Countdown Continues: 4 More games left

[Thegreatone]

I still believe we will need to win 3 more games to end this season to get it. If we are borderline the committee has a easy explanition to why we were left out.

We have taken care of business verse Providence and Seton Hall.

U of L - Just seems like we always play them well. I think UC wins this one by 6 points.

@USF - People are starting to call USF a legitimate tourny threat which is great news for us. If we go to there place and beat them that would be a huge win for us. It would also likely put us ahead of them in the conference standings. UC by 3

Marq - Looks like they may come into the shoe a top 10 team. Playing GREAT ball. This is a tough game because we will really need it. We will have a great crowd. I think this is a close one but they are favored by 4-5

Nova - It could all come down to this one. TOSS UP

 

[bearcat jeff]

Been telling everyone the USF game will not be a give me. UC will have to earn that game. Stan Heath is bringing talent to USF. I look at that game much like Seton Hall. It's a game you need to win against a team you're vying with for a spot.

I think UC beats Louisville. If they can beat Louisville and Marquette at home and beat USF on the road, the Nova game won't matter.

 

[UCalum08]

I find it funny that everyone is saying bc we have played UL well in the past we should win that game. I wish it was that easy. The UL game will be telling bc if we lose that every game is a must win.

 

[UCBearcats]

Been telling everyone the USF game will not be a give me. UC will have to earn that game. Stan Heath is bringing talent to USF. I look at that game much like Seton Hall. It's a game you need to win against a team you're vying with for a spot.

I think UC beats Louisville. If they can beat Louisville and Marquette at home and beat USF on the road, the Nova game won't matter.

I don't doubt that Stan Heath has USF on the up and up and that they are more talented than previous teams but a closer examination of the USF schedule reveals that this is a game you should win.

USF has not played well against the teams in the upper half of the Big East so far this year. They've lost to ND, by 20 to Marquette and by 30 to Georgetown. They have done a good job of beating the teams in the lower half and taking advantage of down years by Pitt and Nova with two wins over both of those teams.

USF's non-conference schedule was ugly. They lost to Old Dominion, Penn St, Kansas by 30, Auburn and Southern Miss.

This is a game that UC has to win. If you want to sit back on selection Sunday and feel that you've earned a bid then you need to beat these kinds of teams. USF has done a nice job of creeping from the back of the pack to the middle of the pack this season but if we want to be an upper third team then we have to take care of business.

 

[bearcat jeff]

I find it funny that everyone is saying bc we have played UL well in the past we should win that game. I wish it was that easy. The UL game will be telling bc if we lose that every game is a must win.

The players have adopted an "every game is a must win game" already. The Bearcats alwys seem to get up for Louisville which is a good thing. My concern is UC has had a major problem stopping penetration since the 'Cuse game. We can't allow Siva to penetrate and hand the ball to the bigs for easy baskets or allow him to shoot 10 ft's.

South Florida has held it's last 2 opponents to 51 and 47 points. They are playing good basketball and hasn't lost to an unranked team since Dec. I believe. This is a noon game and that's never good for the Bearcats.

Marquette is just good and tough. I do believe UC will be jacked for his game.

UC should beat Nova but again, it is away and there aren't any easy wins on the road in the BEast.

Win the next 3 and you are in imo and you secure a bye in the BEast tournament.

 

[ralph1950]

USF is extremely tough at home. Mick's teams have not won at USF and I do not see that changing this year. The Bearcats remain solidly on the bubble, right now 50/50 as to NCAA or NIT.

 

[ralph1950]

Jerry Palm does not want UC to be in the NCAA, he does not like teams that play an extremely soft OOC schedule.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Jeff, some consistency from Cash and Dixion will go along way in lsecuring a NCAA bid. When these two play well the Cats are tought to beat.Last year at the shoe Cash had one of his best games. We will need him again to get a win.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

If The Cats win 3 of next four Jerry Palm will have to lump it. The Cats will be dancing. It won't be easy but it is doable.

 

[bearcat jeff]

USF is extremely tough at home. Mick's teams have not won at USF and I do not see that changing this year. The Bearcats remain solidly on the bubble, right now 50/50 as to NCAA or NIT.

Ralph I agree with you on the USF front. Cincinnati has historically been lethargic when playing there. However, I like the mindset of the Bearcats right now.

Cash is the absolute key to me in whether the Bearcats secure a spot in the NCAA or not. When he plays well this team takes on a new dimension. Dixon is attacking consistently right now and that has to continue.

