It starts Right Now

[mdchick]

I love UC Basketball, There is no other sport that is more important to me than UC basketball, I watch every game that I can watch, and if I can't watch it then I'm listening to it on the radio. I still believe in this year, and people are talking about next year and i believe in next year too. The start of this year people were praising this team like they were the 1970's UCLA Bruin dynasty, now people are referring them to the 2007 0-16 detriot lions.

After watching the Notre Dame game I have determined that this team is just striaght up burnt out. I remember mick saying in october that this team is in basketball shape like they were in January, which would make december/ january seem like March conditioning wise. Maybe they were pushed to far I really don't know. It doesn't even look like they are enjoying themselves out their. I feel like they forgot why they play basketball in the first place, they look like me when I'm at work. And i hate what I do for my job so its fine that I hate it when I'm at work. But these kids are doing something that they love and they just look miserable out there. I just wish they would realize why they wanted to play D1 basketball in the first place, and thats because they enjoy playing, by the expressions on these kids faces I can't remember the last time that they seemed to be enjoying themselves (maybe the xavier game)?

I am a golfer and golf everyday I can get a chance too in the summer, Probably 6 out of 7 days a week and when I get into a bad slump I just take off 3 days and totally forget about it. I find that it works out for me just forgetting about something I take so seriously for a short period of time when I am slumping with it, maybe thats what this team needs to do. All i know is I could tell by the way they looked like in the huddle before the game that this team did not even want to play in the game.

What do you guys think needs to be done, this is the same team that was # 8 in the country at one point this year, but they don't look like the same team.....

 

[UCalum08]

I honestly said basically the same thing during my prediction for the ND game. Totally agree, they completely look uninterested and have folded up for this season. Maybe there are some things that have been going on inside the locker room that no one knows. Its about the only thing I can think BC this team has been through a brutal BE schedule so I wouldn't think a few losses would dismantle them like it has. I mean SK is not even half the player he was during the OCC. Jackson shows no emotion since early on 2013, cash looks completely worthless but since he is injured its a somewhat of a pass.

Overall they show no team unity and look like they want to be anywhere else besides the court. Not sure if it'd fixable at this point.

 

[Scheids21]

I'm not sure if its that they are uninterested or just frustrated. I played soccer in high school and my junior year we were expected to be good, but we weren't. We had a horrible year. And I just remember the whole season being so frustrated. I wasn't frustrated because we were bad; I was frustrated because we knew we were good, but we just could not figure out what we were doing wrong. Hell, even our coach said at one point "guys I don't know what the fuck to do anymore".

I feel like that is where this team is at currently. They were talking about how badly they wanted to get to Atlanta one month ago and now they can't win a game. That is the ultimate frustration, simply not knowing what to do to fix your problems when you really do have the pieces to get the job done. I'd be all for a three day hiatus to clear their heads. At this point, what could it hurt?

 

[UCalum08]

Maybe too, the problem is teams figured out how to beat them and the scouting report is out. The first 12 games they looked unstoppable but maybe they are too one dimensional and it took a bit for other teams to catch on. I think that has them extremely frustrated and no one on UC, players and coaches have no responded well to finding an answer.

 

[nparker1]

One word: swagger

In my opinion, this team is playing with their tails between their legs...after some ass kickings and more than a few reality checks, this team has lost all their confidence and swagger...we all have said they need a boost in confidence...I think they need more than that...they need attitude almost borderline cockiness...until teams experience some intimidation from the Cats, they will continue to whip the Cats...I want to see SK, Shaq, and Sanders instill that New York ball player mentality in this team...us fans have seen what this team can do when they are confident in themselves....we have seen SK take over a game single handedly on a few occasions...Cash needs to step up like he did last year in the wake of turmoil, whether it is on the floor or on the bench....these kids, like the fans, need to have fun again...Parker seems to be leading the charge to march...he is finally playing with confidence...i want to see what Rubles can do when playing with confidence before his season ends and leaving the fans with doubts...I want to see Shaq realize that he can be a major player if he would just stop playing scared...I want to see some swagger from Cronin too...he has been almost censored this year...let it go...the title of this thread is perfect...what do they have to lose?....a lot, only if they don't fight til the final buzzer...otherwise I will continue to love this program for their tradition of tenacity and heart...and I know I am not alone...

Go Bearcats!

