Cronin Keeps Finding Diamonds in the Rough

[Btown Bearcat]

This may be a recruiting topic but really its more about how Cronin is able to find these kids who are obvious top 100 recruits easily that are either left out or barely make it. Specifically Clark, Evans,Kilpatrick and now Keith Williams among others. The list just goes on of guys he gets that are obvious top players that are overlooked. I just find it interesting Cronin continues to find these kids.

It got me wondering if he recruits these kids cause he has too or if he prefers kids with chips on their shoulders or even both. Yes he gets the Cumberlands of the world and technically Clark and Evans were both top 100 at one point but ironically as soon both signed with uc they dropped in rankings which just shows how stupid the rankings are in the first place. Yes we see he misses out on a lot of top guys (which I think changes with the new arena) but at the same time I honestly think he doesnt get too caught up in the ratings like some programs do.

I guess im just curious how you guys feel about it, I dont think Cronin gets enough credit for recruiting to his systems needs and forming these kids into what he wants instead of just going after any and every recruit that happens be ranked high and now he seems to be tilting just a bit more too offense over guys who are raw offensively. I think we get too caught up in him missing out on some the bigger more hyped up names when his best recruits are always guys either right on edge of top 100 or right on the outside looking in. Thoughts?

 

[UCBearcats]

This may be a recruiting topic but really its more about how Cronin is able to find these kids who are obvious top 100 recruits easily that are either left out or barely make it. Specifically Clark, Evans,Kilpatrick and now Keith Williams among others. The list just goes on of guys he gets that are obvious top players that are overlooked. I just find it interesting Cronin continues to find these kids.

It got me wondering if he recruits these kids cause he has too or if he prefers kids with chips on their shoulders or even both. Yes he gets the Cumberlands of the world and technically Clark and Evans were both top 100 at one point but ironically as soon both signed with uc they dropped in rankings which just shows how stupid the rankings are in the first place. Yes we see he misses out on a lot of top guys (which I think changes with the new arena) but at the same time I honestly think he doesnt get too caught up in the ratings like some programs do.

I guess im just curious how you guys feel about it, I dont think Cronin gets enough credit for recruiting to his systems needs and forming these kids into what he wants instead of just going after any and every recruit that happens be ranked high and now he seems to be tilting just a bit more too offense over guys who are raw offensively. I think we get too caught up in him missing out on some the bigger more hyped up names when his best recruits are always guys either right on edge of top 100 or right on the outside looking in. Thoughts?

Lol!

 

[waterhead]

This may be a recruiting topic but really its more about how Cronin is able to find these kids who are obvious top 100 recruits easily that are either left out or barely make it. Specifically Clark, Evans,Kilpatrick and now Keith Williams among others. The list just goes on of guys he gets that are obvious top players that are overlooked. I just find it interesting Cronin continues to find these kids.

It got me wondering if he recruits these kids cause he has too or if he prefers kids with chips on their shoulders or even both. Yes he gets the Cumberlands of the world and technically Clark and Evans were both top 100 at one point but ironically as soon both signed with uc they dropped in rankings which just shows how stupid the rankings are in the first place. Yes we see he misses out on a lot of top guys (which I think changes with the new arena) but at the same time I honestly think he doesnt get too caught up in the ratings like some programs do.

I guess im just curious how you guys feel about it, I dont think Cronin gets enough credit for recruiting to his systems needs and forming these kids into what he wants instead of just going after any and every recruit that happens be ranked high and now he seems to be tilting just a bit more too offense over guys who are raw offensively. I think we get too caught up in him missing out on some the bigger more hyped up names when his best recruits are always guys either right on edge of top 100 or right on the outside looking in. Thoughts?

I think he's pretty good at finding diamonds but for every diamond there is probably a lump of coal which is why we need to fill the roster. 12 plus scholarships. To get quality depth you can't play with 10 three star scholarships.

Next year we will have some quality depth with 12 roster spots full. Opening the chance for red shirt a little. If we had one more player this year I think Brooks would be talked into red shirt.

We still need to land more blue chipper to fill voids in the lineup so we can get further into March on a regular basis imo.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

SMFH

 

[CHEER CINCY]

This may be a recruiting topic but really its more about how Cronin is able to find these kids who are obvious top 100 recruits easily that are either left out or barely make it. Specifically Clark, Evans,Kilpatrick and now Keith Williams among others. The list just goes on of guys he gets that are obvious top players that are overlooked. I just find it interesting Cronin continues to find these kids.

It got me wondering if he recruits these kids cause he has too or if he prefers kids with chips on their shoulders or even both. Yes he gets the Cumberlands of the world and technically Clark and Evans were both top 100 at one point but ironically as soon both signed with uc they dropped in rankings which just shows how stupid the rankings are in the first place. Yes we see he misses out on a lot of top guys (which I think changes with the new arena) but at the same time I honestly think he doesnt get too caught up in the ratings like some programs do.

I guess im just curious how you guys feel about it, I dont think Cronin gets enough credit for recruiting to his systems needs and forming these kids into what he wants instead of just going after any and every recruit that happens be ranked high and now he seems to be tilting just a bit more too offense over guys who are raw offensively. I think we get too caught up in him missing out on some the bigger more hyped up names when his best recruits are always guys either right on edge of top 100 or right on the outside looking in. Thoughts?

