Woah Buzz Killington...You're first post and you decided to make it that depressing? But really, agreed we do need to land a couple big time talents but 2012 wasn't it. The recruits will come, just give it time. And by the way, don't base ALL your recruiting outlooks on Rivals.com. Its very helpful, but I truly trust the coaching staff when they pick up a "three star" player that he will be Big East talent. The past two years have set the groundwork my friend. Relax and enjoy our position...If I had to bet, it will only get better from here.
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Woah Buzz Killington...You're first post and you decided to make it that depressing? But really, agreed we do need to land a couple big time talents but 2012 wasn't it. The recruits will come, just give it time. And by the way, don't base ALL your recruiting outlooks on Rivals.com. Its very helpful, but I truly trust the coaching staff when they pick up a "three star" player that he will be Big East talent. The past two years have set the groundwork my friend. Relax and enjoy our position...If I had to bet, it will only get better from here.
Bcatfollower
Well-known member
Sorry, I've been reading this board for awhile but after the 100000th post on Obekpa or Rubles its gets semi comical.
Haha you're good. It's true, sometimes it seems like we're recruiting John Wall. Just something about getting new players is exciting in itself.
Cincinnati has been rebuilt by solid veterans that are joined by talented but not ready young players. In case you were wondering, that is how you build a program. You need to rinse and repeat this cycle a few times and have stability as a program. However, I do agree that in order to compete for National Championships, you need legit NBA picks. In fact probably multiple to win a Title. Mick has been very honest in his recruiting process, and I know he took a chance with Lance Stephenson, but outside of that he has built the program back slowly. He didn't go the Iowa State way where they loaded up on a bunch of transfers to sell out and win now. He truly is building a program.
Bcatfollower
Well-known member
I think Mick is a great coach and has done well with the players he gets; but I was under the impression he was supposed to be a great recruiter and I just don't see him landing the talent. I guess I don't understand how other schools in similar situations can get top tier players out of high school and we can't. I.e. Indy, zona, n.c. st
JasonS
Football Moderator
First of all, there has not been another program in the situation this program was in. Yes, Indiana was in bad shape but they didn't go two years without recruiting a player. You can't even begin to compare Arizona and NC State to where this program was when Mick took over. Look, Mick has a fantastic recruiting track record while at UC and UL as an assistant. That cannot be denied. It is a completely different ball game when you are the head coach especially when you are young, with a small sample size for a track record as a head coach, and you are going up against hall of fame coaches in the league nearly every night. It takes time for a head coach to show his worth to recruits. In addition, when you have an APR that is on the verge of disaster like it was when Mick arrived, you have to recruit certain players that are going to stay four years, go to school, and do well in class in addition to trying to win on the court. Patience is a virtue that, unfortunately, many don't seem to have.
Another interesting point is that the last time UC was relevant, the kids we are recruiting were in like the 3rd grade...we as fans know we have successful tradition but to some kid in New Jersey, were an upstart program that's had a couple solid seasons.
catsfan4life
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SK was a 3-star and you dont think he is good enough player to compete at a high level in the big east?
Bcatfollower
Well-known member
I think SK is very talented. I'm not saying a players rank is written in stone, some are better or worse and some can develop. But if you sign mostly three star guys counting on that then good luck. How many SK's scenarios do we see panning out on u.c. now? Maybe Ellis?
Bcatfollower
Well-known member
And Apr is a joke. Players don't actually have to graduate, they just have to be on track to graduate in good standing. So one and dones don't affect it negatively if they finish the quarter or semester in good standing. Ky foe example.
BearcatMick
Well-known member
Mick is atop 2 coach in the country. He will lead uc to a national championship very soon
they still need to finish out the semester in good standing. they can't stop going to class after winter semester because they will leave before finals in may. they need to complete the semester, which lasts a month after the declare and 4-5 months after the winter semester ends.
1. When UK backs off of a kid for character issues/concerns/grades, you know it's bad. As everyone knows, the kid is a good player. But there is a reason Xavier was the only school recruiting him. His guardian said in an article that XU did a great job recruiting him and that it seemed like Xavier was the only school recruiting him....well probably because they were LOL. The only other school was Iowa State (transfer U, home of the second chance) and they stopped.
