A better home atmosphere would be positive for recruiting. You are free to think the team's performance doesn't warrant it, but that is a fact. It's not a defense of Cronin. You guys are jumping to conclusions for the sake of arguing.
Is our home atmosphere bad? College basketball in general is not as big as it was in the 80, 90s. It isn’t just here. Nationally, The sport is basically just a tournament. Much like baseball, it’s a regional sport.
So far you have blamed the fans, players, and said we need better assistant coaches. Everyone except the coach. HmmmmAnd I think a lot of this has to do with the fans. If fans were still as passionate as they were when Huggins was here it would probably help with recruiting, a lot. If we packed every game, and went crazy like we used to, it would be nothing but positive. And it's changed a lot of course since Mick first started, but having grown up going to games, and seeing how they are even this or last year, it's just not the same. I really hope it gets even better with the new arena, UC needs that hype again.
I'm sure our attendance and atmosphere is good compared to most programs. It's just weird that someone said a better atmosphere could help recruiting and they're excited about the new arena, and people jump to "STOP MAKING EXCUSES FOR OUR MILLIONAIRE COACH"
Well go back and read my posts. I've certainly put things on Mick. Almost every post we've discussed it, I've said he had plenty of faults. But you guys act like all of it falls on him, or at least almost all. Which I'm sorry I just don't believe to be the case. And I'm sorry that our fan base has changed. I've been going to games for 20+ years now, and was there for the glory days with Huggs. I know he built that team up and our program to an all time high, and our fans were wild. But if we are gonna talk about why things aren't the same, don't we have to look at the reaction of the fans too? Do you think many of these other blue bloods (which I would say we pretty much were minus a NC when Huggins was here), would just completely abandon the team and program for 5, 6, 7 years just because the coach got fired for being, well you know.. I know people were mad at the school, but the basketball program didn't fire him, and the players certainly didn't. But it all disappeared for a long time, and Mick has done a lot, minus a long tourney run, and yet we still only sell out big games, the atmosphere is none the same. I'm just pointing out facts, I'm not outright blaming everything on this, clearly. But to ignore it... I know I'm the guy you n jake are loving to hate on because I don't hate our coach for losing, or wanna cry for a summer, but alright lll
Well go back and read my posts. I've certainly put things on Mick. Almost every post we've discussed it, I've said he had plenty of faults. But you guys act like all of it falls on him, or at least almost all. Which I'm sorry I just don't believe to be the case. And I'm sorry that our fan base has changed. I've been going to games for 20+ years now, and was there for the glory days with Huggs. I know he built that team up and our program to an all time high, and our fans were wild. But if we are gonna talk about why things aren't the same, don't we have to look at the reaction of the fans too? Do you think many of these other blue bloods (which I would say we pretty much were minus a NC when Huggins was here), would just completely abandon the team and program for 5, 6, 7 years just because the coach got fired for being, well you know.. I know people were mad at the school, but the basketball program didn't fire him, and the players certainly didn't. But it all disappeared for a long time, and Mick has done a lot, minus a long tourney run, and yet we still only sell out big games, the atmosphere is none the same. I'm just pointing out facts, I'm not outright blaming everything on this, clearly. But to ignore it... I know I'm the guy you n jake are loving to hate on because I don't hate our coach for losing, or wanna cry for a summer, but alright lll
So you’re wondering why fans aren’t as excited about today’s team, as opposed to a team that went to 3 straight elite 8s, and 1 final 4, and were top 5 in the country for several years?
When did Huggins ever go to 3 straight Elite 8's?
He went to the elite 8 and then final four then round of 64, round of 32 then another Elite 8.
Huggins best years at UC were all behind him. In his First 7 years he had 2 Elite 8's and a final 4.
His last 9 years he had 1 sweet 16 and 8 round of 32/64 exits,
Huggins made the NCAA's 14 times as a Bearcat and he was upset 8 times by a lower seed.
It goes to show that early success can buy you a decade plus of mediocrity.
I'd argue that people left supporting the program in part because of Huggins failings in his last 9 years however he was living off of stock he bought in his first years and it kept the pressure off his back. But when Cronin came in, he inherited that dismay from disgruntled fans and even more so during the rebuild.
Huggins has been a D1 coach for years and years and yet has 2 final fours. People around here think he is Jesus and yet, he hasn't won a conference title since he was in the shitty conference USA.
When did Huggins ever go to 3 straight Elite 8's?
He went to the elite 8 and then final four then round of 64, round of 32 then another Elite 8.
Huggins best years at UC were all behind him. In his First 7 years he had 2 Elite 8's and a final 4.
His last 9 years he had 1 sweet 16 and 8 round of 32/64 exits,
Huggins made the NCAA's 14 times as a Bearcat and he was upset 8 times by a lower seed.
It goes to show that early success can buy you a decade plus of mediocrity.
I'd argue that people left supporting the program in part because of Huggins failings in his last 9 years however he was living off of stock he bought in his first years and it kept the pressure off his back. But when Cronin came in, he inherited that dismay from disgruntled fans and even more so during the rebuild.
Huggins has been a D1 coach for years and years and yet has 2 final fours. People around here think he is Jesus and yet, he hasn't won a conference title since he was in the shitty conference USA.
I agree with all this.
When did Huggins ever go to 3 straight Elite 8's?
He went to the elite 8 and then final four then round of 64, round of 32 then another Elite 8.
Huggins best years at UC were all behind him. In his First 7 years he had 2 Elite 8's and a final 4.
His last 9 years he had 1 sweet 16 and 8 round of 32/64 exits,
Huggins made the NCAA's 14 times as a Bearcat and he was upset 8 times by a lower seed.
It goes to show that early success can buy you a decade plus of mediocrity.
I'd argue that people left supporting the program in part because of Huggins failings in his last 9 years however he was living off of stock he bought in his first years and it kept the pressure off his back. But when Cronin came in, he inherited that dismay from disgruntled fans and even more so during the rebuild.
Huggins has been a D1 coach for years and years and yet has 2 final fours. People around here think he is Jesus and yet, he hasn't won a conference title since he was in the shitty conference USA.
When did Huggins ever go to 3 straight Elite 8's?
He went to the elite 8 and then final four then round of 64, round of 32 then another Elite 8.
Huggins best years at UC were all behind him. In his First 7 years he had 2 Elite 8's and a final 4.
His last 9 years he had 1 sweet 16 and 8 round of 32/64 exits,
Huggins made the NCAA's 14 times as a Bearcat and he was upset 8 times by a lower seed.
It goes to show that early success can buy you a decade plus of mediocrity.
I'd argue that people left supporting the program in part because of Huggins failings in his last 9 years however he was living off of stock he bought in his first years and it kept the pressure off his back. But when Cronin came in, he inherited that dismay from disgruntled fans and even more so during the rebuild.
Huggins has been a D1 coach for years and years and yet has 2 final fours. People around here think he is Jesus and yet, he hasn't won a conference title since he was in the shitty conference USA.
There's a very wide gap between "not as excited" and "blaming Mick for all of our problems". There is a middle ground, where fans can be less excited than they were in the 90's and feel that Mick is currently the best choice for the program. Fans can also measure success in different ways. Tournament struggles don't necessarily negate regular season success for everyone.So you’re wondering why fans aren’t as excited about today’s team...
There's a very wide gap between "not as excited" and "blaming Mick for all of our problems". There is a middle ground, where fans can be less excited than they were in the 90's and feel that Mick is currently the best choice for the program. Fans can also measure success in different ways. Tournament struggles don't necessarily negate regular season success for everyone.