Dear Creighton

[L-T]

I think you just summed up everyone's frustration with this team this year...

I had never really thought much about the 4 matchup and how well McD can cover Rubles. Rubles cannot shoot a lick, its the ugliest shot you will ever see, you will prob laugh the first time you see him jack an airball. However, Rubles is quick and a good ball handler. He will drive and get to the line where he is fairly good (66%). If you go zone to protect McD from foul trouble ,which you may have to do, Ill be really interested to see how that effects your ability to box out, could be a big Rb advantage for Cincy if that happens, plus it seems like Cash has his shot back so he could heat up al la BEast tourny vs 'Cuse last year.

Really excited for this game, I just hope whoever wins beats Duke.

If Rubles can't shoot a lick, why would the head coach say the following???

A quote from the head coach:
"The big thing about Titus is being an older guy sometimes junior college guys don't play hard enough to be a factor right away. I think he does. Second thing and probably most important is his basketball IQ, which is something you really don't know until you get a guy in practice. During recruiting, everybody always sells their player, coaches always laud about and are very laudatory about how `this guy he knows how to play' then you get them in there and very few guys are at his level of understanding basketball and understanding what you are trying to accomplish. You don't have to tell him things more than once, which allows him to quickly adjust and it allows you to improve as a player because you can take coaching and apply it to your game. The last thing is his raw ability is tremendous. He can make shots. He's explosive. He's got great size. He's a very good passer, and he can really defend. He can defend four positions, really maybe five."

 

[OmahaJay]

Since playing with Creighton, Echenique does MUCH better against better competition. It's truly a conundrum of our own. Some teams in the Valley have 6'7" skinny centers and those are the guys he tends to struggle against because he acts like he's playing against a 12 year old in that he doesn't want to hurt them. Plus games are officiated to the point where Echenique couldn't touch someone without them acting like they got shot by a shotgun and fly to the floor. But when he goes up against big dudes on Wichita or Wisconsin, etc., he is an absolute force. He owned Zeller and Henson of UNC last year even though we eventually lost.

 

[CaptDale]

If Rubles can't shoot a lick, why would the head coach say the following???

A quote from the head coach:
"The big thing about Titus is being an older guy sometimes junior college guys don't play hard enough to be a factor right away. I think he does. Second thing and probably most important is his basketball IQ, which is something you really don't know until you get a guy in practice. During recruiting, everybody always sells their player, coaches always laud about and are very laudatory about how `this guy he knows how to play' then you get them in there and very few guys are at his level of understanding basketball and understanding what you are trying to accomplish. You don't have to tell him things more than once, which allows him to quickly adjust and it allows you to improve as a player because you can take coaching and apply it to your game. The last thing is his raw ability is tremendous. He can make shots. He's explosive. He's got great size. He's a very good passer, and he can really defend. He can defend four positions, really maybe five."

Reminds me of a guy I played golf with once. When we got to the first tee he said, "I'm a 15 handicap. I'm capable of playing a lot better, I just never have." That's Rubles. I want Titus to succeed and be a prolific scorer (or any kind of scorer), but he has NO finesse when the ball is in his hands. He's on the brink of being out of control. If he ever gets to the rim, he slams it off the backboard so hard it has no chance of dropping. One game he hit 9 or 10 FT's, but that's been his offensive highlight to date.

 

[anbuc88]

If Rubles can't shoot a lick, why would the head coach say the following???

A quote from the head coach:
"The big thing about Titus is being an older guy sometimes junior college guys don't play hard enough to be a factor right away. I think he does. Second thing and probably most important is his basketball IQ, which is something you really don't know until you get a guy in practice. During recruiting, everybody always sells their player, coaches always laud about and are very laudatory about how `this guy he knows how to play' then you get them in there and very few guys are at his level of understanding basketball and understanding what you are trying to accomplish. You don't have to tell him things more than once, which allows him to quickly adjust and it allows you to improve as a player because you can take coaching and apply it to your game. The last thing is his raw ability is tremendous. He can make shots. He's explosive. He's got great size. He's a very good passer, and he can really defend. He can defend four positions, really maybe five."

I don't know why? Do you? Maybe because the head coach sucks and has no crediblity. Or maybe because no one listens to him and he doesn't have the balls to play any good team. Or maybe because the majority of the fanbase dislike him, as you laughably assert? Are those the answers you are looking for?

BTW, you never answered my question of whether you are Longtimer. I already know, so your choices are Yes and Yes. If you are still posting on Bearcatnews, what is your screen name there. I am sure the moderators there would like to know since you were banned twice.

