Dear Whit Babcock.....

[TheLongHaul]

No it isn't. The UC admin loves Mick. Trust me on this. It'd take 2 back to back bad years for Mick to go. The handling of the brawl only strengthened that.

No offense, but not trusting you on this. I've been around the block enough times. I've heard executives, whether in sports or business, say one thing and do the opposite. I have zero doubts that everything that has come out of the AD's mouth about Mick has been positive. I also know that the AD has responsibilities attached to his job and he wasn't going to sit around and wait for attendance to hopefully increase to 5,000 a game. Another bad season this year and pretty much the entire fan base is off the wagon and Witt would have had no choice but to go in a different direct.

I do agree that the handling of the brawl strengthened Mick's position. But more importantly how they have played and the slight resurgence in attendance numbers post brawl have helped Mick even more.

 

[bearcat jeff]

No offense, but not trusting you on this. I've been around the block enough times. I've heard executives, whether in sports or business, say one thing and do the opposite. I have zero doubts that everything that has come out of the AD's mouth about Mick has been positive. I also know that the AD has responsibilities attached to his job and he wasn't going to sit around and wait for attendance to hopefully increase to 5,000 a game. Another bad season this year and pretty much the entire fan base is off the wagon and Witt would have had no choice but to go in a different direct.

I do agree that the handling of the brawl strengthened Mick's position. But more importantly how they have played and the slight resurgence in attendance numbers post brawl have helped Mick even more.

I agree with your last paragraph. Never forget Mick is expected to win but he is expected to graduate players and maintain an image too. He has a mandate.

 

[TheLivingLegend]

I agree with your last paragraph. Never forget Mick is expected to win but he is expected to graduate players and maintain an image too. He has a mandate.

An expectation inwhich I could debate

 

[Ryno99]

I agree with your last paragraph. Never forget Mick is expected to win but he is expected to graduate players and maintain an image too. He has a mandate.

Which the two may be contradictory to each other at times. But it is the deal he made and the deal he will have to stick to.

I'm just tired of no one giving him any credit for the turn around of this team. Mick set the tone with his presser after the throwdown, and has carried that attitude forward, and the kids are playing hard and coming together for him

Look at X, Mack limp wristed the presser and his backbone disappeared through this whole thing. Now look at what his team has done.

There are definitely some things I don't agree with Mick on, but come on, give him at least some credit for this turn around, he has handled this about as well as he possibly could and we should all be damn happy with the results since the throwdown.

 

[bearcat jeff]

Which the two may be contradictory to each other at times. But it is the deal he made and the deal he will have to stick to.

I'm just tired of no one giving him any credit for the turn around of this team. Mick set the tone with his presser after the throwdown, and has carried that attitude forward, and the kids are playing hard and coming together for him

Look at X, Mack limp wristed the presser and his backbone disappeared through this whole thing. Now look at what his team has done.

There are definitely some things I don't agree with Mick on, but come on, give him at least some credit for this turn around, he has handled this about as well as he possibly could and we should all be damn happy with the results since the throwdown.

My point exactly! It doesn't matter to me presently when the changes came. It only matters to me that they did. If people would be honest a lot thought the season was going to get very ugly after the X game. Instead it did a 180. I know the first game they lose and look bad, and in the BEast it is going to happen, we'll hear it all again, but I think this team is going to get better and be a player the rest of the season. I give both Mick and the players credit. But if you're going to beat Mick up for the bad he deserves credit for the good. You can't have it both ways.

 

[TheLongHaul]

I think most are giving him credit for the turnaround. But you also have to be blind to not see Mick's hand was forced by the fight. A lot of us thought Mick should have adjusted the teams philosophy before the X game. Regardless, I'm glad they are playing better and most the credit goes to Mick.

 

[bearcat jeff]

I think most are giving him credit for the turnaround. But you also have to be blind to not see Mick's hand was forced by the fight. A lot of us thought Mick should have adjusted the teams philosophy before the X game. Regardless, I'm glad they are playing better and most the credit goes to Mick.

