Arkansas Pine Bluff

[justinhub2003]

Do you actually believe some of this stuff? You are working yourself up into a fever. I am starting to picture Marlon Brando in a tent in Apocalypse Now only with a laptop and 87 basketball tabs open at one time.

We are going to have to do very well in conference and we should. It's all going to be okay. If we miss the protected seed it's not the end of the world. If the season ended today we wouldn't have a very good resume...but two thirds of the season remains and lots of good BB games to play.

No doubt we have a slim margin of error for a protected seed. I think most of us concede that point. But I also think this team has a much better chance to succeed even (if we get a 6 seed) than we did last year. We didn't do ourselves any favors in non con...we get it.

I believe in evidence and facts. We have the worst resume in our shitty conference.

I have yet to see UC put together a full 40 minute performance. So couple our on court play with our resume and I do feel the pressure is on.


I haven’t lost faith in this team but I also get annoyed by exaggerated optimism. People act like we’re entitled to a NCAA tourney birth. We’re not and we’ve not earned it yet. Like I said, I’ll feel a whole lot different once I see us play 5 or 6 conference games but until then, our conferences foes did more in the non conference and thus also Won’t be easy wins like last year.

 

[waterhead]

Sure and nothing I’ve said even mentions the quality of our team. We can make a run from any seed but I’m just angry that the administration put us in this situation where we are so reliant on this 4 game stretch and only 1 is at home to protect ourselves. Xavier has not so great SOS right now either and yet they will ranked nearly 200 spots higher than us by the time this game is over.



Like they made next years schedule great but next year we could be a much worse team.

I wanted to go all in on this team

I feel like we’re gonna have to start 11-0 in the conference to feel really good. We can afford to lose a game to @SMU and that’s it in our first 12 games. Zero slip ups for 12 games ain’t gonna be easy

If we can get to a conference record with only 2-3 losses I really don't care how we get there. Obviously our anxiety will go up if they happen early.

 

[waterhead]

I believe in evidence and facts. We have the worst resume in our shitty conference.

I have yet to see UC put together a full 40 minute performance. So couple our on court play with our resume and I do feel the pressure is on.


I haven’t lost faith in this team but I also get annoyed by exaggerated optimism. People act like we’re entitled to a NCAA tourney birth. We’re not and we’ve not earned it yet. Like I said, I’ll feel a whole lot different once I see us play 5 or 6 conference games but until then, our conferences foes did more in the non conference and thus also Won’t be easy wins like last year.

Well the fact is we have not played a conference game yet so we don't have a conference resume yet. I do not subscribe to the theory that because one team played a better non con schedule...they will have a better conference resume. They may have a head start on an ncaa tourney resume but that's it.

Do I feel like the pressure is on? Sure...for a protected seed of course. This team is still trying to find an identity with losing Troy and KJ. Our identity last year was to play D and slow it down and be deliberate. We knew who we were...but we weren't a team that had a lot of potential in March. We are still playing pretty well and we have a lot of chemistry to figure out yet. It is still reasonable to think we can gel more and more as a team as we go with the new parts we added. Especially with one of those parts being the PG...the floor general.

 

[Big Perm]

HEs already on draft boards everywhere lol. I'll second Jacob and make it even sweeter, we have at least 2 pros on the team. Clark and Evans.

I hope your right...again would love to see Clark and Evans on NBA roster but don't believe it will happen.

Regardless of what "draft boards" you may view, getting drafted and actually being placed on a roster are a big difference. Both are late 2nd round projections at best. Reality is, they may have better chance of landing on roster if they are NOT drafted.

BTW, I'm tired of Mick electing to play weak nonconference schedules. 6 of our 10 wins are versus teams with RPI's above 175. Not even enjoyable to go IMO. American looks improved over last year and at least we have Wichita St...hopefully they can get back into the top 10 when we play them.

 

[justinhub2003]

I mean just because I think the pressure is on doesn’t mean that I’m not having fun. I look forward to every game. I still believe in this team.

