Bearcats to play 3 forwards?

[Robert]

I agree that we'l have strong defense. I'm a broken record on this thread by now, but the Cats need to find a way to create more high percentage shots. Turnovers, transition, and defensive mismatches (whoever tries to guard Lawrence), slashing to the rim, and converting Fts hopefully are the answer. The pass around the perimeter and take a lot of 3's approach proved frustrating at times last season.

Exactly. Is it too much to ask this team to hit 70% of its free throws?

 

[UCalum08]

Exactly. Is it too much to ask this team to hit 70% of its free throws?

No but it seems impossible for any UC team to hit that mark year after year.

 

[bearcat jeff]

No but it seems impossible for any UC team to hit that mark year after year.

158 of 347 D1 teams shot 70% or better from the foul line last season. That's 45.5% of the teams. That should put to rest the myth that most teams are good free throw shooting teams. And if you look at the list, many are small schools that do. That said UC was 306th in ft percentage and that is totally not acceptable. They need to improve to the 68-69% range from the 64% they were at last season.

A bigger problem for me is their 296th ranking in field goal percentage which tells you they shoot too many threes and can't finish close to the basket. There's a reason Mick hangs his hat on defense.

 

[UCalum08]

158 of 347 D1 teams shot 70% or better from the foul line last season. That's 45.5% of the teams. That should put to rest the myth that most teams are good free throw shooting teams. And if you look at the list, many are small schools that do. That said UC was 306th in ft percentage and that is totally not acceptable. They need to improve to the 68-69% range from the 64% they were at last season.

A bigger problem for me is their 296th ranking in field goal percentage which tells you they shoot too many threes and can't finish close to the basket. There's a reason Mick hangs his hat on defense.

That is a very telling stat. One that has been driving me crazy the past few years. lol We desperately need some guys who can create and finish around the rim. Why do you think we have been struggling to get guys who can do that? Whether its big men or guards, its been our achilles' heel.

 

[JumpinJack5]

In my mind, there are 3 keys to this season-1) we need Caupain to be solid, 2) we need the bigs to be respectable (if they can put up Cheikh numbers with a little more scoring, like 7-8 ppg, w/o fouling, Im happy) and 3) we need a few guys (Shaq Thomas, JD3, Lawrence) to help us get into the lane more often and finish once we get there. Defense is not an issue-1) it's a Mick Cronin team and 2) it is much easier to teach someone to become an average defender than it is to teach them how to score, it is more of a natural, you have it or you don't type of thing.

 

[Cronin's Twin Dronin]

I think you are the first in this post to say anything close to what is really going on. If Rubles actually does something worth while this season i will be surprised. Cronin flat out does not have an offense. I couldn't believe they spent the money to give him a bonus, a real ad would have added pieces to the puzzle by getting an offensive assistant coach. It's not like Cronin is spending time coaching offense, they can't run a pick n roll.

 

[JackBauer151]

I think you are the first in this post to say anything close to what is really going on. If Rubles actually does something worth while this season i will be surprised. Cronin flat out does not have an offense. I couldn't believe they spent the money to give him a bonus, a real ad would have added pieces to the puzzle by getting an offensive assistant coach. It's not like Cronin is spending time coaching offense, they can't run a pick n roll.

AD's dont hire assistant coaches.