2. I laughed at the guy that says Thomas committing to XU validates that Mack is a good recruiter. Like everyone said, Xavier was his only option. And Rasheen Davis was the coach who recruited him, but who cares. Enough about that school....
3. I don't understand people who complain about Mick and his recruiting. Recruiting takes time. He said he only offered a couple kids early for the 2012 class (Hammons, White) because he wasn't sure what their needs would be with the big class they brought in in 2011. He's being selective, and it's the right thing to do. Look at the talent we are recruiting in the class of 2013. Mick will get his fair share. I also think, JMO, that we will have a new assistant coach to replace Coach Jackson (health reasons) that will be a better recruiter with more connections that could help.
People want one and done type players. I don't. Maybe one every now and then. But I love watching a kid like Dion Dixon for four years, and improving over the course of time. Or Rashad Bishop. Or Larry Davis. I would take good, solid recruits who are confident but know they can improve and are willing to work on their game. I think that's especially true with Mick's last class. I feel like JD, Ge'lawn, Shaq, Octavious, and Jermaine are just tough, hard nosed kids that will do anything to improve. And it doesn't hurt that they get to learn from guys like Cash, SK, Park, and Jackson.
Not saying I didn't appreciate watching a team like UK this year. They were a special team. I just don't know if I could be a fan of a program where you continually have 5-6 new players every year who are there for one year. Not hating on UK at all but JMO.
2. I laughed at the guy that says Thomas committing to XU validates that Mack is a good recruiter. Like everyone said, Xavier was his only option. And Rasheen Davis was the coach who recruited him, but who cares. Enough about that school....
3. I don't understand people who complain about Mick and his recruiting. Recruiting takes time. He said he only offered a couple kids early for the 2012 class (Hammons, White) because he wasn't sure what their needs would be with the big class they brought in in 2011. He's being selective, and it's the right thing to do. Look at the talent we are recruiting in the class of 2013. Mick will get his fair share. I also think, JMO, that we will have a new assistant coach to replace Coach Jackson (health reasons) that will be a better recruiter with more connections that could help.
People want one and done type players. I don't. Maybe one every now and then. But I love watching a kid like Dion Dixon for four years, and improving over the course of time. Or Rashad Bishop. Or Larry Davis. I would take good, solid recruits who are confident but know they can improve and are willing to work on their game. I think that's especially true with Mick's last class. I feel like JD, Ge'lawn, Shaq, Octavious, and Jermaine are just tough, hard nosed kids that will do anything to improve. And it doesn't hurt that they get to learn from guys like Cash, SK, Park, and Jackson.
Not saying I didn't appreciate watching a team like UK this year. They were a special team. I just don't know if I could be a fan of a program where you continually have 5-6 new players every year who are there for one year. Not hating on UK at all but JMO.
By the way, here's a blog post from Dave Telep back in January about Chris Thomas:
Chris Thomas (Denver, Colo./TBD) is a very talented basketball player -- easily one of the top scorers in the country -- but I question whether he will even play major college basketball.
The No. 13 overall player in the junior class will be transferring to his fourth high school in four years, after opting to leave South Kent midseason this week. At this stage, it would be an upset if he were to become eligible to play as a freshman in 2013. His transcript must be riddled with so many questions one will need Albert Einstein to do the math regarding his core GPA.
Let’s say he miraculously is eligible to play college basketball. Who would want him? A college coach running a top-25 program can’t take a major risk on a player like Thomas. There’s no room on a roster that is solidly constructed for players who can’t conform and be counted on during tough times.
Thomas withdrew from South Kent and that’s sad. He was being coached by a former college coach and played against good competition. Now he’s in the wind. He’s yet another midseason transfer searching for his next soft landing spot. He’ll find one, the kids always do. What they also usually find is another situation that is a short-term fix and willing to ignore the long-term problem.
Thomas needs help and it’s not about coaching either. He needs to be taught life skills and needs someone who he will embrace and listen to, regarding his future. Unfortunately, my guess is there will be far more people willing to capitulate to his every want and desire, offer him up another place to play and an explanation or excuse as to why it hasn’t worked out for him once again.