 

[L-T]

Reminds me of a guy I played golf with once. When we got to the first tee he said, "I'm a 15 handicap. I'm capable of playing a lot better, I just never have." That's Rubles. I want Titus to succeed and be a prolific scorer (or any kind of scorer), but he has NO finesse when the ball is in his hands. He's on the brink of being out of control. If he ever gets to the rim, he slams it off the backboard so hard it has no chance of dropping. One game he hit 9 or 10 FT's, but that's been his offensive highlight to date.

He was a significantly better shooter early in the season. He would hit an occasional three, and had a nice shot from around the FT line that he was able to hit with confidence in those Vegas games. Over the course of the season, he seemed to tighten up and got in a funk that he never came out of. I believe we have one hell of a player here who is going to bust out at some point. It may not be this year, but I really look for this guy to be huge next year. Many people have gotten down on him...not me. His shot definitely has become uglier over the season. If the talent around him gets a little better, I believe he'll ease up and let the game come to him and he'll be one of our stars next year. Our coach said he is the most talented player he has ever recruited since he's been here. That is either a bad statement about his recruiting, or there is something there waiting to explode. I trust Mick on this one.

 

[CaptDale]

He was a significantly better shooter early in the season. He would hit an occasional three, and had a nice shot from around the FT line that he was able to hit with confidence in those Vegas games. Over the course of the season, he seemed to tighten up and got in a funk that he never came out of. I believe we have one hell of a player here who is going to bust out at some point. It may not be this year, but I really look for this guy to be huge next year. Many people have gotten down on him...not me. His shot definitely has become uglier over the season. If the talent around him gets a little better, I believe he'll ease up and let the game come to him and he'll be one of our stars next year. Our coach said he is the most talented player he has ever recruited since he's been here. That is either a bad statement about his recruiting, or there is something there waiting to explode. I trust Mick on this one.

Believe half of what you see and none of what you here
Defensively I like him. Finesse is innate. Either it's there or it's not. In this case..........NOT. Too bad, because he could be a super all-around player if he had some.

 

[User Name:]

Finally Bearcat Mick is banned.

Now if we could only ban him from the ESPN Conversation boards...He is going nuts on there

 

[L-T]

Believe half of what you see and none of what you here
Defensively I like him. Finesse is innate. Either it's there or it's not. In this case..........NOT. Too bad, because he could be a super all-around player if he had some.

I've not lost faith in him. I'm just puzzeled why he declined so much over the season. I'm sure he started to press as he got further into his funk...and the team got into their funk right along with him. I still like him a lot and I'm hoping he snaps out of it soon....maybe Friday. In my mind, he is a key in this game...especially defensively.

 

[bearcat18]

He owned Zeller and Henson of UNC last year even though we eventually lost.

Vividly remember this play.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TZ516JT0Jw"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TZ516JT0Jw[/ame]

 

[OmahaJay]

http://www.yougotdunkedon.com/2012/03/2012-ncaa-tournament-creightons-gregory.html

 

[CaptDale]

Vividly remember this play.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TZ516JT0Jw

Can't believe that wasn't called !

 

[#BearcatNation]

Can't believe that wasn't called !

Quite a flop if you ask me. Yeah it was definitely a foul and was uncalled for, but Zeller reacted as if he was Kenny Frease after Yancy dealt with him.

 

[CanadianBearcat]

He was a significantly better shooter early in the season. He would hit an occasional three, and had a nice shot from around the FT line that he was able to hit with confidence in those Vegas games. Over the course of the season, he seemed to tighten up and got in a funk that he never came out of. I believe we have one hell of a player here who is going to bust out at some point. It may not be this year, but I really look for this guy to be huge next year. Many people have gotten down on him...not me. His shot definitely has become uglier over the season. If the talent around him gets a little better, I believe he'll ease up and let the game come to him and he'll be one of our stars next year. Our coach said he is the most talented player he has ever recruited since he's been here. That is either a bad statement about his recruiting, or there is something there waiting to explode. I trust Mick on this one.

I will agree with you that his shot was better in the early season (but still not good he was 1-21 on 3s at one point) and I was not saying that he wasn't going to be a good player. I was referring to the fact that recently he has no confidence in his jumper and I can honestly recall more 15+ foot jumpers that have been airballs over ones that went in. I think it is possible for hiim to fix it I just dont expect it to happen this season.

Lord knows were gonna need him to score next year so I hope he can figure it out over the offseason.