 

[Big Perm]

I mean just because I think the pressure is on doesn’t mean that I’m not having fun. I look forward to every game. I still believe in this team.

Agreed. Regardless of seed I think we'll be better prepared for tourney this year.

 

[cincycpaw]

Agreed. Regardless of seed I think we'll be better prepared for tourney this year.

As long as Mick doesn't screw up getting Cane ready to go.

 

[waterhead]

I mean just because I think the pressure is on doesn’t mean that I’m not having fun. I look forward to every game. I still believe in this team.

We all know you are a big fan. I, for one, don't question your dedication. We all have different ways of looking at things and processing data. There is not a right or wrong way to do it. Just keep being as big of fan as you are! I learn a lot from different perspectives. I didn't really start looking at things the committee looks at so much until you brought all this up. I learned a lot during that process...so I actually appreciate that you have brought some of these things up. I feel like I have a better handle on it now...so thanks for that.

 

[waterhead]

As long as Mick doesn't screw up getting Cane ready to go.

My biggest thing with Cane right now is it would be hard for anyone to not realize he is the more valuable player. I think coach sees that. The only question is...can we just go ahead and start out the game with him. I feel like getting off to a big start is so huge in the big games. Set the tone...get everyone amped up etc.

I am not one of those guys that thinks hey...as long as he gets more minutes it's fine. Setting the tone early in a big game is a big deal IMO. WE have one more game (maybe 2) where this may not be as big of a factor...but after that point I think we want to have Cane in the game right away.

 

[justinhub2003]

My biggest thing with Cane right now is it would be hard for anyone to not realize he is the more valuable player. I think coach sees that. The only question is...can we just go ahead and start out the game with him. I feel like getting off to a big start is so huge in the big games. Set the tone...get everyone amped up etc.

I am not one of those guys that thinks hey...as long as he gets more minutes it's fine. Setting the tone early in a big game is a big deal IMO. WE have one more game (maybe 2) where this may not be as big of a factor...but after that point I think we want to have Cane in the game right away.

Im starting to think this is all a grooming process for Cane. It worked for Troy, who was clearly more talented his freshman year and Mick groomed into being a winner who valued the ball.

Mick benches cane after the first few games and now Cane is really really protecting the ball.

Everyone is acting like Mick did a poor job managing Cane and yet it might be exactly what the doctor ordered.

 

[waterhead]

My biggest thing with Cane right now is it would be hard for anyone to not realize he is the more valuable player. I think coach sees that. The only question is...can we just go ahead and start out the game with him. I feel like getting off to a big start is so huge in the big games. Set the tone...get everyone amped up etc.

I am not one of those guys that thinks hey...as long as he gets more minutes it's fine. Setting the tone early in a big game is a big deal IMO. WE have one more game (maybe 2) where this may not be as big of a factor...but after that point I think we want to have Cane in the game right away.

I sure miss the days of the "actual plus minus" category. Plus minus when one player is on the court. There used to be a sight called Stat Sheet where you could see when a player came in the game and who else was in the game during their minutes. You could see the scoring margin while they were in the game. You could compare and contrast 2 players (say Broome and Jenifer) when playing with the other 4 starters.

I think that is a crucial stat to look at...especially when deciding who the more effective player is between 2 guys. I am sure the coaches have access but I wish us fans had somewhere to go to find those stats without logging all the minutes ourselves.

There are stats out there like (plus minus box) but that is not an "actual" game stat...it's more of a representation of what could be "typical" for when player A or B is on the court. It's not the same at all.

 

[waterhead]

Im starting to think this is all a grooming process for Cane. It worked for Troy, who was clearly more talented his freshman year and Mick groomed into being a winner who valued the ball.

Mick benches cane after the first few games and now Cane is really really protecting the ball.

Everyone is acting like Mick did a poor job managing Cane and yet it might be exactly what the doctor ordered.

