Expectations for 2015-16

[#BearcatNation]

No in such a condescending way. There's no need for that.

I think I can respond to whomever I want, correct? Is that not how a forum works? Not to mention, I wasn't even all that condescending. I simply asked if Bulldog understood how player development and improvement works. I think he can handle such an intense post.

Anyway, waterhead nailed it with the post above me. This season was a test and was basically prepping/practice for next season. There's a ton of potential here that we learned a lot from this season. I'm not sure how you can't predict we'll be significantly better next year than this year. Nobody's saying top 5, but spending the majority of the season in the polls is expected.

 

[L-T]

Every team players develop and improve. Unless you have all Americans coming in its hard as hell to from top 40 to top 10.

Ellis
Clark
Shaq
Cobb
tc

Isn't close to being top 10

Bulldog, the difference is most teams are losing players also, either early departs to the draft, or because they are seniors. We're basically losing nobody. That is how we make the big jump. Yes, all returning players on every team should improve. But, it's pretty rare that a whole team of the top 7 or 8 players is returning. Last year's Bearcats reached the Top 10 and finished the season at 15 in the AP Poll. This team returning is way more talented and deeper than that team in my opinion. Top 10 is definitely not out of the question.

 

[Bulldog01]

Bulldog, the difference is most teams are losing players also, either early departs to the draft, or because they are seniors. We're basically losing nobody. That is how we make the big jump. Yes, all returning players on every team should improve. But, it's pretty rare that a whole team of the top 7 or 8 players is returning. Last year's Bearcats reached the Top 10 and finished the season at 15 in the AP Poll. This team returning is way more talented and deeper than that team in my opinion. Top 10 is definitely not out of the question.

I get that but none of your top 7-8 players actually played like top players. Yes, we have our leading scorer, rebounder, and passer all coming back. Outside of rebounding we don't return not one player out of 7-8 that finished top 10 in points or assists. Only 3 locks for starting line up next year are troy, Ellis, Clark. Now if we were returning sk and jj WITH this depth now thats a top 10 team. we need significant jumps from couple players to even be top 20.

 

[L-T]

I get that but none of your top 7-8 players actually played like top players. Yes, we have our leading scorer, rebounder, and passer all coming back. Outside of rebounding we don't return not one player out of 7-8 that finished top 10 in points or assists. Only 3 locks for starting line up next year are troy, Ellis, Clark. Now if we were returning sk and jj WITH this depth now thats a top 10 team. we need significant jumps from couple players to even be top 20.

And I'm counting on those significant jumps. We'll have a bunch of juniors and seniors. One of my big complaints in the Cronin tenure, is the lack of player development, and the lack of those significant jumps you're referring to. But, we have seen quite a few of his seniors actually make that jump, so I'm counting on that being the case next year. You could be right, but I'm letting history guide my thinking some here.

 

[coachpipe]

LT if we didn't crack top 25 why is next year so much better?

Now I ask you this. If this "young" team which you kind of expect to having some growing pains during the season wouldnt have lost to Tulane, ECU, Memphis or Nebraska. Shit even throw Xavier in there or the Uconn buzzer beater and would this team have been in the top 25?

I say yes easily. Now you have a year under Garys belt where he now knows what to work on. Not saying he didnt over this past off season, but actually playing in 30 Division 1 basketball games helps. You are bringing in atleast 2 pieces that will help and are only losing 1 player who didnt play that big of a role down the stretch. The future is bright my friends...very bright

 

[KJ's#1Supporter]

How funny is it that the 2011 and 2012 classes turned out the way they did, and yet somehow next year we're likely going to have one of the best senior classes of Mick's tenure?

 

[KJ's#1Supporter]

Now I ask you this. If this "young" team which you kind of expect to having some growing pains during the season wouldnt have lost to Tulane, ECU, Memphis or Nebraska. Shit even throw Xavier in there or the Uconn buzzer beater and would this team have been in the top 25?

I say yes easily. Now you have a year under Garys belt where he now knows what to work on. Not saying he didnt over this past off season, but actually playing in 30 Division 1 basketball games helps. You are bringing in atleast 2 pieces that will help and are only losing 1 player who didnt play that big of a role down the stretch. The future is bright my friends...very bright

There is a reason too why juco guys tends to make a big jump from year 1 to 2. Ellis, Cobb and DeBerry should benefit a ton from getting a real, full offseason in our strength and conditioning program.

 

[Alum2013]

Well for one almost all of them are people that played elsewhere for 2 full years. Outside of Shaq and maybe a little bit of Ellis, they had already established their skills before getting here.

 

[TheLongHaul]

How funny is it that the 2011 and 2012 classes turned out the way they did, and yet somehow next year we're likely going to have one of the best senior classes of Mick's tenure?

