@Houston

[justinhub2003]

penn state beat Michigan state.. msu struggling but still helps us

 

[justinhub2003]

Stayed the same over all in Kenpom (figured we'd fall or stay the same).

so #17 BUT now #2 in defense. That maybe the highest a Cronin team has ever been mid season.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

penn state beat Michigan state.. msu struggling but still helps us

It was a perfect day for Cincinnati. Our past opponents went 11-0 today (Samford's game was postponed). That's amazing!

 

[jacobkdoyle]

VanBeck was the only Houston player to have more points than FG attempts.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

A key in the game was our 3 point shooting. Washington and Clark were being double in the post every time they touched the ball. They found the open man with good ball rotation and we knocked down some very good looks. This forced Houston to abandon there game plan and allowed Washington to get going offensively. If we can come close to that kind of production behind the arc we will be very tough to defend.

 

[2bearcatdad]

13 pts, 6 rebs, 5 Assists, 0 TOs for Mr. Caupain. That's getting it done. (if his free throw shooting was better it would've been a perfect game for him)

Agreed. Troy was terrific. Sometimes a lot of posters on this board get frustrated with Troy because he's not a prototypical PG. However, you saw last night how effective he can be at the things he does well. Five assists with zero turnovers. Six rebounds including some critical ones late in the game. He was efficient offensively and he was deadly posting up their opposing guards. I'd definitely like to see more of that!

Troy is never going to play like a traditional point guard. He's not built to be able to play that way. However, after seeing the difference in this team when he's running the point to when he's on the bench; I really get an appreciation for how good he is for this team.

I think we'll love The way Cane handles the point next year, but Troy sometimes doesn't get the credit that I think he deserves for what he contributes to this team.

Good win last night.

Go Cats!

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Agreed. Troy was terrific. Sometimes a lot of posters on this board get frustrated with Troy because he's not a prototypical PG. However, you saw last night how effective he can be at the things he does well. Five assists with zero turnovers. Six rebounds including some critical ones late in the game. He was efficient offensively and he was deadly posting up their opposing guards. I'd definitely like to see more of that!

Troy is never going to play like a traditional point guard. He's not built to be able to play that way. However, after seeing the difference in this team when he's running the point to when he's on the bench; I really get an appreciation for how good he is for this team.

I think we'll love The way Cane handles the point next year, but Troy sometimes doesn't get the credit that I think he deserves for what he contributes to this team.

Good win last night.

Go Cats!

really glad you pointed that out. TC is by far our best option at PG. Not saying JJ hasn't improved but he is not as effective as TC.

While some were questioning not keeping him in after his second foul in 1st half I rally think that was the right thing to do under the circumstances.

 

[CHEER CINCY]

I love the conference road win and we saw some glimmers of great things. But anyone who has watched our past 5 games, past 5 years, or even the entire Cronin era knows that this team (like others) still doesnt pass the eye test for a deep tourney run. This team is full of glimmers and thats it. While we are well equipped to handle the AAC, I dont see us competing against the top tier P5 schools. Sorry, I wish i was wrong, but anyone who refutes the above I would love to know WHY. FT shooting, turnovers (by upperclassmen), mundane offensivve sets, shots that NEVER EVEN HIT THE RIM (ive never seen so many), shot clock violations, difficulty with zone defenses, etc. We rebound, play D, and occasionally look like a top 15 team. But there is NO consistency.

 

[ervins84]

Stayed the same over all in Kenpom (figured we'd fall or stay the same).

so #17 BUT now #2 in defense. That maybe the highest a Cronin team has ever been mid season.

We're 16 now and jumped right around an entire point in efficiency margin from 21.?? to 22.45.


Don't just blindly look at the rankings, but look at the actual margin because sometimes there's really minimal separation between two spots and other times there's a larger gap.

For instance #1UK is 2.6 points better than #2WVa right now, but a 2.6 drop from where we are at 22.45 would drop us to 19.85 and 7 spots to 23rd

 

[2bearcatdad]

I love the conference road win and we saw some glimmers of great things. But anyone who has watched our past 5 games, past 5 years, or even the entire Cronin era knows that this team (like others) still doesnt pass the eye test for a deep tourney run. This team is full of glimmers and thats it. While we are well equipped to handle the AAC, I dont see us competing against the top tier P5 schools. Sorry, I wish i was wrong, but anyone who refutes the above I would love to know WHY. FT shooting, turnovers (by upperclassmen), mundane offensivve sets, shots that NEVER EVEN HIT THE RIM (ive never seen so many), shot clock violations, difficulty with zone defenses, etc. We rebound, play D, and occasionally look like a top 15 team. But there is NO consistency.

It's January 8th. None of us know what this team is capable of as yet. Here's what I do know - we're unbeaten in the conference with two road wins over teams we lost to on the road last year. We're better on both ends of the floor than we were last year. We've got a deeper bench than we had last year.

I grow a little tired of comments that tie this team to limitations demonstrated by past teams. This team likely has a higher ceiling than those teams. Don't assume that this team will fail in certain ways because that's what has happened in the past. It may work out that way, but it's certainly not set in stone.

Also, I don't know what some people are expecting. I don't think we're as good as Kansas, Kentucky or some of the other blue bloods, so we wouldn't pass the 'eye test' by comparison. Is that really the expectation? It isn't for me. I was hoping to stay ranked, win the conference, get a 6 seed or better and hopefully make it to the second weekend in the tournament. This team can still accomplish all those things.

Go Cats!

