcers stated Notre Dame is 81-6 all time vs the Big East teams on ND's home court.

Meaningless post as usual. UC got taken to the woodshed recently. Completely out played in different areas of the game.

On a side note. ND is not that impressive of a team.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

Meaningless post as usual. UC got taken to the woodshed recently. Completely out played in different areas of the game.

On a side note. ND is not that impressive of a team.

Couldn't have said it better. I think last nights lost was half bad game plan and half lazy execution. ND is beatable and other than a five minute stretch early in the first half they didnt play great last night. They have good shooters, we knew that. Keep those shooters from getting open shots.

This team is good, but like everyone else is saying we're middle of the pack in the Big East, which unfortunately gets you labeled not good by the masses. We're Georgia if this were football. Could beat alot of teams, but look mediocre in our conference. Unfortunately we've played three very easy home games and three very tough road games, so you really can't gauge where we are. St. Johns on the road and West VirGINA at home will give us a better idea of where we stand.

 

[ralph1950]

Without playing yesterday, UC moved up 5 spots in the RPI to number 47, go figure.

 

[bearcat jeff]

Couldn't have said it better. I think last nights lost was half bad game plan and half lazy execution. ND is beatable and other than a five minute stretch early in the first half they didnt play great last night. They have good shooters, we knew that. Keep those shooters from getting open shots.

This team is good, but like everyone else is saying we're middle of the pack in the Big East, which unfortunately gets you labeled not good by the masses. We're Georgia if this were football. Could beat alot of teams, but look mediocre in our conference. Unfortunately we've played three very easy home games and three very tough road games, so you really can't gauge where we are. St. Johns on the road and West VirGINA at home will give us a better idea of where we stand.

The game plan was poor (it was a game to attack!) but the mark of the last 3games is poor inside play. Our 3 primary bigs hitting 27.5% of their shots and not getting to the line is the major reason this team goes minutes without scoring. They play scared.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

The game plan was poor (it was a game to attack!) but the mark of the last 3games is poor inside play. Our 3 primary bigs hitting 27.5% of their shots and not getting to the line is the major reason this team goes minutes without scoring. They play scared.

The game plan was horrible, he got outcoached before the game started. And that's not meant to bash Mick, I just think he overthought this one. But at the end of the day our losses have been, like you said, due to our offense and not our defense. Even with the bad gameplan, the defense played well enough for the Cats to get the win had they been able to execute on the offensive end. Cronin made it a point this game to get the ball inside and the team still couldn't deliver.

 

[ralph1950]

The game plan was horrible, he got outcoached before the game started. And that's not meant to bash Mick, I just think he overthought this one. But at the end of the day our losses have been, like you said, due to our offense and not our defense. Even with the bad gameplan, the defense played well enough for the Cats to get the win had they been able to execute on the offensive end. Cronin made it a point this game to get the ball inside and the team still couldn't deliver.

Mick out coached Steve Lavin, UC won the game.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

Mick out coached Steve Lavin, UC won the game.

I was responding on the Notre Dame game. Mick got outcoached before that game started. I don't know if I'd say Mick outcoached Lavin, but he did a good job of utilizing the right mix of players late in the first half and late in the second half for his team to out execute St. Johns. I didn't see anything in our gameplan that St. Johns wasn't ready for. Their defense was good, reminded me of our defense alot. Our boys fought and scrapped their way to an ugly win -- Bearcat style!!

 

[BearcatAlum1]

BA1, maybe I missed it but I haven't seen your take on the game plan last night. Thoughts?

You may not believe this, and I apologize for the late response....but I didn't see the entire game.

This is the first game I've missed this year. Unfortunately, I was "committed" to something else (or so she says...). Anyways, I DVR'd the game and came home with 8 minutes left. I was told don't waste my time watching the game because it was ugly, so watched the last 8 minutes.

I won't dive into my complaints. I thought we should have pressed all game, and stressed getting to shooters as we recover. It's over. I'd like to see them in the BET, as well as 'Cuse.

 

[BearcatAlum1]

Mick out coached Steve Lavin, UC won the game.

That's not always true.

Some adjustments that Mick made that worked well:

1. Using Bishop to initiate the offense in the final 4 minutes. I know we didn't score much, but Cash was not strong enough in the 2nd half with the ball.

2. Justin Jackson. He needs 25 minutes. He is our only big that can take a guy off the dribble inside of 12 feet. I like him a ton.

3. The play to get Gates the ball. Easily drawn up, but smart move nonetheless. Also, Wilks started to come over and Mick waived for him to stay clear.

Bad:

1. WTF is up with our press break? Spacing was terrible, IMO.