Can I have some of what Mick is smoking?!?!

[JasonS]

I think it is vice versa. I believe he always speaks of the future for 2 reasons. 1) To keep Bearcat Nation interested in the program. Give them something to look forward to in the future. Ex: When no big name recruit was signed for this coming season he mentioned Killa as being a big part of this team next year. Even tho he has never played a College minute. And 2) A lot of supporters have been expecting results by now. By harping on the future he is keeping unhappy supporters and negativity off his shoulders. Ex: Losing close games he always came up with the excuse; Well this team is young, they will learn how to win these games in the future. Personally after 4 years it is getting tiring to hear.

This team finished 11th in the Big East last season and lost its top 2 scorers and no big scorers were added out of recruiting. You are damn right someone had better step up or Mick will have to step down.

Don't forget that Mick is not the only person saying this. Even people in the media and others who witnessed practices last year said the same thing about SK. It's ok to take a wait and see approach but don't kill Mick for talking about SK. Other people have written about it too.

 

[ready2go]

Don't forget that Mick is not the only person saying this. Even people in the media and others who witnessed practices last year said the same thing about SK. It's ok to take a wait and see approach but don't kill Mick for talking about SK. Other people have written about it too.

That is a completely seperate issue, which has already been debated.

 

[JasonS]

That is a completely seperate issue, which has already been debated.

You're the one that brought it up.

 

[ready2go]

You're the one that brought it up.

Yes I did meaning it is seperate because all UC Fans already knew we would have Killa for this coming season. But we also thought we'd be adding a big name recruit. When we didnt he tried to calm everyone by bringing up Killa. It has nothing to do with Seans ability to play basketball or not.

 

[bearcat jeff]

But Sean Will be new in the sense that he is available. Again, consider the context of what Mick was saying. Kilpatrick was held back by design to fill this void. You have something better than a big name recruit. You have a guy with a year of high D1 practice and a year of learning offensive and defensive schemes that will play his first year of college basketball. What's the problem?

 

[cincycpaw]

But Sean Will be new in the sense that he is available. Again, consider the context of what Mick was saying. Kilpatrick was held back by design to fill this void. You have something better than a big name recruit. You have a guy with a year of high D1 practice and a year of learning offensive and defensive schemes that will play his first year of college basketball. What's the problem?

SK could certainly fill the void. He wasn't "held back to fill this void" in my opinion, that's a silly statement. He was brought in to be that type of player last year...to eventually fill this void. He was "held back" because he wouldn't have seen enough floor time last year. 2 separate issues.

Bottom line though, SK could certainly fill this void. I hope he does. Mick seems to think he will. But then again, Mick said the same about Cash filling a void as a freshman...then he said the extra year with the team would prepare him more...and he still struggled. So I expect SK to struggle some as well and not completely fill the void. It's his first action at this level, it will take him some time.

From Mick's own words in that article, you build from within...meaning, someone who has already been playing with the team needs to step up their game and fill this void.

 

[ready2go]

But Sean Will be new in the sense that he is available. Again, consider the context of what Mick was saying. Kilpatrick was held back by design to fill this void. You have something better than a big name recruit. You have a guy with a year of high D1 practice and a year of learning offensive and defensive schemes that will play his first year of college basketball. What's the problem?

Again, we ALL knew Sean was going to be available for this upcoming season. We ALL expected that we would add another Big Time recruit. Mick failed to do so.

 

[JasonS]

Again, we ALL knew Sean was going to be available for this upcoming season. We ALL expected that we would add another Big Time recruit. Mick failed to do so.

At risk of rehashing this argument for what seems like the 10th time, Big Time Recruits don't grow on trees. There is no sense in worrying about what we don't have and what we can't have this year. It is a waste of energy.

 

[ready2go]

At risk of rehashing this argument for what seems like the 10th time, Big Time Recruits don't grow on trees. There is no sense in worrying about what we don't have and what we can't have this year. It is a waste of energy.

