The top 6 played so many minutes and scored such a high percentage of the teams points that it isn't too significant that UC lost when Dixon didn't play well (they lost almost whenever a top guard didn't play well). His dismal shot selection will not be missed, however his guts and confidence will. The dude had swagger like he was DWade which can be good or bad at times.
Early Predictions and Player Analysis for next year
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The top 6 played so many minutes and scored such a high percentage of the teams points that it isn't too significant that UC lost when Dixon didn't play well (they lost almost whenever a top guard didn't play well). His dismal shot selection will not be missed, however his guts and confidence will. The dude had swagger like he was DWade which can be good or bad at times.
BearcatMick
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Uc will be better without dixon. Much much much better.
bearcat jeff
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The best thing about this team is it has many gym rats on it. Looking so forward to next season.
david aka the TYZ
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I think a reason for Dixon's shooting woes were because he ran point when Cash wasn't on the floor and the offense really struggled in those times. He held his own while playing point as far as not turning the ball over too much, but the offense really became stagnant. He shot too many threes based on his ability to hit from there, but other than that I had no real complaints Dixon this year. I think he became the fall-to guy to put up a shot when the offense wasn't flowing and that generally leads to bad or forced shots.
bearcat jeff
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He falls away rather than going straight up and takes off balance shots.
CPAW29
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with bill kochs column in the paper today, i guess we know what mick wants to do next season. more uptempo style they can do now since gates is not slowing things down
JasonS
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It's not just Gates though. We didn't have the horses to do that this year with 6 freshmen. Most freshmen aren't consistent enough to play big minutes every game. To play the style Mick wants to play, you need depth at the guard positions and bigs that can run the floor. You honestly didn't have either of those this year. I like the fact that Mick has a vision for what he wants the program to look like offensively but is also able to adapt if needed.
CPAW29
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i agree with what your saying, its just i like to see guys give a better effort every game. he couldnt use that style with gates cause he jogs up the floor
Btown Bearcat
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shaq
lets not forget shaq thomas. i think were better next year. i really do.
lets not forget shaq thomas. i think were better next year. i really do.
I hope so too but we haven't seen him play one minute of D1 ball yet. I have high hopes for him.
What I find interesting is that Dixon has gotten so much flack from fans over the years yet Cronin always felt he was enough of an asset to keep him on the floor over other players. Either Cronin doesn't see it the way a lot of fans do...or his other recruits were worse than Dixon. It's too early to tell if we have a playernext year that will be as valuable.
Dixon logged a lot of solid Big East minutes for this team that could/would have gone to any other deserving player had there been one. Apparently being able to log that many minutes in the Big East is not so easily done or everybody would be doing it...including our bench players over the years. I think it's time Dixon gets his just due...he never complained. He just played hard for our program and tried to get better every year...and did get better every year IMO. He was one of my favorites for that reason...he had a great attitude...and maybe was appreciated less than he should have been.
We are losing roughly 25 points a game next year with Gates and Dixon. Also Cronin would like to have a BETTER offense next year. Let's just say he wants to average 5 more points in a theoretical example. That is roughly 30 points/game we are going to need to find to accomplish that goal.
With what I have seen from our current post players and have heard from our incoming first year players (and possible recruits)...we probably aren't going to get much more than 8 of those from the 5 position. That means we have to "find" a lot of points elsewhere. I am an optimist but I am just hoping we can make up for what we lost...let alone scoring more points per game.
If we score 5 more points a game next year...we will have a great shot to return to the sweet 16 and beyond...because I know Cronin will not sacrifice defense and effort related stats for points.
With what I have seen from our current post players and have heard from our incoming first year players (and possible recruits)...we probably aren't going to get much more than 8 of those from the 5 position. That means we have to "find" a lot of points elsewhere. I am an optimist but I am just hoping we can make up for what we lost...let alone scoring more points per game.
If we score 5 more points a game next year...we will have a great shot to return to the sweet 16 and beyond...because I know Cronin will not sacrifice defense and effort related stats for points.
If Mick is wanting to push the tempo and create more turnovers with pressure defense then some of the points will come from turnovers and transition which creates higher percentage shots as compared to grinding it out in the half-court offense.
david aka the TYZ
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I think sometimes people get wrapped up too much in the ppg by people you lose. The game will still be 40 minutes and we'll still get the ball every other possession. When Vaughn and Stephenson left it was the same sort of numbers and we improved the following year. The key to scoring more is either getting more possessions (i.e. speed the game up, which in turn gives your opponent more possessions as well) or shoot more efficiently, which either happens by shooting better and/or getting better shots. Obviously we lose some talent in Gates and Dixon, but neither player were lights-out scorers. I think there are two keys to next year's offense. One is we need some sort of low-post presence if for nothing else to keep the defense honest and to help rebound. Two is we need Guyn/Davis to be a viable back-up when Cash is off the floor to keep the offense from becoming stagnant (even by our standards).