Also, get rid of the all-black unis...they havent brought the Cats the best of fortunes...bring back the throwbacks like last year...maybe that will spur their efforts...couldn't hurt

 

[Scheids21]

One word: swagger

In my opinion, this team is playing with their tails between their legs...after some ass kickings and more than a few reality checks, this team has lost all their confidence and swagger...we all have said they need a boost in confidence...I think they need more than that...they need attitude almost borderline cockiness...until teams experience some intimidation from the Cats, they will continue to whip the Cats...I want to see SK, Shaq, and Sanders instill that New York ball player mentality in this team...us fans have seen what this team can do when they are confident in themselves....we have seen SK take over a game single handedly on a few occasions...Cash needs to step up like he did last year in the wake of turmoil, whether it is on the floor or on the bench....these kids, like the fans, need to have fun again...Parker seems to be leading the charge to march...he is finally playing with confidence...i want to see what Rubles can do when playing with confidence before his season ends and leaving the fans with doubts...I want to see Shaq realize that he can be a major player if he would just stop playing scared...I want to see some swagger from Cronin too...he has been almost censored this year...let it go...the title of this thread is perfect...what do they have to lose?....a lot, only if they don't fight til the final buzzer...otherwise I will continue to love this program for their tradition of tenacity and heart...and I know I am not alone...

Go Bearcats!

Also, get rid of the all-black unis...they havent brought the Cats the best of fortunes...bring back the throwbacks like last year...maybe that will spur their efforts...couldn't hurt

Well put on all aspects. As for the uniforms, I liked them and Tommy G said the players loved them, but I agree. We need some new mojo any way we can get it. Anyone want to see Cronin get T'd up?? Not randomly of course but at home it can really fire up the crowd and the squad sometimes. I feel like that hasn't happened for awhile. Or at least a jacket toss

 

[bearcat jeff]

One word: swagger

In my opinion, this team is playing with their tails between their legs...after some ass kickings and more than a few reality checks, this team has lost all their confidence and swagger...we all have said they need a boost in confidence...I think they need more than that...they need attitude almost borderline cockiness...until teams experience some intimidation from the Cats, they will continue to whip the Cats...I want to see SK, Shaq, and Sanders instill that New York ball player mentality in this team...us fans have seen what this team can do when they are confident in themselves....we have seen SK take over a game single handedly on a few occasions...Cash needs to step up like he did last year in the wake of turmoil, whether it is on the floor or on the bench....these kids, like the fans, need to have fun again...Parker seems to be leading the charge to march...he is finally playing with confidence...i want to see what Rubles can do when playing with confidence before his season ends and leaving the fans with doubts...I want to see Shaq realize that he can be a major player if he would just stop playing scared...I want to see some swagger from Cronin too...he has been almost censored this year...let it go...the title of this thread is perfect...what do they have to lose?....a lot, only if they don't fight til the final buzzer...otherwise I will continue to love this program for their tradition of tenacity and heart...and I know I am not alone...

Go Bearcats!

Also, get rid of the all-black unis...they havent brought the Cats the best of fortunes...bring back the throwbacks like last year...maybe that will spur their efforts...couldn't hurt

Good post and I agree.

 

[Cataclysmo]

To say this team hasnt enjoyed themselves since Xavier is preposterous. They were in the student section after beating Marquette for petes sake! Look, like it or not, Mick is a bad offensive coach, and when Cash went down, his offense looked even worse, and Cash hasnt been the same since. They need to rally around one another, and i truly thought that was about to start vs. Uconn. Unfortunetly, UCONN decided that they would hit every shot that game. I still believe this team can do big things, they just need a win.

 

[mplebanon]

I guess I'm getting old.

I used to love going down to the Coliseum (now US Bank Arena) and watching Roger McClendon, back when the UC teams simply weren't that good. I even think they had a stretch under Tony Yates where they didn't win a conference game for like 2 years.

I remember when Huggins arrived. It re-lit my UC b-ball fire. I can remember guys like Andre Tate, football walk-on Steve Sanders, Levertis Robinson, Lou Banks, and of course the Final Four and Elite Eight teams. And then thinking things would only get better when guys like Fortsen, Long, Burton, Durden, and a ton of other good to great UC players during Huggins tenure. I was like mdchick, a die die diehard UC b-ball fan who lived for every game.

Then the frustrating K-Mart injury and what might have been. Then Huggs drunken episode and eventual deserved firing. The Andy Kennedy season finished with Jihad and James White not going to class.

Then I was excited about the hiring of Mick, knowing he was a hometown guy and we wouldn't have to suffer through what Xavier does every 3 to 4 years where their head coach goes elsewhere.

I'm not going to let one disappointing season taint my opinion of Cronin. But there are some obvious flaws, namely the weak offensive schemes. Like his teacher Huggins, he is a master at teaching defense. But I find myself bored with the lack of offense and continued obvious unfixed mistakes by the team.