 

[westsidecat]

did bearcatmick get a timeout? lol

man, i want fri to get here.

if uc can put some offense together and avoid any long scoring droughts they can get the upset. i really hope mick presses this team, they will kill uc in a half court game, imo. the more tips, deflection, turnovers the better.

 

[JumpinJack5]

did bearcatmick get a timeout? lol

man, i want fri to get here.

if uc can put some offense together and avoid any long scoring droughts they can get the upset. i really hope mick presses this team, they will kill uc in a half court game, imo. the more tips, deflection, turnovers the better.

When did all this banning take place? Gone for 2 days, and I come back no BearcatMick, Ralph, among others? Somebody went Rambo with the banning, do we have mods again? Either way, I like it, no more BearcatMick and Ralph back and forth for awhile!

 

[oakath]

Lot of action here on the board today.

Creighton will never go zone vs. UC and it is because of the rebounding issue. Someone mentioned CU should not go zone because UC is good from deep (32%?). I am really interested to see how well UC can score. Any drought could be fatal.

A 66% FT shooter is not even close to good.

Echenique fouled Zeller (who flopped too) and destroyed Henson with some "grown man basketball." Many UNC fans still HATE Creighton because the Jays played physically. We are not a physical team, but the coaches create really accurate game plans. Our defense will play the percentages (expect the Jays to play a man to man from inside the 3 pt. line).

Sure, you can count UConn as a tourney win. I don't and I am not on the committee so my opinion is meaningless.

 

[CaptDale]

Quite a flop if you ask me. Yeah it was definitely a foul and was uncalled for, but Zeller reacted as if he was Kenny Frease after Yancy dealt with him.

I wouldn't call that a flop (see McDermott - watch the highlight films). At least Zeller was moving forward and took a forearm to the throat from a guy 30 or 40 pounds heavier. You'd go down too.

 

[bearcat18]

Creighton will never go zone vs. UC and it is because of the rebounding issue. Someone mentioned CU should not go zone because UC is good from deep (32%?). I am really interested to see how well UC can score. Any drought could be fatal.

Kilpatrick's 30% from 3 can be deceiving. He has a great stroke - just takes too many forced/bad shots. The past two years he shot 37%. Leave him open and he will hurt you. Quick catch and release.

Cashmere Wright's 36% doesn't reflect the shooter he is either. He hurt his knee in January, and the next 10 games he shot 14-71 (19%). Not an excuse, but this was a factor in UC losing games we shouldn't have. The past four games he is 10-20 and he's shooting with much more confidence. He can bury them from DEEP too.

Parker is our only other consistent threat. He shoots at 40%. Sanders and Guyn will hit occasional shots but not a threat to worry about.

Like the rest of our offense, our shooting is very streaky. Our last game vs Georgetown, we were down 24-8 and a couple minutes later we were down less than 5. Droughts are pretty regular occurrences. Luckily for us, most of the time we don't let it affect our defense so the opponent's runs aren't too bad.

It's taking Friday forever to get here but at least tomorrow time will fly with games on all day!

 

[bearcatrunner]

I think it comes down to this. If the refs call this tight and call every ticky tack foul then we lose. If they call it loose and let the boys play then we win.

The question I have is what will the crowd be like? Since we are the lower seed do we actually get the other teams fans. You know rooting for the upset. Or since we are in the big bad BEAST do we lose fans because of that.

 

[ucswais]

Lot of action here on the board today.

Creighton will never go zone vs. UC and it is because of the rebounding issue. Someone mentioned CU should not go zone because UC is good from deep (32%?). I am really interested to see how well UC can score. Any drought could be fatal.

A 66% FT shooter is not even close to good.

Echenique fouled Zeller (who flopped too) and destroyed Henson with some "grown man basketball." Many UNC fans still HATE Creighton because the Jays played physically. We are not a physical team, but the coaches create really accurate game plans. Our defense will play the percentages (expect the Jays to play a man to man from inside the 3 pt. line).

Sure, you can count UConn as a tourney win. I don't and I am not on the committee so my opinion is meaningless.

Good stuff. Really appreciate the feedback we're getting from Creighton fans.

To answer your 32% on 3 question/comment... It's true we're not a great 3 pt shooting team, but we still rely on them for tons of our points. Whether we shoot a high percentage or not, you really have to guard UC as if they are because those are the shots they're going to take for better or worse.

Also, and I mean this with a lot of respect for a very good Creighton team and MVC, it's a little hard to compare percentages across conferences whether FG% or 3PT%. I'm sure our 3PT% out of the BE is just fine.