A week off should do the Cats well. This is the game where TC breaks through the wall and gets off to a good start for the stretch run. Good test for the Cats to see how they respond from getting humbled by SMU. Good test for the fans to see whose on board and who isn't. Cats and fans pass test with a 72-54 win in front of 11,500+
Houston @ Cats
- Thread starter Bearcat22
- Start date
Help Support BearcatTalk:
#BearcatNation
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2012
- Messages
- 2,120
Looks like we're putting last night in the rear view mirror real quick. I have no problem with that, haha. I'll be at this game. I'm glad to see our next 2 opponents are Houston and UCF. Not to mention how desperately we need this week off. It'll be tough for us fans, but beneficial in the long run. I think we win by 15.
Bearcat_NTS
Well-known member
Just noticed that Cincinnati has already played 25 games and 12 in league play. No one else has played more than 11, and 4 schools have only played 10.
bearcat jeff
Hoops Moderator
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2010
- Messages
- 7,502
We have 2 one week stretches between games to end the season I believe. Could be huge down the stretch to keep legs fresh, minds sharp, and concentrate on correcting bad habits players get into. When you are playing a string of games week after week all you can do is game prep.
Louisville has an easy schedule between now and the time we play them again. However, their close out last 4-5 are going to be tough. They play @ UC, @SMU and @ Memphis plus have UConn at home.
Last edited:
UCalum08
Well-known member
That is a rough way to end. I think its funny because I think UC, UConn, Memphis, and UL have tough final 4-5 games because they all play each other. The scheduling of this conference seems odd. The only reason I can think they did this is because its the top 4 teams in the league and for TV purposes.
Bearcat_NTS
Well-known member
We have a very tough stretch as well. After Houston and UCF, Cincinnati plays:
2/22 vs. #13 Louisville
3/1 @ #24 Connecticut
3/6 vs. #20 Memphis
That is a Big East like stretch...
bearcat jeff
Hoops Moderator
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2010
- Messages
- 7,502
The difference being 2 of those 3 are at home.
bearcat jeff
Hoops Moderator
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2010
- Messages
- 7,502
The Bearcats have to get back to being aggressive. Of their 48 shots at SMU 24 were from the 3 point range. Shaq shows flashes and then disappears again. Jackson and SK are the only 2 consistent scorers. A third has to step up.
Shaq has been the definition of inconsistency. We need him to step it up for us to have success in March, not to mention next season.
freshmen - step up!
UC cannot win consistently without strong contributions from the freshmen. They were at their best when Caupain & KJ were contributing. Remember when we were all crying for TC to start? That's the kind of level he needs to start playing. These guys are crucial - the fact that they have either disappeared or played poorly is hurting the team. Let's go, frosh...suck it up!
UC cannot win consistently without strong contributions from the freshmen. They were at their best when Caupain & KJ were contributing. Remember when we were all crying for TC to start? That's the kind of level he needs to start playing. These guys are crucial - the fact that they have either disappeared or played poorly is hurting the team. Let's go, frosh...suck it up!
I agree with what a lot have said.
To win in march we need SK to play like an AA candidate. JJ to play with intensity and stay out if foul trouble. TR to protect the ball and not take stupid shots. ST to be aggressive and attack the basket. GG to keep playing as he as with a consistent 3 point shot when wide open. JS has to get better on D and must make his open 3's. Lawrence must provide low post d minutes and rebound, rebound, rebound! And we need TC or KJ to provide a scoring punch off the bench. Additionally TC has to step up his game and take care of the basketball.
We can beat a lot of teams with SK and JJ playing well as long as we get rebounding. But to beat the better teams in march we need that 3rd scorer (I'm looking at you ST) and we have to stop turning the ball over (TR and TC).
I'm very excited to see how the rest of February and march progress.
To win in march we need SK to play like an AA candidate. JJ to play with intensity and stay out if foul trouble. TR to protect the ball and not take stupid shots. ST to be aggressive and attack the basket. GG to keep playing as he as with a consistent 3 point shot when wide open. JS has to get better on D and must make his open 3's. Lawrence must provide low post d minutes and rebound, rebound, rebound! And we need TC or KJ to provide a scoring punch off the bench. Additionally TC has to step up his game and take care of the basketball.
We can beat a lot of teams with SK and JJ playing well as long as we get rebounding. But to beat the better teams in march we need that 3rd scorer (I'm looking at you ST) and we have to stop turning the ball over (TR and TC).
I'm very excited to see how the rest of February and march progress.