I didn't watch the last 2 games and it didn't bother me at all. I guess apathy has set in or old age (I'm 47).

I look forward to next year's recruiting class coming in, but fear that Mick will hardly use them, and that they will be Croninized by year 3 or 4 of their time at UC. I hope I'm wrong.

Mick needs to right this ship now. For all the good he's done, there are still some problems.

 

[ready2go]

Ive stopped caring

It doesnt matter how loud I yell, how many rum and cokes I take down, how many objects I throw at the screen, the end result is going to be the same.

Im going to sit back, relax and take in the 13' Cats no matter how it ends.

BUT please for next year, if we are going to lose, can we atleast score points and make it exciting!

 

[bearcat jeff]

I guess I'm getting old.

I used to love going down to the Coliseum (now US Bank Arena) and watching Roger McClendon, back when the UC teams simply weren't that good. I even think they had a stretch under Tony Yates where they didn't win a conference game for like 2 years.

I remember when Huggins arrived. It re-lit my UC b-ball fire. I can remember guys like Andre Tate, football walk-on Steve Sanders, Levertis Robinson, Lou Banks, and of course the Final Four and Elite Eight teams. And then thinking things would only get better when guys like Fortsen, Long, Burton, Durden, and a ton of other good to great UC players during Huggins tenure. I was like mdchick, a die die diehard UC b-ball fan who lived for every game.

Then the frustrating K-Mart injury and what might have been. Then Huggs drunken episode and eventual deserved firing. The Andy Kennedy season finished with Jihad and James White not going to class.

Then I was excited about the hiring of Mick, knowing he was a hometown guy and we wouldn't have to suffer through what Xavier does every 3 to 4 years where their head coach goes elsewhere.

I'm not going to let one disappointing season taint my opinion of Cronin. But there are some obvious flaws, namely the weak offensive schemes. Like his teacher Huggins, he is a master at teaching defense. But I find myself bored with the lack of offense and continued obvious unfixed mistakes by the team.

I didn't watch the last 2 games and it didn't bother me at all. I guess apathy has set in or old age (I'm 47).

I look forward to next year's recruiting class coming in, but fear that Mick will hardly use them, and that they will be Croninized by year 3 or 4 of their time at UC. I hope I'm wrong.

Mick needs to right this ship now. For all the good he's done, there are still some problems.

I'm two years older than you and I did the same thing and went thru the same process. I actually don't mind the low scoring games if it's due to good defense. What I hate is the inept way the offense is run and how the bench was completely forgotten around the Marshall game. I seriously wouldn't mind Cash, SK, Parker, Thomas, and Rubles. I think it would be their best offensive line up and pressing line up.

 

[waterhead]

We have lost 9 games now and 8 of those have been by 7 pts or less. Half of those have gone down to the last shot. If we make 70-75% of our FT's in all the games we lost (other than ND)...we probably would have about 4 losses right now. I haven't checked the numbers.

Our style of play with tough D and slow down O (even if unintentional) is going to keep us in ball games with most teams (even those we should beat). If this team can get it's swagger back and focus a little more on the job at hand and making FT's they really can beat just about any team in the country on any given day...as well they can lose to teams they shouldn't.

I think we play better with Thomas in the game. Three guards and Thomas (Rubles to spell Thomas). I don't care who we put at the 5 (I would probably go Mooj, JJ). We NEED the 4th scoring option right now on the perimeter. Rubles just isn't effective without a 3 pt shot threat. Thomas has better handles and a better shot and you have to guard him on the perimeter.

Bottom line is I don't think Mick is going to let this team cave. We CAN go 3-0 if we come back with the right attitude. We will have to see.

 

[Ryno99]

To me this whole skid starts with Cash's injury. The team hasn't really been the same since, yes they beat Marquette without him, but it all starts with Cash, he is not himself and not able to control the team and make shots the way we need him to. As to the offense, do I love Mick's offensive sets, absolutely not, but right now, what is happening is two things: 1. Teams don't have to guard the post, no reason to b/c we can't even make an open layup. 2. The guys are pressing because they have all the thoughts of how bad the offense is in their heads so they are trying to do too much. They need to relax, play their defensive game and let the offense come to them.

I do agree that Shaq needs to see more minutes as well, you can almost see the light turning on for him and the confidence starting to come. But for this team to do anything in the post season, we need Cash to get his legs back under him so he doesn't have to think, that should alleviate the stupid turnovers and should get the lift back in his shot so he is a threat from 22' and in. He also needs to start driving again, it just opens things up, like open 3's that SK can step into versus try and create.

Just my .02 cents for now. Not very organized, sorry.

