Cincinnati's Cronin has Bearcats on rise

[bearcat jeff]

Dixon said he has watched the Bearcats improve as they have added players and developed some depth.

"I refer to the situation that Mick went into as being about as close to a death penalty as there was in college basketball," Dixon said, "because they really had no players at all once he got the job. They have gotten better every year and that is more than you can ask. Getting better every year is another rare and nearly impossible feat to do in our conference because, you need some teams to take a step backward.

"There have been a lot of teams in our league waiting for teams to take a step backward and there haven't been too many of those."



Read more: http://www.postgazette.com/pg/11035/1122909-175.stm#ixzz1D65AdLF4

 

[psax889906]

23 wins is still the goal. And still attainable. That would mean an increase of wins from 19 to 23 this year. People can talk till they're blue in the face about the OOC schedule, that's improvement.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

23 wins is still the goal. And still attainable. That would mean an increase of wins from 19 to 23 this year. People can talk till they're blue in the face about the OOC schedule, that's improvement.

8-10, 8-10, 7-11, 5-4 (so far)

Improvement?

 

[JasonS]

8-10, 8-10, 7-11, 5-4 (so far)

Improvement?

If we get to 23 wins before the BEAST Tourney, the Bearcats would be 10-8 in conference. I would say that is an improvement, no?

 

[nerf]

8-10, 8-10, 7-11, 5-4 (so far)

Improvement?

RPI: 175, 126, 84, 65, 40 (so far)

Improvement?

 

[swg]

I definitely see improvement, but still see lapses on both sides of the court. Also, offensive droughts still occur. Consistency, as well as continued focus to get the ball inside is key.

 

[SlamJam]

8-10, 8-10, 7-11, 5-4 (so far)

Improvement?

The only constant in the last 4 years is the Big East teams- so I think its fair to judge improvement based on how they do in the Big East.

 

[bearcat jeff]

It always amazes me how people locally criticize the program and Mick in general, but nationally the job he has done is much more respected. I understand we have a more vested emotional interest locally, but I'm not sure why some are blind to the progress the program has made as a whole. Wins and losses are what matter in the end, but you can't quantify the rebuilding of the foundation of a program. This is a program that is very close.

 

[swg]

I think the program is close, but I'm not sure they have the horses currently to move up beyond middle of the pack in the BE.

 

[bearcat jeff]

I think the program is close, but I'm not sure they have the horses currently to move up beyond middle of the pack in the BE.

You get the horses by winning. Once a winning culture is established the horses will be easier to get in the stable. The key is to make that next step and get in the tournament and stay ranked consistently. The Bearcats are on the cusp of both. This group can really leave a mark on the future of this program if they can dig down and pull this out.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

The only constant in the last 4 years is the Big East teams- so I think its fair to judge improvement based on how they do in the Big East.

Exactly, there has been some improvements here and there, but some patterns are consistent. With the news of an indefinite suspension to Yancy Gates it looks like we are headed down the road for another late season collapse.

 

[swg]

You get the horses by winning. Once a winning culture is established the horses will be easier to get in the stable. The key is to make that next step and get in the tournament and stay ranked consistently. The Bearcats are on the cusp of both. This group can really leave a mark on the future of this program if they can dig down and pull this out.

The wins and losses have never concerned me that much. It's how the team responds (or doesn't) to Cronin, the mistakes, the offense, and especially...player development has been lacking, IMO.

 

[westsidecat]

23 wins is still the goal. And still attainable. That would mean an increase of wins from 19 to 23 this year. People can talk till they're blue in the face about the OOC schedule, that's improvement.

My God!

Don't insult the fanbase by saying we have improved by playing high school teams at home.

Your homerism is out of control.

 

[westsidecat]

It always amazes me how people locally criticize the program and Mick in general, but nationally the job he has done is much more respected. I understand we have a more vested emotional interest locally, but I'm not sure why some are blind to the progress the program has made as a whole. Wins and losses are what matter in the end, but you can't quantify the rebuilding of the foundation of a program. This is a program that is very close.

Hmm, if he has done such a great job then why is he consider by many on the "hot seat" coming into the year?

Take one quote by a coach who was being respectful and turn it in that everyone in American thinks Cronin is the man...

 

[bearcat jeff]

Hmm, if he has done such a great job then why is he consider by many on the "hot seat" coming into the year?

Take one quote by a coach who was being respectful and turn it in that everyone in American thinks Cronin is the man...

First of all he is on the hot seat because Fifth Third is 2/3 empty on a given night and the fanbase is uneasy.

Don't confuse rebuilding from what many other coaches, announcers, and myself compare to the death penalty with the fanbase not being happy with where the program is. They are two separate issues. Fans only see the win/loss side. People who are truly aware of the task he undertook see the whole of what he's done. There is reason to be respectful. He has earned it!