I agree with you about the turnovers in general but in our worst two turnover games of the year UL (20) and SMU (19) the major contributors were our senior captains. JJ combined for 11 (unacceptable), TR had 7 and SK had 7. That is 25 of the 39 TO's.
SK handles the rock a lot so I can live with him at 3 or less, JJ 2 or less, and TR 1 or less. For those that don't score 10+ points or produce a lot of assists they need to be at 1 or less.
bearcat jeff
Hoops Moderator
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2010
- Messages
- 7,502
Reading thru the thread I was going to point this out too. Got to get back to 10 or less t.o's, rebound defensively/offensively and another scorer needs to emerge nightly if not one in and of itself. Have to have that third guy that will give us 9-11 and get bench scoring of 18-22 points. Baring an explosion of 25 or better from SK this has to happen for a deep March run.
SK had only 3 to's against L-ville & only 1 against SMU - not his fault - JJ by far the worst offender...6 in 26 minutes against SMU
Interestingly, Sanders has the best assist/turnover ratio on the team (2.0). He also has the best 3 pt shooting percentage on the team (.379)....Maybe he needs to pick up more of the scoring slack.
#BearcatNation
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2012
- Messages
- 2,120
Sanders had really cooled off though. He was around 42-45% from 3 not long ago at all. I think they need to run plays for him to get open looks, but he's not the kind of guy that can create much of his own, nor shoot with guys in his face. Should only shoot if wide open.
We have played a lot of BB and we have had some big tests. This 7 day rest is going to do wonders and our next two games are a little bit of a relief too. We can build up to UL at home. We also have two other breaks of 5 and 6 days coming up. We will have a nice break before UM at home.
These breaks are great for giving us rest but also for our coach to spend some time with a few players and break down some film and issue a few challenges.
If we take care of business against Houston, Rutgers, and UCF...I think we take the UM game at home. With that alone I think we are a 3-4 seed. If we can split with UL and UCONN I think we could be a 2-3 seed. UCONN will obviously be tough playing away and UL may have some bulletin board material if some of our players were jawing with their bench.
I like the timing of these breaks late in the season...we should be fairly fresh for the tourneys.
These breaks are great for giving us rest but also for our coach to spend some time with a few players and break down some film and issue a few challenges.
If we take care of business against Houston, Rutgers, and UCF...I think we take the UM game at home. With that alone I think we are a 3-4 seed. If we can split with UL and UCONN I think we could be a 2-3 seed. UCONN will obviously be tough playing away and UL may have some bulletin board material if some of our players were jawing with their bench.
I like the timing of these breaks late in the season...we should be fairly fresh for the tourneys.
4-2 is my over under for a good finish. Anything above that I will be extremely happy. I would be content with 4-2. Anything under means we have picked up a bad losss or didn't sweep any of the good teams...dissapointment.
In the conference tourney I would put the over under at 1 game. I would be content with 1, very happy with 2 or more (because we pick up at least 1 more quality win), and very dissapointed with 0 (because another bad loss).
In the conference tourney I would put the over under at 1 game. I would be content with 1, very happy with 2 or more (because we pick up at least 1 more quality win), and very dissapointed with 0 (because another bad loss).
Bearcat_NTS
Well-known member
I think the Cats can go 5-1. I am expecting them to hold serve at home against Memphis and Houston, plus @UCF. Louisville and @UConn are the shaky games but I think they can beat UofL at home. I don't think the press will be as effective on the road and the role players should be more comfortable handling the ball. A 5-1 finish all but guarantees the regular season title...
I guess the stat site I was using was wrong. I know it had SK for 4 against UL. I could be mistaken on the SMU game for SK...but I thought it said 3.
In this case I am OK with SK's TO's since he is the one asserting himself the most and handling the ball the most.
Thanks for clearing that up.
david aka the TYZ
Well-known member
Intersting read about the week off:
http://cincinnati.com/blogs/uc/2014/02/12/bearcats-back-to-work-after-loss-at-smu/
I guess with a longer lay-off you don't spend extra time game-prepping (although I'm sure coaches do) you just work on some other stuff the extra days. I liked the quote from Cronin about him not having to show alot of tape and yelling at the guys that they already know. I guess that's what comes with a veteran team.
http://cincinnati.com/blogs/uc/2014/02/12/bearcats-back-to-work-after-loss-at-smu/
I guess with a longer lay-off you don't spend extra time game-prepping (although I'm sure coaches do) you just work on some other stuff the extra days. I liked the quote from Cronin about him not having to show alot of tape and yelling at the guys that they already know. I guess that's what comes with a veteran team.