WAITE HOYT 2
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I look for next years team to be deeper and more athletic. While losing Yancy and Dixion will hurt, having a healthy and confident Parker,Thomas eligible,and valuable experience gained by the other freshman will more then offset their departures. Mick has mentioned, he wants a agressive, attacking style on both ends of the floor. He has the numbers to do it. If he gets Obekpa he'll have something that he has not had since he got here and that is a defensive intimitator in the middle. Blocking and changing shots is a huge advantage. Example: Davis was 1-10 from the field last night in the final and he still was the MVP. While Yancy had his strengths he wasn't a shot blocker or a defender that could erase a blow by from the wing. Thsi will allow us to press and run. Our length with Obekpa,Ellis,Gaines,Rubles,Jackson will be more than formidable. Our offense will still be perimeter oriented in half court but our Defense should be better and generate fast break points and more easy baskets. MC has a group of good not great players, who if they buy in and except their roles should attack teams for 40 minutes. The most important aspect is the amount of competition for minutes. Anyone on the team expecting to play will need to bring it everyday not just game day. This is how teams get better. Love the direction and style MC has the team going. He was the right man for the job.
AS good as Dixon could be, I don't think this team will miss him much. Mostly because we have plenty of good perimeter players left on the roster. Someone will have to take over his leadership.
Losing Yancy is what worries the most. Sure, he never became that dominant player we had all hoped for and he was limited offensively in the post (partially due to nto being able to get the ball on the block enough), but we are going to miss his rebounding. We will also miss Dixon's rebounding if SK or Shaq don't pick up the slack.
Losing Yancy is what worries the most. Sure, he never became that dominant player we had all hoped for and he was limited offensively in the post (partially due to nto being able to get the ball on the block enough), but we are going to miss his rebounding. We will also miss Dixon's rebounding if SK or Shaq don't pick up the slack.
TheLongHaul
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Dixon averaged 3 rebounds a game. I don't think that will be too hard to make up. Cash averaged more than that. Shaq should be a much better offensive rebounder than Dixon.
WAITE HOYT 2
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Dixions greatest value to the team was his athletism and his ability to help Cash handle the ball. When this team was at its best turnovers were few. He also was our best finisher on the break. His shot selection was iffy and he often fell asleep defensively.
Yancy was a threat inside and was a very good on the glass. He also had great hands. He was good enough offensively that you couldn't ignore him. He wasn't a shot blocker. Like Dixon, his shot selection ws suspect at times. When focused and motivated he could be very formidable. His size which helped him create space will be missed. Defensively he couldn't be muscled and his positioning was generally good.
Yancy was a threat inside and was a very good on the glass. He also had great hands. He was good enough offensively that you couldn't ignore him. He wasn't a shot blocker. Like Dixon, his shot selection ws suspect at times. When focused and motivated he could be very formidable. His size which helped him create space will be missed. Defensively he couldn't be muscled and his positioning was generally good.
You know what, you're right. It was my imagination. I think a couple of his games towards the end of the year made me think he gave us more. So I take back the concern there.
bobbrannen
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I agree with your post for the most part.
I believe the 100% must have though is for Justin Jackson to make a big stride in improvement. He needs to be able to consistently knock down a 10-15 foot jump shot at the top of the key. He played the middle well against zone (syracuse.louisville,etc.) and passed pretty well against zone when he caught the ball around the free throw line, and took the ball to the hoop fairly well but the next natural development is to hit that mid range shot.Totally agree kilpatrick needs better ball handling to take it to the rack.
Kelvin Gaines is still my longshot. you cant teach or really improve natural athleticism and he was second on the team in blocked shots and only played very small minutes.
I believe the 100% must have though is for Justin Jackson to make a big stride in improvement. He needs to be able to consistently knock down a 10-15 foot jump shot at the top of the key. He played the middle well against zone (syracuse.louisville,etc.) and passed pretty well against zone when he caught the ball around the free throw line, and took the ball to the hoop fairly well but the next natural development is to hit that mid range shot.Totally agree kilpatrick needs better ball handling to take it to the rack.
Kelvin Gaines is still my longshot. you cant teach or really improve natural athleticism and he was second on the team in blocked shots and only played very small minutes.
BamaCat
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Next Year
Ok...the wins per year has increased every year under Mick. The Cats have advanced in the Big Dance every year that they appeared under Mick. Most "experts" think next years team will be pretty good. So, 27 wins and an elite eight win would not be a shock.
It might be the Cialis talking....but I'm getting wood thinking about next year!
Ok...the wins per year has increased every year under Mick. The Cats have advanced in the Big Dance every year that they appeared under Mick. Most "experts" think next years team will be pretty good. So, 27 wins and an elite eight win would not be a shock.
It might be the Cialis talking....but I'm getting wood thinking about next year!