 

[cincycpaw]

I do agree that Shaq needs to see more minutes as well

Kid is almost the only one taking the ball to the basket. He just has a hard time finishing right now, but he at least can get to the rim without turning the ball over.

 

[bearcat jeff]

UC is 4-6 I believe since Cash got hurt. Too me his slump is all the more reason you play Shaq, because he has the best potential to score and his length benefits you on the press. Your top 4 rebounders are Rubles, Kilpatrick, Jackson with Parker and Cheikh tied for 4th. Shaq gives you 2 rpg in 10.4 mpg and Cheikh 4.7 rpg in 20.6 minutes. If you reduced Cheikh's time you wouldn't lose much on the boards and you'd still have his shot blocking presence off the bench. Thomas also has nearly has many steals as JP in 535 less minutes of play (15-19). I just think you have to do something to spark the team and jump start it.

 

[Bearcat22]

UC is 4-6 I believe since Cash got hurt. Too me his slump is all the more reason you play Shaq, because he has the best potential to score and his length benefits you on the press. Your top 4 rebounders are Rubles, Kilpatrick, Jackson with Parker and Cheikh tied for 4th. Shaq gives you 2 rpg in 10.4 mpg and Cheikh 4.7 rpg in 20.6 minutes. If you reduced Cheikh's time you wouldn't lose much on the boards and you'd still have his shot blocking presence off the bench. Thomas also has nearly has many steals as JP in 535 less minutes of play (15-19). I just think you have to do something to spark the team and jump start it.

More minutes for Thomas would not only give the team a boost now but give him valuable big game experience that will benefit him next year as his minutes go up.

 

[TheLongHaul]

UC is 4-6 I believe since Cash got hurt. Too me his slump is all the more reason you play Shaq, because he has the best potential to score and his length benefits you on the press. Your top 4 rebounders are Rubles, Kilpatrick, Jackson with Parker and Cheikh tied for 4th. Shaq gives you 2 rpg in 10.4 mpg and Cheikh 4.7 rpg in 20.6 minutes. If you reduced Cheikh's time you wouldn't lose much on the boards and you'd still have his shot blocking presence off the bench. Thomas also has nearly has many steals as JP in 535 less minutes of play (15-19). I just think you have to do something to spark the team and jump start it.

I'm all for going to a quicker lineup and I'm usually not one that thinks other teams should dictate what UC does but with Rubles and Shaq as your "big" men, they may be able to equal the production on rebounding but their interior defense will suffer greatly. Who is going to guard Dieng? No way can Rubles do it. I'm not sure he'll be able to handle Behanan. Against UConn, who is going to guard Olander? He isn't a huge threat but I still don't think Rubles/Jackson could guard him. They might be able to get away with it against USF but they shouldn't need to against them.

 

[waterhead]

We also need to take more mid range shots. I think it's ridiculous to pass up an open 10-15' shot to try and negotiate through trees. Fake a three...take a step or two in...drain it. We are so focused on 3's and trying to get all the way to the bucket that it's predictable and hurting us.

Whatever we do...we have to CHANGE something. It's not time to throw in the towel

 

[JumpinJack5]

UC is 4-6 I believe since Cash got hurt. Too me his slump is all the more reason you play Shaq, because he has the best potential to score and his length benefits you on the press. Your top 4 rebounders are Rubles, Kilpatrick, Jackson with Parker and Cheikh tied for 4th. Shaq gives you 2 rpg in 10.4 mpg and Cheikh 4.7 rpg in 20.6 minutes. If you reduced Cheikh's time you wouldn't lose much on the boards and you'd still have his shot blocking presence off the bench. Thomas also has nearly has many steals as JP in 535 less minutes of play (15-19). I just think you have to do something to spark the team and jump start it.

I agree with you, Jeff. We need to start pressing and stick with a lineup. I realize depth is important, but we can't get any consistency with this constant flip-flopping. This team is full of fast, athletic guys who could press for most of a game-it's time to utilize that. We need all the easy buckets we can get, even if it involves giving up a few more points. If we get a few easy buckets, then suddenly, the 3s are more open, and thus, we hit a higher percentage and everything clicks. This "half-assed" press needs to stop, we need to go all out and give the other team "40 minutes of hell." That is our best shot to be successful, we must change now.

 

[mdchick]

offensively what I don't understand is after they get a steal on defense they can go down on a 3 on 2 or a 4 on 3 and get a good open shot, but instead they get into a half court set and they are terrible in the half court set, I could care less about the shot clock, play more subs and push the ball up the court and shoot open shots it doesn't matter what time is left in the shot clock, if your open I dont mind anyone taking a shot that isn't named jj and rubles.