 

[GarradJ21]

I love the conference road win and we saw some glimmers of great things. But anyone who has watched our past 5 games, past 5 years, or even the entire Cronin era knows that this team (like others) still doesnt pass the eye test for a deep tourney run. This team is full of glimmers and thats it. While we are well equipped to handle the AAC, I dont see us competing against the top tier P5 schools. Sorry, I wish i was wrong, but anyone who refutes the above I would love to know WHY. FT shooting, turnovers (by upperclassmen), mundane offensivve sets, shots that NEVER EVEN HIT THE RIM (ive never seen so many), shot clock violations, difficulty with zone defenses, etc. We rebound, play D, and occasionally look like a top 15 team. But there is NO consistency.

Highly disagree. We are competitive and can compete with any team. Gotta keep winning for a better seed to make it easier on us

 

[rogerOH]

I think so much depends on Washington- Scott and Brooks are at least a year away from being consistent offensive threats so we need Washington to have improve his shot selection, not get dumb fouls and not try to block every shot. Last night he continually tried to block shots that were not good % shots and was out of position to rebound. Clark knows the difference of when to go for the block and when to block out.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

really glad you pointed that out. TC is by far our best option at PG. Not saying JJ hasn't improved but he is not as effective as TC.

While some were questioning not keeping him in after his second foul in 1st half I rally think that was the right thing to do under the circumstances.

I don't think anyone was saying to keep him in the entire time. Just not sitting for the whole 11 minutes. There's a difference. And he ended the game with 3 fouls...seems like he would've been fine.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

It's January 8th. None of us know what this team is capable of as yet. Here's what I do know - we're unbeaten in the conference with two road wins over teams we lost to on the road last year. We're better on both ends of the floor than we were last year. We've got a deeper bench than we had last year.

I grow a little tired of comments that tie this team to limitations demonstrated by past teams. This team likely has a higher ceiling than those teams. Don't assume that this team will fail in certain ways because that's what has happened in the past. It may work out that way, but it's certainly not set in stone.

Also, I don't know what some people are expecting. I don't think we're as good as Kansas, Kentucky or some of the other blue bloods, so we wouldn't pass the 'eye test' by comparison. Is that really the expectation? It isn't for me. I was hoping to stay ranked, win the conference, get a 6 seed or better and hopefully make it to the second weekend in the tournament. This team can still accomplish all those things.

Go Cats!

I have the same expectations and we're in a good spot.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

I think so much depends on Washington- Scott and Brooks are at least a year away from being consistent offensive threats so we need Washington to have improve his shot selection, not get dumb fouls and not try to block every shot. Last night he continually tried to block shots that were not good % shots and was out of position to rebound. Clark knows the difference of when to go for the block and when to block out.

Yeah agree on Washington with the blocks. I thought I was watching Ellis on a play last night that allowed a put back dunk. I believe it was right after a Clark dunk so he wasn't back yet to be in a position to rebound and Washington went for a high level of difficulty monster block and came up empty.

 

[rogerOH]

To me it's amazing what KW gets done with that weird release on his jump shot, the odd angles he takes- even the double-hitch shot last night and weirdest thing of all is the strange gait he has when running the floor.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

I don't think anyone was saying to keep him in the entire time. Just not sitting for the whole 11 minutes. There's a difference. And he ended the game with 3 fouls...seems like he would've been fine.

Johnson and Cumberland both played in the 1st half with 2 fouls. They were also fine. SR guards should be able to play without fouling. For me, the pulling them after 2 fouls stuff should only apply to big guys. We could've had a much more comfortable halftime lead had Caupain played 4 or so more minutes once we were clearly in a rut. He had it going last night early.

 

[Garybearcat]

2 plays so far this season that tell me we are going to do well in NCAA. Both are examples of our hustle and athletism on defense.

1) Troy's block on the corner 3 last night. This is why teams shoot 3 for 18. Total hustle and complete team effort. He just missed 2 free throws and didn't sulk he came through for the team the next chance the game gave him.
2) Kevin Johnson's block a few games back. He was dribbling the clock down at the end of half in a blow out. With 5 seconds left he dribble it off his foot. He doesn't sulk he immediately thought of his team. He flew down the court and blocked the layup.

Guys it's hard to beat teams with this type of effort. If someone does they will have earned it.

 

[PakMan]

I love the conference road win and we saw some glimmers of great things. But anyone who has watched our past 5 games, past 5 years, or even the entire Cronin era knows that this team (like others) still doesnt pass the eye test for a deep tourney run. This team is full of glimmers and thats it. While we are well equipped to handle the AAC, I dont see us competing against the top tier P5 schools. Sorry, I wish i was wrong, but anyone who refutes the above I would love to know WHY. FT shooting, turnovers (by upperclassmen), mundane offensivve sets, shots that NEVER EVEN HIT THE RIM (ive never seen so many), shot clock violations, difficulty with zone defenses, etc. We rebound, play D, and occasionally look like a top 15 team. But there is NO consistency.

Defense has been SUPER consistent. You are ignoring that, and it is actually something most teams will struggle with. We have 5 or 6 legitimate scoring options, TC, JE3, KW, GC, KJ, and JC, and some role players who each have a chance to do well any given game. We beat a good conference opponent on the road with our best player struggling mightily on the offensive end. Additionally, this team consistently plays the right way, making the extra pass, switching on defense, making good post passes, not standing around, and again, just playing smart. Those are all significantly improved over year's past.

As mentioned, we are not Kentucky. But seriously, if you can't see the improvement and difference in this year's team, I think you might be seeing only what you want to see.

 

[JasonS]

I don't think anyone was saying to keep him in the entire time. Just not sitting for the whole 11 minutes. There's a difference. And he ended the game with 3 fouls...seems like he would've been fine.

With as inconsistent as the officiating is, I'm sure Mick was going to keep him out in the first half as long as we maintained a lead.