Then don't hype up the possibility of getting them. Case and point

 

[JasonS]

Then don't hype up the possibility of getting them. Case and point

You're right. Let's not talk about any players unless and until they sign with UC. Mick shouldn't even try to get the best players possible because the odds are against them committing to UC. Let's all strive and hope for nothing more than mediocrity.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

Let's all strive and hope for nothing more than mediocrity.

We don't need to do that, Mick's doing it for us.

 

[JasonS]

We don't need to do that, Mick's doing it for us.

Yup. I'm sure that is exactly what he is doing. You have now convinced me that Mick doesn't care about winning at all.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

10th, 9th, 11th.

 

[JasonS]

10th, 9th, 11th.

And I'm sure he's real happy about it. Sweet Jesus.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

And I'm sure he's real happy about it. Sweet Jesus.

He certainly isn't taking responsibility for it.

 

[JasonS]

He certainly isn't taking responsibility for it.

Ok dude. whatever. if you are so upset about this maybe you should find a different team to "root" for. i am sick of talking about the past. with the exception of USC, there is not one other fan base dwelling on shit that happened 2 and 3 years ago. it's really freaking disappointing that Cincy "fans" can't look forward to this upcoming season. I feel bad for you. You must be a miserable person without anything to look forward to.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

Ok dude. whatever. if you are so upset about this maybe you should find a different team to "root" for. i am sick of talking about the past. with the exception of USC, there is not one other fan base dwelling on shit that happened 2 and 3 years ago. it's really freaking disappointing that Cincy "fans" can't look forward to this upcoming season. I feel bad for you. You must be a miserable person without anything to look forward to.

Oh please, don't tell me who I should root for. I've rooted hard for the team for my entire life, don't question my fan hood. You think I'm a miserable person? Haha, I am very realistic about the future, I realize that Mick is 90% not going to get it done. If he does go ahead and turn it around, then I'll be the first one to apologize. I am so looking forward to the football team's season, even in the light of conference realignment I feel confident UC will remain in a BCS conference and will be successful, so don't feel bad for me, I'll be the one feeling bad for you when UC loses a Big East game against St. Johns by like 15 and you'll be complaining like "How could UC lose a game like this?"

Lets be realistic for a second, every single post game show has been filled with excuses. I can let the first two years pass, I thought that Mick was making a bunch of excuses but I at least could understand they weren't good enough.

Flash ahead to year 3 the team falters down the stretch and as soon as the season ends he throws Mike Williams under the bus, questions his want to be a part of the team and doesn't help him apply for his 6th year. UC fans are beginning to notice that Mick flat out cannot coach with any consistency and doesn't motivate his players. Again I waited around, showed my faith, year 4 was put up or shut up.

Year 4 comes around he pulls a great recruiting move and pulls in Lance, the team severely under performs, and after the season he claims that there were "too many players" when a year earlier he claimed "we finally have the depth to run". He then proceeds to throw Lance and Deonta under the bus questioning his two best guys in Mick's supposed "break out year"

I have no problem with wanting your team to win, I will probably watch every game I can and will root for UC to win. But they are getting the level of the Reds and Bengals where I want them to win, but I just know something is going to get screwed up. If the admistration had any balls they should have let him go after last season, ala Providence, St. Johns, instead of potentially after this season.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

I don't look at what Mick says as excuses. Just reasons why the team didn't get the job done. When you lose there's nothing you can say to change that. The bottome line is the Bearcats lost some games they shouldn't have last year and Mick has to hold a press conference about it. He's as frustrated as anyone is about it. Probably more so because he's the one that has to answer for it. If any of us were the coach we would say the same exact thing. He was trying to keep his team motivated and positive. If he comes out and says what really happens then his players would hate him even worse.

"Coach what happened?"

"Well Deonta Vaughn can't hold onto the ball under pressure or shoot with any kind of consistency, Cash makes too many mistakes, Lance can't quit shooting, Gates is the laziest person I've seen since BJ Grove, Bishop doesn't have his head in the game most of the time, Davis and Dixon have no clue what's going on, Wilks only waits around for a chance at a highlight, Toyloy has no idea what to do with a ball in his hands, Parker gets absolutely lost at times, Biggie gets hurt walking out of the locker room, Thomas can't hold onto the ball down low. Bottom line with me on the sidelines I jinx the ball from going into the basket, I keep them from moving without the ball, I keep them from running any kind of offense whatsoever."