What does it matter? There isn't a team I like that I don't say I think they should do so and so. It is over and done with. The change was made, good job! I could care less about what precipitated it. I only care that the team is winning and he is the head coach leading the team to those wins. Mick is a very good adjustments coach and he is a good game coach. Once players buy in and execute it really shows. If this change was the mechanism to the buy in that is awesome. Personally I believe the buy in came from Mick's stance on representing the team, city and university you play for. I think it hit the players hearts and they saw he was right. The passion level has risen 10 fold and that comes from more than a new offense.

 

[ready2go]

I think most are giving him credit for the turnaround. But you also have to be blind to not see Mick's hand was forced by the fight. A lot of us thought Mick should have adjusted the teams philosophy before the X game. Regardless, I'm glad they are playing better and most the credit goes to Mick.

It was frustrating to see a team under achieve, when many of us knew they were capable of doing greater things.

Mick and this team have turned it around and that has never been my gripe that he couldnt. I live in the present. Go Cats

 

[Ryno99]

What does it matter? There isn't a team I like that I don't say I think they should do so and so. It is over and done with. The change was made, good job! I could care less about what precipitated it. I only care that the team is winning and he is the head coach leading the team to those wins. Mick is a very good adjustments coach and he is a good game coach. Once players buy in and execute it really shows. If this change was the mechanism to the buy in that is awesome. Personally I believe the buy in came from Mick's stance on representing the team, city and university you play for. I think it hit the players hearts and they saw he was right. The passion level has risen 10 fold and that comes from more than a new offense.

Ding ding ding, we have a winner, this is something that always got me with Huggs, he was a terrible adjustments coach, way too stubborn to make changes on the fly and to me his major flaw. I love the adjustments Mick makes.

And you know what sometimes you can preach and preach about something but it takes some outside "act of God" to get through to these young kids. Maybe that was the fight, maybe it wasn't, but if it was i'm all for it. I just hope this leads to a long term buy in by the players. The one thing I would like to see Mick to more of is get some of the alum more involved, get them to practice, get them to games, show these young guys what it means to be a Bearcat and where they come from, most of these kids couldn't tell you who Mel Levitt or Bobby Brannen are. Get Fortson, Kenyon, Jmax to stop by, make the effort to involve the alum. I think it would do nothing but help.

 

[JasonS]

Ding ding ding, we have a winner, this is something that always got me with Huggs, he was a terrible adjustments coach, way too stubborn to make changes on the fly and to me his major flaw. I love the adjustments Mick makes.

And you know what sometimes you can preach and preach about something but it takes some outside "act of God" to get through to these young kids. Maybe that was the fight, maybe it wasn't, but if it was i'm all for it. I just hope this leads to a long term buy in by the players. The one thing I would like to see Mick to more of is get some of the alum more involved, get them to practice, get them to games, show these young guys what it means to be a Bearcat and where they come from, most of these kids couldn't tell you who Mel Levitt or Bobby Brannen are. Get Fortson, Kenyon, Jmax to stop by, make the effort to involve the alum. I think it would do nothing but help.

I don't know if you have been to any games yet this year but Leonard Stokes and Eric Hicks were at the games that I went to. I follow Leonard on twitter and I know for a fact that the players know who he and Eric Hicks are. I know Leonard and SK talk and pretty frequently. Kenyon is still playing pro ball so he can't come back during the season. Same for Jason Maxiell. I don't know what Fortson is up to or if he would even mean that much to the young guys on this team since he played nearly 20 years ago. I think there is more of this going on than we may realize.

 

[TheLongHaul]

What does it matter? There isn't a team I like that I don't say I think they should do so and so. It is over and done with. The change was made, good job! I could care less about what precipitated it. I only care that the team is winning and he is the head coach leading the team to those wins. Mick is a very good adjustments coach and he is a good game coach. Once players buy in and execute it really shows. If this change was the mechanism to the buy in that is awesome. Personally I believe the buy in came from Mick's stance on representing the team, city and university you play for. I think it hit the players hearts and they saw he was right. The passion level has risen 10 fold and that comes from more than a new offense.

what does it matter? UC has losses to Marshall, Presbyterian, and Xavier. Three losses to teams outside the top 25 including a loss to a terrible cupcake team. Right now I'm not sure they have any wins against tournament teams. It matters because those early losses may come back to bite them in the ass come selection Sunday....