Adversity is something that fuels success. Learn how to deal with it and you’ve got a life experience that will shape and mold you forever. Ignore it and you’re likely to travel down the path of least resistance that is more of a continuous circle than a road with a finish line.
Thomas doesn’t need to play right now; he needs to get a handle on the present before he can move forward.
Chris Thomas (Denver, Colo./TBD) is a very talented basketball player -- easily one of the top scorers in the country -- but I question whether he will even play major college basketball.
The No. 13 overall player in the junior class will be transferring to his fourth high school in four years, after opting to leave South Kent midseason this week. At this stage, it would be an upset if he were to become eligible to play as a freshman in 2013. His transcript must be riddled with so many questions one will need Albert Einstein to do the math regarding his core GPA.
Let’s say he miraculously is eligible to play college basketball. Who would want him? A college coach running a top-25 program can’t take a major risk on a player like Thomas. There’s no room on a roster that is solidly constructed for players who can’t conform and be counted on during tough times.
Thomas withdrew from South Kent and that’s sad. He was being coached by a former college coach and played against good competition. Now he’s in the wind. He’s yet another midseason transfer searching for his next soft landing spot. He’ll find one, the kids always do. What they also usually find is another situation that is a short-term fix and willing to ignore the long-term problem.
Thomas needs help and it’s not about coaching either. He needs to be taught life skills and needs someone who he will embrace and listen to, regarding his future. Unfortunately, my guess is there will be far more people willing to capitulate to his every want and desire, offer him up another place to play and an explanation or excuse as to why it hasn’t worked out for him once again.
Adversity is something that fuels success. Learn how to deal with it and you’ve got a life experience that will shape and mold you forever. Ignore it and you’re likely to travel down the path of least resistance that is more of a continuous circle than a road with a finish line.
Thomas doesn’t need to play right now; he needs to get a handle on the present before he can move forward.
bearcat jeff
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As I said on another thread, I doubt this kid ever plays on the Cintas floor.
Bcatfollower
Well-known member
1/2. Its not only Chris Thomas going to X... they are putting together some pretty good classes even if he wasn't involved. And why the continued knock on Iowa State, they are doing what they have to do...I mean its Iowa State. Although I dream that U.C. can get a player like Royce White.
3. Understand this, I'm not hating on Mick; he's a good coach and he wants to be here. I also like watching a team that returns some players because it makes it feel like its Cincinnati's team... not just a AAU team thrown together every year. And As much as I think Dion Dixon turned out to be a productive player, he wasn't that great. So I cringe at the thought that when I watch the freshmen I'm thinking that with a little work and development I could be watching the next Dixon. That's our basis for comparison.
Mick has been at U.C. for six years. How long before he can compete for top recruits. Ever?
3. Understand this, I'm not hating on Mick; he's a good coach and he wants to be here. I also like watching a team that returns some players because it makes it feel like its Cincinnati's team... not just a AAU team thrown together every year. And As much as I think Dion Dixon turned out to be a productive player, he wasn't that great. So I cringe at the thought that when I watch the freshmen I'm thinking that with a little work and development I could be watching the next Dixon. That's our basis for comparison.
Mick has been at U.C. for six years. How long before he can compete for top recruits. Ever?
He reminds me of Jerome Harper, a UC top 5 recruit in 2000, who never made it on campus. Had a lot of issues along with an arrest, leading to his scholarship offer being rescinded.
Thegreatone
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Xavier has become the place for kids like this. Lyons, Crawford, Holloway, Wells are all from this mold.
I dont think it is that bad if Mack can control them. He is playing with fire. But the reward could be big IMO.
Again, X always has good gaurds. It is the big men they need.
I dont think it is that bad if Mack can control them. He is playing with fire. But the reward could be big IMO.
Again, X always has good gaurds. It is the big men they need.
TheLongHaul
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I agree. This is like getting Michael Chandler to commit when everyone knew he was never going to play for them.
Kingsley Court
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I'm not sure if you were saying "kids like this" because they have character issues, but it's understandable if that's what you meant. However, if that is what you meant, I'm not sure you can include Wells in that category. I've not seen or heard of him having any character issues at all.