Hoops Season Not Good Enough

[swg]

From 1992 through 2005, the University of Cincinnati was a mainstay in the NCAA Tournament.

Playing in the tournament was a habit so deeply ingrained that it came to be taken for granted, with fans complaining when the Bearcats didn’t make it to the Sweet 16 every year.

But now, with five long years having passed since that last NCAA Tournament appearance, losing in the first or second round doesn’t seem so bad.

During that time, the proud program has been torn down and then slowly rebuilt. Fan support has eroded and the reputation nationally has suffered.

The Bearcats have gone from the dominant team in Conference USA to an also-ran in the Big East Conference. They have posted three winning seasons and made two appearances in the National Invitation Tournament, along with one appearance in the College Basketball Invitational.

That’s not good enough for UC, which was ranked as the nation’s 17th best program last fall in the ESPN/Sagarin all-time rankings.

The positives, from Cronin’s standpoint, are the return next season of Big East Rookie of the Year Lance Stephenson, along with a more experienced Yancy Gates, Cashmere Wright and Jaquon Parker – plus freshman Sean Kilpatrick, a scoring swing man who was redshirted this year.

Last fall, Cronin signed two players – Justin Jackson, a 6-foot-8 power forward known for his rebounding and defense – and Kelvin Gaines, a 6-foot-10, 225-pound center.

Assuming everyone returns from this year’s team, UC has no scholarships available for next season, but that doesn’t mean the roster is set. Junior Rashad Bishop remains suspended indefinitely as the offseason begins and Cronin has let it be known that if his current players can’t perform to his satisfaction he’ll find others who can.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100323/SPT0101/303230071/1064/UC+short+of+expectations

 

[psax889906]

I'll agree that progress was made but it wasn't what we wanted. The problem is, being 'close' hurts so much more than simply being a terrible team like in 2006-2007.

 

[adrock]

The problem is, being 'close' hurts so much more than simply being a terrible team like in 2006-2007.

That is so true. When we were terrible I emotionally distanced myself from wins and losses. Now that we're on the cusp I live and die with the team.

 

[psax889906]

That is so true. When we were terrible I emotionally distanced myself from wins and losses. Now that we're on the cusp I live and die with the team.

First off, love the avatar... arguably my favorite moment from this year.

I was thinking today what "progress" over the next few years would be enough. I asked myself the question: If UC won 1 more game a year, from this year's total (19) for the next ten years, would you take that? 20 next year, 21 year after, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and finally 29. What about 2 more games a year for the next 5 seasons?... 21, 23, 25, 27, 29? Point being, the team would very likely miss the NCAA tournament for another season or two... and they'd never win the national title during the run... but they'd get back to the tournament, appear in it for consecutive years...


So what is acceptable progress from this point forward... we all know next year we want to be in the NCAA tournament... but would you take that 1 game increase for ten years? Interesting things to think about. Fine line to be walked when using the word 'progress'.

 

[swg]

Have to win more BE games. The ones UC should win, and several they shouldn't. So far the bad losses have far outweighed the good wins.

 

[anbuc88]

Progress was made this year, but as has been already stated, not at the speed at which we would like. Looking at the last 10 games of the year, they lost to Marquette in overtime, lost to WVU away by 6 (we all know how one sided the officiating was), lost to Villanova by 4, were beaten by G-town handily, and played very well in the BE tourney. The Dayton game was disappointing, but Dayton was not chopped liver this year, just underachieved like we did. There is a lot of hope for next year. I for one would prefer that Bishop not return, as the losing mentality and acceptance of losing has to be shed. Bishop along with Davis are part of that legacy and need to move on. If Mick can bring in a shooter and get another big body down low to allow Jackson and Gaines to be brought along slowly, we could have a special year next year. Mick talked about taking a trip to Canada this summer to build team unity and this should also help.

