Cronin Keeps Finding Diamonds in the Rough

[L-T]

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

Lol.....I wanted to comment about that too, but you beat me to it.

 

[TheRealUC]

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.

Yup, i agree. There's been too many "under the radar" players that never deserved to be on the radar. Guys like KJ and Sanders before him should never sniff the court, yet they log(ged) huge minutes for UC. I don't ever want to have to rely on those level players for production. Lineup looks much more balanced across the board though, so like you said, we'll see.

 

[2bearcatdad]

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

Agreed, but it's no more ridiculous than proclaiming him a bust already like was done earlier.

 

[coachpipe]

Yup, i agree. There's been too many "under the radar" players that never deserved to be on the radar. Guys like KJ and Sanders before him should never sniff the court, yet they log(ged) huge minutes for UC. I don't ever want to have to rely on those level players for production. Lineup looks much more balanced across the board though, so like you said, we'll see.

But but but...KJ plays great defense. Atleast thats what they tell me

 

[david aka the TYZ]

But but but...KJ plays great defense. Atleast thats what they tell me

People are too hard on KJ. Yes his offense and passing isn't the best, but he can be effective on offense and yes his defense is great. He doesnt stuff the stat sheet on defense but he's been known to completely shut down an opposing teams best scorer. That is the defense Cronin praises him on. And when you struggle to score like alllllll his teams have, keeping your opponent from scoring is what enables you to still win.

 

[waterhead]

People are too hard on KJ. Yes his offense and passing isn't the best, but he can be effective on offense and yes his defense is great. He doesnt stuff the stat sheet on defense but he's been known to completely shut down an opposing teams best scorer. That is the defense Cronin praises him on. And when you struggle to score like alllllll his teams have, keeping your opponent from scoring is what enables you to still win.

I don't like insulting our players at all! He's a Bearcat... period...and a Senior.

That being said I wouldn't mind seeing what happens on D if Cumberland or Jenifer plays. I don't see a downside on offense.

 

[coachpipe]

People are too hard on KJ. Yes his offense and passing isn't the best, but he can be effective on offense and yes his defense is great. He doesnt stuff the stat sheet on defense but he's been known to completely shut down an opposing teams best scorer. That is the defense Cronin praises him on. And when you struggle to score like alllllll his teams have, keeping your opponent from scoring is what enables you to still win.

Like the time he left his man to double team the post on an inbound leaving rhode island wide open for the dagger 3 that sealed it?

KJ is okay at best. his offense is atrocious. meaning he cant create anything for himself or others. His only good asset is when hes already set for the shot before he gets the ball. Other than that, his awful pump fakes, his dribbling, his passing, and his so called driving are pretty hard on the eyes and usually result in a lost ball

I guess hes this years shaq for me. There are better options and we give him a pass because "his defense" Id rather have JJ and Cumberland in while putting Evans on their best player

and if he scored 20 tonight, my comments still stand

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Like the time he left his man to double team the post on an inbound leaving rhode island wide open for the dagger 3 that sealed it?

KJ is okay at best. his offense is atrocious. meaning he cant create anything for himself or others. His only good asset is when hes already set for the shot before he gets the ball. Other than that, his awful pump fakes, his dribbling, his passing, and his so called driving are pretty hard on the eyes and usually result in a lost ball

I guess hes this years shaq for me. There are better options and we give him a pass because "his defense" Id rather have JJ and Cumberland in while putting Evans on their best player

and if he scored 20 tonight, my comments still stand

I'm with you. "Can be effective on offense"? Ummm...

 

[BearcatSpaniard513]

There's really no pleasing 60% of the posters on here I'd say. They bitch about everything but the truth is they wouldn't be 1/100th the recruiter or coach that Mick is. They bitch about scoring even after he adds Evans, Washington and Cane Broome. They bitch about the recruits we've landed lately, when in fact we've added some serious talent the past couple seasons (Evans, Washington, Broome, T-moore, Williams). Next they'll bitch about us winning the AAC saying it was "a weak league" and "UConn was having a down year." It gets so old. Truth is, he does a great job for the budget he has, the arena he has and the fan support for the team. He should have taken the UNLV job and taken Evans and Cumberland with him smh.

I'm stoked for this year and the near future. With Evans, Washington, Clark, Broome, JJ emerging, Tre Scott, Williams, Cumberland. What's to complain about people? If anything the original post should have been about the quality of transfers we've been bringing in...

Go Cats!

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

. He should have taken the UNLV job and taken Evans and Cumberland with him smh.

Nice to see where your allegiance truly lies. Most of the #StickWithMick crew feels the same way. I want UC to succeed, you clearly do not.

 

[BearcatSpaniard513]

Nice to see where your allegiance truly lies. Most of the #StickWithMick crew feels the same way. I want UC to succeed, you clearly do not.

I stick with the University no matter who the coach is. I hate Tuberville, I'll still go to games. I think Mick is extremely underappreciated by clowns like yourself...