"Oh, OK, what are you going to do about it"

"Well first I'm going to apologize to the fans of Cincinnati because it's entirely my fault these players haven't lived up to their potential. A player is only as good as his coach and I clearly have no idea what I'm doing. If only Huggins were here this team would easily win a national championship. The last thing I'm going to do is work on it in practice and try to improve"

"So what about these recruits that didn't come in?"

"Well Cincinnati is the elite program in the country, there shouldn't be any other factors in these kids decisions? We are losing our top two scorers that both did such a great job of making us an unstoppable force last year, I have nothing to replace them with other than three new players coming in that the fans don't think are sexy enough. I might just release them from their scholarships and disban the program."

"So what do you say to your fans looking forward to next year."

"We're in serious trouble guys. Seriously get Mike to fire me. We lost 25 points off last years team and I don't think anybody this year will be able to get shots off. We probably will just hand the ball over or just run three guys out there. How could we possibly take as many shots in a 40 minute game as we did last year? How will we get the same number of possessions? How can we replace two bad shooters who shoot too much?"

"Thanks coach"

I for one firmly believe we will much better next year. I don't think we have the talent to win the conference, but I think we have the right players to make a tourney run. Hopefully sweet 16. That will be a huge improvement. Last year didn't work out. I blame the players more than I blame Mick. I think Mick learned what this team doesn't need to do next year and will make sure this team doesn't make the same mistakes. I think anyone not on board with him will be shown either the door or the end of the bench.

 

[ready2go]

Oh please, don't tell me who I should root for. I've rooted hard for the team for my entire life, don't question my fan hood. You think I'm a miserable person? Haha, I am very realistic about the future, I realize that Mick is 90% not going to get it done. If he does go ahead and turn it around, then I'll be the first one to apologize. I am so looking forward to the football team's season, even in the light of conference realignment I feel confident UC will remain in a BCS conference and will be successful, so don't feel bad for me, I'll be the one feeling bad for you when UC loses a Big East game against St. Johns by like 15 and you'll be complaining like "How could UC lose a game like this?"

Lets be realistic for a second, every single post game show has been filled with excuses. I can let the first two years pass, I thought that Mick was making a bunch of excuses but I at least could understand they weren't good enough.
Flash ahead to year 3 the team falters down the stretch and as soon as the season ends he throws Mike Williams under the bus, questions his want to be a part of the team and doesn't help him apply for his 6th year. UC fans are beginning to notice that Mick flat out cannot coach with any consistency and doesn't motivate his players. Again I waited around, showed my faith, year 4 was put up or shut up.

Year 4 comes around he pulls a great recruiting move and pulls in Lance, the team severely under performs, and after the season he claims that there were "too many players" when a year earlier he claimed "we finally have the depth to run". He then proceeds to throw Lance and Deonta under the bus questioning his two best guys in Mick's supposed "break out year"

I have no problem with wanting your team to win, I will probably watch every game I can and will root for UC to win. But they are getting the level of the Reds and Bengals where I want them to win, but I just know something is going to get screwed up. If the admistration had any balls they should have let him go after last season, ala Providence, St. Johns, instead of potentially after this season.

Exactly. Yes, Mick should go after every top recruit. But don't build up your program by saying we are going to get this player and Oh by the way his best friend is a top recurit too and we could get a package deal. Then when you dont get any of them, you fall back on a player who was not a top recruit and a guy fans already knew they would have just to keep unhappy fans off your back.

 

[JasonS]

Exactly. Yes, Mick should go after every top recruit. But don't build up your program by saying we are going to get this player and Oh by the way his best friend is a top recurit too and we could get a package deal. Then when you dont get any of them, you fall back on a player who was not a top recruit and a guy fans already knew they would have just to keep unhappy fans off your back.

I don't recall hearing Mick talk about a package deal. I think it was all of us who were hoping it might be a package deal. Can you show me where he said that? Maybe I just missed it.