Cash can't lose his focus. Since Yancy's return he has almost faded to the background. He dribbles to bad areas of the floor and makes stupid passes. He, like Dixon, needs to attack and dish. He is better when he goes into the lane under control and dishes and looks for set 3 point shots that he can step into.

Look at the Seton Hall game. The first half the Bearcats attacked the lane under control. The second half they attacked out of control and turned the ball over. Against Louisville they will have to mentally slow the game down and attack the press. Cash has to be mentally ready to play.

 

[Bearcat22]

Jerry Palm worships at the alter of the RPI and omits UC because of it. I think more then ever there is an overt effort by other media outlets lead by ESPN to bring more meaningful metrics to the forefront (ESPN's BPI, Sagarin, Ken Pom) that are shedding light on the outdated approach and method of the RPI. Each year it may lose more and more relevance. Palm is financially invested and won't give up without a fight.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Forget Jerry Palm. Its time for the Cats to go on a run. UCONN rode a hot finish to the regular season last year to the NCAA title. Realisticlly the Cats can win all four games left on their schedule. That is my expectation. they got Louisville and Marquette at home and SF and Villanova on the road. The Cats can win all those games. Its time to finish strong!!!!

 

[Hicks' Guns]

Louisville, USF, Marquette, Nova. My read is that 3 wins gets it done. 2 wins means we've got some work cut out for us in the Big East. 1 win means we're in trouble.

I do not see us beating Marquette. I guess it's possible with a huge home crowd but after watching that game, I thought to myself that Marquette could very well be the national champion. I thought that last year after the UConn game. Between Crowder, Johnson-Odom, Gardner and Blue, they have a well rounded team with tournament experience.

A Louisville game would be huge. Difficult but winnable. The place will be rocking on Thursday night. I plan on having no voice on Friday morning. Let's make it happen.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

I do not see us beating Marquette. I guess it's possible with a huge home crowd but after watching that game, I thought to myself that Marquette could very well be the national champion. I thought that last year after the UConn game. Between Crowder, Johnson-Odom, Gardner and Blue, they have a well rounded team with tournament experience.

I agree about Marquette. They are solid offensively and defensively and more so they are just relentless. I could see them making a serious run through the tourney.

 

[Scheids21]

Don't look now but seton hall is up 7 at half on GTown. I would guess with that win, most people would have them above us.

 

[bearcat jeff]

I agree about Marquette. They are solid offensively and defensively and more so they are just relentless. I could see them making a serious run through the tourney.

Couldn't disagree more. UC scored and got where they wanted on the court in the first game. If UC comes ready to play defense they CAN beat Marquette. The difference between Marquette and this UC team is that everyone comes to play every night. Mick has said as much about this team and has even mentioned they will focus more on this aspect in players as part of their recruiting efforts.

Look at the energy now as opposed to the energy level after the Xavier game. The team played their asses off for 40 minutes during that streak. You can't have key elements of your team, i.e. pg and senior leaders, not show up mentally ready to play. There are nights Cash looks like he doesn't even want to play. My biggest disappointment is how he's disappeared since Yancy's return. I would lump Dixon (though he seems now to be focused as the season nears an end) and Yancy with him as far as not always giving their best effort.

I won't predict next seasons team will be better till I see the totallity of it, but I will go on record right now and say I bet it will be a more energetic and harder playing group night in and night out.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

Couldn't disagree more. UC scored and got where they wanted on the court in the first game. If UC comes ready to play defense they CAN beat Marquette. The difference between Marquette and this UC team is that everyone comes to play every night. Mick has said as much about this team and has even mentioned they will focus more on this aspect in players as part of their recruiting efforts.

Look at the energy now as opposed to the energy level after the Xavier game. The team played their asses off for 40 minutes during that streak. You can't have key elements of your team, i.e. pg and senior leaders, not show up mentally ready to play. There are nights Cash looks like he doesn't even want to play. My biggest disappointment is how he's disappeared since Yancy's return. I would lump Dixon (though he seems now to be focused as the season nears an end) and Yancy with him as far as not always giving their best effort.

I won't predict next seasons team will be better till I see the totallity of it, but I will go on record right now and say I bet it will be a more energetic and harder playing group night in and night out.

Fair enough, Marquette's D isn't really a shutdown defense. My point was more their effort is there on both ends of the court. They seem to have the ability to not have an off-night, which is helpful in going far in the tourney.

I agree that the focus of this team and different players from night to night is horrible. If this team played with hunger and with a purpose night in, night out we would be a top 15 team. Hopefully Dixon and Gates realizing their careers are coming to an end (college-wise at least) will fuel some passion for them the rest of the season. Then hopefully the rest of the team follows suit.