I definitely agree with you here that the bench is a valuable tool and that it has been used pretty effectively. Some fans think you need to just let a player work through those issues on the court. I don't. It's hard for someone to learn how important certain things are when you leave them in the game after they do what you are asking them not to. That being said you CAN take them out and coach them and then put them right back in. If they do it again...you have to use the bench.

 

[waterhead]

I definitely agree with you here that the bench is a valuable tool and that it has been used pretty effectively. Some fans think you need to just let a player work through those issues on the court. I don't. It's hard for someone to learn how important certain things are when you leave them in the game after they do what you are asking them not to. That being said you CAN take them out and coach them and then put them right back in. If they do it again...you have to use the bench.

I think Gary, Jacob, and Cumberland have proven to coach that if they make a mistake it's not going to get repeated. They do enough other things right (and fewer things wrong) to keep them on the court.

Kyle has a little bit of ADD. He needs to be reminded a lot. You have to use the bench for Kyle. Same thing for newer players...they have to earn that trust...prove to me that you are listening. Jenifer would not be getting the minutes he is now if he was playing like he did as a frosh. He has listened. He may not be a dynamic scorer or creator...but his turnovers are just sick at this point in a good way. 1 game with 3 of them...10 more games with only 3 more turnovers in those 10 games. That is just an unbelievable turnaround to what he looked like as a frosh. It's even better than Troy who was absolutely killing it (in this one category) as a Jr and Sr.

 

[justinhub2003]

I definitely agree with you here that the bench is a valuable tool and that it has been used pretty effectively. Some fans think you need to just let a player work through those issues on the court. I don't. It's hard for someone to learn how important certain things are when you leave them in the game after they do what you are asking them not to. That being said you CAN take them out and coach them and then put them right back in. If they do it again...you have to use the bench.

Yea. I think UC identity under cronin has always been defense and protecting the ball. Cane is a great player who wasn't asked to be an all out defender nor was he punished for TO's. So Mick has to engrain that culture into Cane and cane has responded.

I took my wife and 3 year old daughter to the game and upgraded our seats for the Pine Bluff game. My wife is in awe of how fast and quick cane was. He is other worldly quick and before his time as a bearcat is done, Im pretty sure we will see a ton of highlight plays and unreal quickness from him.

Also, I thought Cane and Jenifer had some great chemistry together on tuesday. I mean they played on the 2nd team together all season last year and you can tell they know where each are on the court.

 

[justinhub2003]

I think Gary, Jacob, and Cumberland have proven to coach that if they make a mistake it's not going to get repeated. They do enough other things right (and fewer things wrong) to keep them on the court.

Kyle has a little bit of ADD. He needs to be reminded a lot. You have to use the bench for Kyle. Same thing for newer players...they have to earn that trust...prove to me that you are listening. Jenifer would not be getting the minutes he is now if he was playing like he did as a frosh. He has listened. He may not be a dynamic scorer or creator...but his turnovers are just sick at this point in a good way. 1 game with 3 of them...10 more games with only 3 more turnovers in those 10 games. That is just an unbelievable turnaround to what he looked like as a frosh. It's even better than Troy who was absolutely killing it (in this one category) as a Jr and Sr.

Mick also pointed out that Washington gets super amped for big games and its to his detriment sometimes. He just gets so amped that he becomes unfocused. And I think he lost focus too many times for Mick to deal with in the Xavier game.

I feel like if we run our first 2 or 3 possessions for kyle every game, it gets him going. When he is scoring, his head is in the game and his intensity is through the roof.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

I believe in evidence and facts. We have the worst resume in our shitty conference.

I have yet to see UC put together a full 40 minute performance. So couple our on court play with our resume and I do feel the pressure is on.


I haven’t lost faith in this team but I also get annoyed by exaggerated optimism. People act like we’re entitled to a NCAA tourney birth. We’re not and we’ve not earned it yet. Like I said, I’ll feel a whole lot different once I see us play 5 or 6 conference games but until then, our conferences foes did more in the non conference and thus also Won’t be easy wins like last year.

I rolled my eyes pretty hard at this. Perhaps you're just exaggeratedly pessimistic?