You say the change came because Mick's strong stance post-fight, I think the change had way more to do with the fact that they went to a 4 guard offense and the players are enjoying it a lot more. No longer are they slowing down the game every chance they get and running set play after set play.

 

[JasonS]

what does it matter? UC has losses to Marshall, Presbyterian, and Xavier. Three losses to teams outside the top 25 including a loss to a terrible cupcake team. Right now I'm not sure they have any wins against tournament teams. It matters because those early losses may come back to bite them in the ass come selection Sunday....

You say the change came because Mick's strong stance post-fight, I think the change had way more to do with the fact that they went to a 4 guard offense and the players are enjoying it a lot more. No longer are they slowing down the game every chance they get and running set play after set play.

Losses to teams outside the Top 25 doesn't matter. The loss against Presbeterian is the only bad loss this team has. Losing to Marshall and Xavier aren't going to kill this team.

A big reason for the change is Cash taking over this team and Parker being back. I hope the selection committee looks at the early part of the season without Parker and takes that into account. I know he isn't a star player but he is a very important part of this team. Of course, keep winning in the Big East and this conversation doesn't even matter.

 

[Ryno99]

I don't know if you have been to any games yet this year but Leonard Stokes and Eric Hicks were at the games that I went to. I follow Leonard on twitter and I know for a fact that the players know who he and Eric Hicks are. I know Leonard and SK talk and pretty frequently. Kenyon is still playing pro ball so he can't come back during the season. Same for Jason Maxiell. I don't know what Fortson is up to or if he would even mean that much to the young guys on this team since he played nearly 20 years ago. I think there is more of this going on than we may realize.

Jason, I've been to most of the home games, and yes I see Stokes quite a bit, haven't seen Hicks, but have seen Williamson. Your point about Fortson, goes to prove mine, these kids should know who he is, they don't know enough about the history of the program and it's players to respect it and be proud of what/who they are representing every time they step on the court.

I know for a fact there is no formal interaction with the team with any alumni. Part of the reason for that is the way Oscar has dropped the ball and been more of a problem than helpful to the team. But that's a discussion for another thread.

 

[TheLongHaul]

Losses to teams outside the Top 25 doesn't matter. The loss against Presbeterian is the only bad loss this team has. Losing to Marshall and Xavier aren't going to kill this team.

A big reason for the change is Cash taking over this team and Parker being back. I hope the selection committee looks at the early part of the season without Parker and takes that into account. I know he isn't a star player but he is a very important part of this team. Of course, keep winning in the Big East and this conversation doesn't even matter.

Never said the losses to Marshall and Xavier are going to kill them. But it isn't going to look good if they are on the bubble. Either way, saying those games don't matter is incorrect.

 

[TheLongHaul]

I know for a fact there is no formal interaction with the team with any alumni. Part of the reason for that is the way Oscar has dropped the ball and been more of a problem than helpful to the team. But that's a discussion for another thread.

How is that? Lance Stephenson was practicing with them during the lockout. Hicks was as well (I believe Hicks has since went back oversees).

 

[JasonS]

How is that? Lance Stephenson was practicing with them during the lockout. Hicks was as well (I believe Hicks has since went back oversees).

Not only that...there's this:

Leonard Stokes @lstokes13
Major Happy Birthday S/O to my lil homie @SK23_ESPN. Everyone show Big East Player of the week some Birthday Luv #bearcatnation.

There is quite a bit of interaction between the players and some of the recent players of the past.

 

[Ryno99]

Yes there may be some interaction, but I'm talking formal interaction set up by the university, involve the alums in some things, there is none of that. At least that is what I'm told. I hope I'm wrong, I believe it could be a big help to the team. Try and get the final four team a reunion have them around, tell stories of what it was like to get there, that type of thing.

 

[JasonS]

Yes there may be some interaction, but I'm talking formal interaction set up by the university, involve the alums in some things, there is none of that. At least that is what I'm told. I hope I'm wrong, I believe it could be a big help to the team. Try and get the final four team a reunion have them around, tell stories of what it was like to get there, that type of thing.

Next year would be 20 years for that team. Seems like a more logical reunion than 19 years.