 

[JackBauer151]

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

This in my opinion was Mick's and his staff's greatest failure. THIS recruiting class. It set us back in my view. Mick always has said his formula was get good players and get them to their junior and senior years. There is not one impact player in that group of freshmen. Sanders and Thomas were good kids who were role players AT BEST. You cant have a 6 man class and not have at least one impact guy. It will come back to bite you and it did. I'm so thrilled with the talent level on this team. We have one for sure NBA caliber guard and two top tier college basketball bigs. The pieces around them are very solid as well. Jenifer is exactly the type of role player you need to recruit. He is never playing in the NBA but he can be the reason a college team wins on a particular night. Cumberland and Scott look like as they get more acclimated can have a real impact off the bench. And we have a senior all conference player running the point. If recruiting stays at the level it's been at since we signed Gary the Bearcats are heading in the right direction. No more excuses for Mick. He has the talent and experience. It's time to get the job done the next two years and at the very minimum advance to the second weekend in March and win some conference championships.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

There's really no pleasing 60% of the posters on here I'd say. They bitch about everything but the truth is they wouldn't be 1/100th the recruiter or coach that Mick is. They bitch about scoring even after he adds Evans, Washington and Cane Broome. They bitch about the recruits we've landed lately, when in fact we've added some serious talent the past couple seasons (Evans, Washington, Broome, T-moore, Williams). Next they'll bitch about us winning the AAC saying it was "a weak league" and "UConn was having a down year." It gets so old. Truth is, he does a great job for the budget he has, the arena he has and the fan support for the team. He should have taken the UNLV job and taken Evans and Cumberland with him smh.

I'm stoked for this year and the near future. With Evans, Washington, Clark, Broome, JJ emerging, Tre Scott, Williams, Cumberland. What's to complain about people? If anything the original post should have been about the quality of transfers we've been bringing in...

Go Cats!

Why are you so obsessed with other posters? What can't you just ignore the people you don't like? You act like "bitching" is so annoying but that's literally all you just did in your post. It's just not directed at the same thing. You're even "bitching" about things that no one has even actually "bitched" about yet. You speak like you're the true fan and you're so much better, but wish bad things for the program if they don't involve Coach Cronin. Truly bizarre.

 

[TheLongHaul]

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.

Why does the law of averages say that? I'm haven't been impressed with his recruiting but to say the law of averages assumes some will turn into good players doesn't make any sense.

While I'd much rather him consistently get top 100 players, he has done a good job with at least a handful of under the radar players (e.g., Evans, Clark, SK). And when he first came in I'd say his recruiting class was terrific considering what he was taking over. How he got some of those players on such short notice was very impressive.

 

[TheLongHaul]

Why are you so obsessed with other posters? What can't you just ignore the people you don't like? You act like "bitching" is so annoying but that's literally all you just did in your post. It's just not directed at the same thing. You're even "bitching" about things that no one has even actually "bitched" about yet. You speak like you're the true fan and you're so much better, but wish bad things for the program if they don't involve Coach Cronin. Truly bizarre.

You don't realize how ironic your post is, do you?

 

[jacobkdoyle]

You don't realize how ironic your post is, do you?

I'm not one of the ones who refuses to talk about UC and only cares about what other people are posting. But trust me, I get it...just trying to put a stop to this crap. There's a difference when someone's sole purpose on the site is to whine about other people they don't agree with.

 

[Btown Bearcat]

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.

if we go by what u guys all say shouldnt that mean we shouldnt be making the tournament every year or even most years?

 

[Btown Bearcat]

There's really no pleasing 60% of the posters on here I'd say. They bitch about everything but the truth is they wouldn't be 1/100th the recruiter or coach that Mick is. They bitch about scoring even after he adds Evans, Washington and Cane Broome. They bitch about the recruits we've landed lately, when in fact we've added some serious talent the past couple seasons (Evans, Washington, Broome, T-moore, Williams). Next they'll bitch about us winning the AAC saying it was "a weak league" and "UConn was having a down year." It gets so old. Truth is, he does a great job for the budget he has, the arena he has and the fan support for the team. He should have taken the UNLV job and taken Evans and Cumberland with him smh.

I'm stoked for this year and the near future. With Evans, Washington, Clark, Broome, JJ emerging, Tre Scott, Williams, Cumberland. What's to complain about people? If anything the original post should have been about the quality of transfers we've been bringing in...

Go Cats!

ya in their dream land i guess were competing with ky for top 10 prospects every year.

 

[Btown Bearcat]

Why does the law of averages say that? I'm haven't been impressed with his recruiting but to say the law of averages assumes some will turn into good players doesn't make any sense.

While I'd much rather him consistently get top 100 players, he has done a good job with at least a handful of under the radar players (e.g., Evans, Clark, SK). And when he first came in I'd say his recruiting class was terrific considering what he was taking over. How he got some of those players on such short notice was very impressive.

ya i think his recruiting will come full circle with the new arena right now its like trying to sell a kid wood when he can play in gold at other schools

 

[L-T]

if we go by what u guys all say shouldnt that mean we shouldnt be making the tournament every year or even most years?

When you can finish in 4th or 5th place in a mid-major league and still make the tournament, no it doesn't say that at all.

Making the tournament isn't all that hard, especially if none of your players are good enough to leave early for the NBA and you're not having to rebuild every single year. What it does say is once you make the tournament, you rarely win....and we rarely win.

By the way, our diamonds looked more like costume jewelry last night and in the 2nd hall of the RI game, which is starting to give me a sick feeling about March once again.