To be fair there haven't been very many senior classes so far that could be labeled great. Also, although next years senior class will be good, they only got two years from Ellis, DeBerry, and Cobb.

 

[waterhead]

Every team players develop and improve. Unless you have all Americans coming in its hard as hell to from top 40 to top 10.

Ellis
Clark
Shaq
Cobb
tc

Isn't close to being top 10

You say we are not close and I say we are just inches away...


I think this year if we went 27-4 we would have been in the top 10 or sniffing it. We lost 3 games by one shot! Clean those up and you are 25-6 (top 20)and you just need to find 2 more wins. I think next year we win those "one shot" games by 4-6 or so and the one's we lost by 4-6 will be the new 1 shot games. We lost 3 other games by 6 or less...ECU is a no brainer here. Now find one more game maybe UConn on road or Ole Miss and you are there. Boom! 27-4...top 10 ish.

 

[Bulldog01]

How funny is it that the 2011 and 2012 classes turned out the way they did, and yet somehow next year we're likely going to have one of the best senior classes of Mick's tenure?

Crazy ain't it. I'm from show me state

 

[L-T]

Crazy ain't it. I'm from show me state

Bulldog, you already confessed you're from the Buckeye state, not the Show Me state, so you don't need to be shown. Just believe!

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

To be fair there haven't been very many senior classes so far that could be labeled great. Also, although next years senior class will be good, they only got two years from Ellis, DeBerry, and Cobb.

Yancy Gates and Dion Dixon was a pretty good senior class. They both scored over 1200 points, Dixon was the all-time leader in games played when he graduated, and they led the program to it's first Sweet 16 since 2001. You could even throw Cashmere Wright in there because they were in the same recruiting class...another guy that scored over 1200 points and is top 3 in steal all-time.

 

[TheLongHaul]

Yancy Gates and Dion Dixon was a pretty good senior class. They both scored over 1200 points, Dixon was the all-time leader in games played when he graduated, and they led the program to it's first Sweet 16 since 2001. You could even throw Cashmere Wright in there because they were in the same recruiting class...another guy that scored over 1200 points and is top 3 in steal all-time.

I agree.

 

[KJ's#1Supporter]

To be fair there haven't been very many senior classes so far that could be labeled great. Also, although next years senior class will be good, they only got two years from Ellis, DeBerry, and Cobb.

Yeah I agree that having a couple guys in their third year this year could've helped a lot.

 

[cincrulz11]

Yancy Gates and Dion Dixon was a pretty good senior class. They both scored over 1200 points, Dixon was the all-time leader in games played when he graduated, and they led the program to it's first Sweet 16 since 2001. You could even throw Cashmere Wright in there because they were in the same recruiting class...another guy that scored over 1200 points and is top 3 in steal all-time.

While one of them was never a senior and the other 2 graduated different years, the class after that one wasn't too shabby either.

Lance, Parker, Kilpatrick. 2 guys playing in the league from that one (we can say that now haha).

 

[Bearcat Rob]

Yancy Gates and Dion Dixon was a pretty good senior class. They both scored over 1200 points, Dixon was the all-time leader in games played when he graduated, and they led the program to it's first Sweet 16 since 2001. You could even throw Cashmere Wright in there because they were in the same recruiting class...another guy that scored over 1200 points and is top 3 in steal all-time.

I agree they had great careers, I remember dions dunk against Florida st in the NCAA tourny, and yancy against G'town in the big east tourny...I loved that team. Also sk, jj, and rubles have to be up there as well

 

[lumberjack]

I think most would call this season a success, when you factor in everything that came with it. That being said, I know we're all thinking bigger and better for next season. As of right now, where would you set the bar at for next season?

For me, anything shy of this is a disappointment:

26-5 record, pre-AAC tourney
Majority of season in top 25 w/ some time in top 15
Winning the conference regular season title
Playing in the conference title game
5 seed in the NCAA tourney
Sweet sixteen with a shot at elite eight

I think Ellis, Caupain, Cobb, and Clark will all average double-figures. Shaq with 9 per game. KJ with 8.5.

As long as the turnovers are cut down, I don't think anything I've mentioned above is a stretch. Not only attainable, but expected.

I think these are all reasonable expectations. Depending how the freshman already committed play and a surprise addition or two, more could be possible.

 

[waterhead]

Yeah I agree that having a couple guys in their third year this year could've helped a lot.

I sent you a PM...I just noticed I had unread messages...lol

 

[Bulldog01]

Bulldog, you already confessed you're from the Buckeye state, not the Show Me state, so you don't need to be shown. Just believe!

my id say show me