Is this a real? For every "diamond in the rough" we have had just as many duds. He recruited a kid who couldnt even get the ball in the air trying to shoot a foul shot! (see Kenny Belton). Multiple transfers, multiple "he doesn't fit the program" guys.....and on an on.

I would KILL to get top 20 recruits consistently. That way we have a chance of making Sweet 16's or better just on talent alone despite the mediocre coaching job

 

[Madman81]

 

[L-T]

I would say he has been really good at finding cubic zirconias in the rough. Diamonds? Not so much.

 

[TheRealUC]

Hahaha, glad to see the usual suspects replying. This topic is like internet crack to them. Like someone mentioned, the duds that compiled the rest of the roster in the past take away from labeling Cronin as a diamond miner. Has landed some great under the radar guys though for sure.

 

[L-T]

Hahaha, glad to see the usual suspects replying. This topic is like internet crack to them. Like someone mentioned, the duds that compiled the rest of the roster in the past take away from labeling Cronin as a diamond miner. Has landed some great under the radar guys though for sure.

Since he pretty much recruits only these under the radar players, the law of averages says that some of them will eventually pan out and he'll look like a guru. What you have to look at is the team's overall performance. Since the sweet 16 group, the trend line is down with 3 of 4 1st round exits, pretty much nothing but poor NCAA seeds, etc. We've had one single NCAA draft pick in 10 years, so I don't see these so-called diamonds. We don't need to sugarcoat his recruiting prowess. It has sucked.

On the surface though, recent recruiting looks a little better. Let's see if the team's results prove that out and then we'll start giving him some deserved atta-boys.

 

[waterhead]

Since he pretty much recruits only these under the radar players, the law of averages says that some of them will eventually pan out and he'll look like a guru. What you have to look at is the team's overall performance. Since the sweet 16 group, the trend line is down with 3 of 4 1st round exits, pretty much nothing but poor NCAA seeds, etc. We've had one single NCAA draft pick in 10 years, so I don't see these so-called diamonds. We don't need to sugarcoat his recruiting prowess. It has sucked.

On the surface though, recent recruiting looks a little better. Let's see if the team's results prove that out and then we'll start giving him some deserved atta-boys.

I kind of agree here. We tend to look at guys like Dixon, Parker and think they were diamonds in the rough...but somebody had to play on these teams and someone had to shoot and score. We had nothing on the bench. They both started and played a lot but only one could potentially find a starting spot today due to a drastically under performing KJ.

In a perfect world they are guys that should be coming off the bench.

 

[waterhead]

I kind of agree here. We tend to look at guys like Dixon, Parker and think they were diamonds in the rough...but somebody had to play on these teams and someone had to shoot and score. We had nothing on the bench. They both started and played a lot but only one could potentially find a starting spot today due to a drastically under performing KJ.

In a perfect world they are guys that should be coming off the bench.

Cash was a 4 star and Gates was close to 5 star. SK was a diamond!

 

[L-T]

I kind of agree here. We tend to look at guys like Dixon, Parker and think they were diamonds in the rough...but somebody had to play on these teams and someone had to shoot and score. We had nothing on the bench. They both started and played a lot but only one could potentially find a starting spot today due to a drastically under performing KJ.

In a perfect world they are guys that should be coming off the bench.

Agreed!

 

[waterhead]

You can't measure diamonds by how much playing time they get or points scored on a roster with overall low talent.

 

[waterhead]

On the team with Gates, Cash, SK, Parker, and Dixon were

Jeremiah Davis...frosh
Ellis...frosh
Jackson...soph
Eppensteiner... junior
Gaines...frosh
guyn...frosh
Sanders...frosh
Moodj... junior

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

You have to have a balance. I'm fine with 4 year program guys like Dion Dixon, JaQuan Parker, Rashad Bishop, etc. They all had respectable careers. They need to be mixed in with top recruits and next level talent to have the type of seasons we want...

 

[waterhead]

You have to have a balance. I'm fine with 4 year program guys like Dion Dixon, JaQuan Parker, Rashad Bishop, etc. They all had respectable careers. They need to be mixed in with top recruits and next level talent to have the type of seasons we want...

I hear you. We can use guys like these. But just to illustrate a point. Dixon shot 38 percent in his career. Not from 3...from the field! He was under 30 percent from 3.

We had little choice but to play him because he was our best option.

 

[waterhead]

I hear you. We can use guys like these. But just to illustrate a point. Dixon shot 38 percent in his career. Not from 3...from the field! He was under 30 percent from 3.

We had little choice but to play him because he was our best option.

Those are KJ numbers.

 

[waterhead]

I hear you. We can use guys like these. But just to illustrate a point. Dixon shot 38 percent in his career. Not from 3...from the field! He was under 30 percent from 3.

We had little choice but to play him because he was our best option.

Sanders wasnt much better if at all. He played tons over 4 years.

 

[Alum2013]

How are we considering a kid who hasnt even played a minute of college ball a "diamond in the rough"?

 

[waterhead]

How are we considering a kid who hasnt even played a minute of college ball a "diamond in the rough"?

Nostradamus...35th quatrain.

The young lion shall overcome the older