If Mick Cronin was gone today he could walk away proud of what he has accomplished here. The program was decimated. The reputation was destroyed. The Brand name was down. The program was facing scholarship loss. All recruiting from the previous two seasons was lost. They entered the toughest, deepest conference in the history of college basketball. He has improved and rebuilt every single aspect of what was broken.

Lest you call me an apologist, those that know me will tell you I called for a change at the end of last season. But I can absolutely see the whole picture and have tidbits from inside it. What you call respectful comments is actually heartfelt respect for a job well done by those who understand what he's done. There is a reason Tom Crean said instead of Cincinnati fans complaining they should be supporting Mick Cronin. He wasn't playing Cincinnati that night. He had a taste of what Mick was doing and knew the difficulty in it.

Many want a magic wand waved and everything to be alright. It doesn't happen that way. There are other programs that were on solid ground that have HoF coaches and McD AA players that were trying to get better too. They didn't stand still and say, "We'll stay here and let you catch up!".

I'm as emotionally invested in our teams wins and losses as anybody. My wife hates when I watch games because of this. I just wish some can set some of that aside and look a little deeper and maybe they'd have more respect for a coach that has earned it.

 

[bearcat jeff]

The wins and losses have never concerned me that much. It's how the team responds (or doesn't) to Cronin, the mistakes, the offense, and especially...player development has been lacking, IMO.

Neil there is an implication here that assumes they are capable of all you've stated. Does anyone consider that maybe these guys have reached their ceiling? That they just don't have a good basketball iq? BTW, I thought they responded very well yesterday. They played hard without their second leading scorer. It was in the physical execution that they failed. Again, that goes back to my question.

That's what guys like BearcatAlum and myself are excited about. We see a different type of player being recruited. Guys with sound fundamentals and work ethics. Guys that are basketball players. As the foundation of the program has improved, and he's had time to build relationships, he is getting better players and more of them.

 

[swg]

I'll concede the frosh (Jackson at least) and JK are breaths of fresh air. I do like Davis as well.

I'm a homer, but I'm also a realist. Gotta play better on offense, and 5 years is enough to get players and coach em up. Make it happen.

 

[bearcat jeff]

I'll concede the frosh (Jackson at least) and JK are breaths of fresh air. I do like Davis as well.

I'm a homer, but I'm also a realist. Gotta play better on offense, and 5 years is enough to get players and coach em up. Make it happen.

Agreed, they are terrible on offense right now. Can't remember seeing a team go in such a complete funk. Nobody is shooting well from any point on the court.

 

[UCalum08]

First of all he is on the hot seat because Fifth Third is 2/3 empty on a given night and the fanbase is uneasy.

Don't confuse rebuilding from what many other coaches, announcers, and myself compare to the death penalty with the fanbase not being happy with where the program is. They are two separate issues. Fans only see the win/loss side. People who are truly aware of the task he undertook see the whole of what he's done. There is reason to be respectful. He has earned it!

Fifth Third remains 2/3 empty because the arena is in shambles. Even if the product on the court is not great all the time, there is nothing about 5/3rd that would make fans return. Do you leave the arena thinking, man that food was good, or there was other entertaining things to do/ look at? Or even as primitive as those bathrooms were really nice. Also, its 2/3rd empty because its no surprise that Cincinnati has the most fair-weather fans. No one wants to go to those games but yet there are more people commenting on articles are cincinnati.com than butts in the seat actually watching the game. The only time we fill up is because the OTHER team. The basketball program is still light years away from being relevant again. It doesn't help when it seems their own university does not back them up with adequate funding.

 

[bearcat jeff]

First of all he is on the hot seat because Fifth Third is 2/3 empty on a given night and the fanbase is uneasy.

Don't confuse rebuilding from what many other coaches, announcers, and myself compare to the death penalty with the fanbase not being happy with where the program is. They are two separate issues. Fans only see the win/loss side. People who are truly aware of the task he undertook see the whole of what he's done. There is reason to be respectful. He has earned it!

Fifth Third remains 2/3 empty because the arena is in shambles. Even if the product on the court is not great all the time, there is nothing about 5/3rd that would make fans return. Do you leave the arena thinking, man that food was good, or there was other entertaining things to do/ look at? Or even as primitive as those bathrooms were really nice. Also, its 2/3rd empty because its no surprise that Cincinnati has the most fair-weather fans. No one wants to go to those games but yet there are more people commenting on articles are cincinnati.com than butts in the seat actually watching the game. The only time we fill up is because the OTHER team. The basketball program is still light years away from being relevant again. It doesn't help when it seems their own university does not back them up with adequate funding.

A couple very good observations. 5/3rd is not very fan friendly. Comment about Cincy sports fans is spot on. I've lived in several states and they're the worse I've seen.