 

[ready2go]

Progress was made this year, but as has been already stated, not at the speed at which we would like. Looking at the last 10 games of the year, they lost to Marquette in overtime, lost to WVU away by 6 (we all know how one sided the officiating was), lost to Villanova by 4, were beaten by G-town handily, and played very well in the BE tourney. The Dayton game was disappointing, but Dayton was not chopped liver this year, just underachieved like we did. There is a lot of hope for next year. I for one would prefer that Bishop not return, as the losing mentality and acceptance of losing has to be shed. Bishop along with Davis are part of that legacy and need to move on. If Mick can bring in a shooter and get another big body down low to allow Jackson and Gaines to be brought along slowly, we could have a special year next year. Mick talked about taking a trip to Canada this summer to build team unity and this should also help.

The same could be said for the 2008-2009 season. That is why I really do not believe progress was made.

In the 08'-09' season the Bearcats sat directly on the bubble after losing to UofL by on 9 and beating WVU. After 4 straight losses, cya NCAA Tourny. If it were not losing to Depaul in the BE Tourny you could make a very valid argument that a much less talented team that year would have too been in the NIT.

It is simple on why they have underachieved to me and therefore not improved this year. The talent on this team far exceeds last years team. I firmly believe Mick has taken this program as far as he can.

 

[anbuc88]

The same could be said for the 2008-2009 season. That is why I really do not believe progress was made.

In the 08'-09' season the Bearcats sat directly on the bubble after losing to UofL by on 9 and beating WVU. After 4 straight losses, cya NCAA Tourny. If it were not losing to Depaul in the BE Tourny you could make a very valid argument that a much less talented team that year would have too been in the NIT.

It is simple on why they have underachieved to me and therefore not improved this year. The talent on this team far exceeds last years team. I firmly believe Mick has taken this program as far as he can.

I disagree. The way they finished last year was not the same as this year. They lost at Syracuse, to a much worse SF away, SH in overtime at home and then Depaul in the BE tourney. There has been improvement this year, especially when considering how they lost to Gonzaga, XU, and SJU earlier in the year. Win these games and they were in the NCAA tourney, no questions asked, and we wouldn't be discussing how this year was such a disappointment.

 

[ready2go]

I disagree. The way they finished last year was not the same as this year. They lost at Syracuse, to a much worse SF away, SH in overtime at home and then Depaul in the BE tourney. There has been improvement this year, especially when considering how they lost to Gonzaga, XU, and SJU earlier in the year. Win these games and they were in the NCAA tourney, no questions asked, and we wouldn't be discussing how this year was such a disappointment.

You are agreeing with me. I said if it were not for the last 4 games of the 08'-09' season they would have been at the very least an NIT Team. You can't deny the fact that, that team also had far less talent than this years team. I don't care who we lost to this year or by how much, fact is this team had talent much greater than last season. I'm just not sure you can call that improvement. Especially after what we saw this team was capable of in Maui!

 

[lumberjack]

You are agreeing with me. I said if it were not for the last 4 games of the 08'-09' season they would have been at the very least an NIT Team. You can't deny the fact that, that team also had far less talent than this years team. I don't care who we lost to this year or by how much, fact is this team had talent much greater than last season. I'm just not sure you can call that improvement. Especially after what we saw this team was capable of in Maui!

New coach-- problem solved.

 

[ready2go]

New coach-- problem solved.

Agreeeed!

 

[ralph1950]

New coach-- problem solved.

Wrong. New coach, new 5 year rebuilding program, then 5 years later another new coach and another new rebuilding program. Mick is UC's one and only hope to get back to being consistantly good.

 

[ucgrad94]

Wrong. New coach, new 5 year rebuilding program, then 5 years later another new coach and another new rebuilding program. Mick is UC's one and only hope to get back to being consistantly good.

While I think Mick has UC improving, I just read this and don't see how you can assume no other coach could rebuild the program. What if Frank Martin came (he won't but im trying to make a point), you really think it would take 5 more years? It all depends who the coach would be. IF we had a chance to get Martin, you wouldn't want to? This is just hypothetical because we know we won't get him.

 

[swg]

Louisville was awful in football, now Charlie Strong will come in and turn that around within 2 years, IMO. It takes the right coach. Unfortunately, there are more good coaches in football than there are in basketball. OC and DC are big names, and in hoops, only the coaches get recognized....so more numbers in that arena.