 

[justinhub2003]

I rolled my eyes pretty hard at this. Perhaps you're just exaggeratedly pessimistic?

ha don't hurt your self.


Im far from a pessimist. Im just a realist.

I mean this board has a melt down every time they are unreasonably overly optimistic. Last year no one expected a 6 seed, yet we got a 6 seed after a 30 win season. You could see it coming but everyone some how believed we were a 4 seed.

I guess I like being a realist about things so i that I don't put unrealistic expectations on things. And I publicly try to curb some exaggerated optimism because all it means is that when it fails, half the people on this board instantly turn against the team and the coach. Watch the tone change in the Xavier game thread. It goes from a season of excitement, to fire mick in the blink of an eye.


Either way, I love this team. I go to every game. I donate to the program and facilities. I literally watch EVERY SINGLE GAME 2-3 times trying to breakdown what we did right and what we did wrong. Im an obsessed Bearcat basketball fan. And my biggest issue all season long was our Administration not putting our guys in a position to get better and to build a schedule worthy of Mick's best team. Like I've mildly bitched about other things but nothing I felt wasn't fixable. But I can't help but harp on this issue because it drives me mad thinking about it. Non Conference scheduling is the ONE thing you can control the narrative on.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

ha don't hurt your self.


Im far from a pessimist. Im just a realist.

I mean this board has a melt down every time they are unreasonably overly optimistic. Last year no one expected a 6 seed, yet we got a 6 seed after a 30 win season. You could see it coming but everyone some how believed we were a 4 seed.

I guess I like being a realist about things so i that I don't put unrealistic expectations on things. And I publicly try to curb some exaggerated optimism because all it means is that when it fails, half the people on this board instantly turn against the team and the coach. Watch the tone change in the Xavier game thread. It goes from a season of excitement, to fire mick in the blink of an eye.


Either way, I love this team. I go to every game. I donate to the program and facilities. I literally watch EVERY SINGLE GAME 2-3 times trying to breakdown what we did right and what we did wrong. Im an obsessed Bearcat basketball fan. And my biggest issue all season long was our Administration not putting our guys in a position to get better and to build a schedule worthy of Mick's best team. Like I've mildly bitched about other things but nothing I felt wasn't fixable. But I can't help but harp on this issue because it drives me mad thinking about it. Non Conference scheduling is the ONE thing you can control the narrative on.

Give me a break. You had a meltdown in the Florida game and declared that we aren't as good as last year and team chemistry is 100% why. That's not realistic in game 9 of the season. It's ridiculous. Then you spent the next few days acting as if we'd be lucky to get in the tournament. And you still somewhat have that tone. That's not realistic...or at least it shouldn't be for someone who watches every game 2-3 times. In all those viewings, you should notice that we're better than most years...I mean even in this post you called it Mick's best team. So what's up with that?

 

[cincrulz11]

Im starting to think this is all a grooming process for Cane. It worked for Troy, who was clearly more talented his freshman year and Mick groomed into being a winner who valued the ball.

Mick benches cane after the first few games and now Cane is really really protecting the ball.

Everyone is acting like Mick did a poor job managing Cane and yet it might be exactly what the doctor ordered.

and his freshman year Guyn still played half the minutes, even to the bitter end. a full season of learning for troy wasn't enough.


and i've said it from the start cane is not a turnover prone player. he had a sloppy first game after a year off, followed that up with 3 turnovers his next 3 games. then another sloppy 5 turnover game. he's only turned it over more than 2 times in those 2 games.

if we are going to compare, evans has 4 games with over 2 turnovers, cumberland has 3.



cane seems to be the type of guy that continues to raise his game as the competition grows. i wouldn't say he plays down to his competition, he just has another gear as the competition grows. he definitely learned the lesson on being sloppy in a blowout game vs a scrub team.

 

[cincrulz11]

Non Conference scheduling is the ONE thing you can control the narrative on.

but probably not THIS season. the timing of the renovation was awful for where the team is. gary's senior season is a horrible time to not be playing at home.