Major Flaws at UC

[ralph1950]

I think Mick has a pretty sizable input. Yes he calls espn every week or whatever but I think he is going for the big game too much instead of a simple one like a virginia or mid level acc or sec team. He shouldn't have the attitude of Duke or bust.

He got UC vs Georgia in the SEC vs Big East challenge and Oklahoma vs UC with ESPN on this years schedule. He has already accomplished what you stated with ESPN.

 

[thebeast]

Apparently he has taken some blame, but at the same time he can't keep saying the team isn't listening to him. He is the Head Coach, at some point he has to make the team listen to him.

I understand the Huggins comparison. What I'm about to say may make people mad, and I could be wrong on this, but I think there is one huge difference in Huggins and Cronin. Sure, Huggins criticized his players, but you also saw how much he cared for, and loved his players. I'm not sure you get that out of Cronin. Again, I could be wrong, but I just don't see the same passion for each player that Huggins showed. That is why it is different when Huggins criticized his players, because the players and the fans knew how much he truly cared for them.

Again, it's just a theory I just came up with a few seconds ago, so I could be off base on that.

I see what your saying but I just don't think Mick is as obvious as Hugs is. Like mick would never hug a player on the floor like Hugs did with Butler. But Mick does care, I hear about it in recruiting with certain players that the players mom wants their son to go to UC because they know Mick will take care of them and care for them. As corny as that sounds but its true.
And to LL what is wrong with Yancy's play? Am I missing something? Because the games I have watched this year he has been a pretty solid option. Playing improved offense and defense.

 

[ralph1950]

difference between Mick and Bob.... yancy wouldnt be playing right now and if he was hed be a lottery pick. Bob motivated trhough fear

Bob Huggins lost to Canisius when he had Danny Fortson and a 20 point second half lead.

 

[Thegreatone]

UC lost to athletes in action the year they went to the FF.

Xavier and Syracuse lost to a DII schools last year.

Bad loses happen early in the year.

 

[Kingsley Court]

I see what your saying but I just don't think Mick is as obvious as Hugs is. Like mick would never hug a player on the floor like Hugs did with Butler. But Mick does care, I hear about it in recruiting with certain players that the players mom wants their son to go to UC because they know Mick will take care of them and care for them. As corny as that sounds but its true.

That could be true, but that is also why people don't get the Huggins/Cronin comparison when bringing up the "blaming players." Huggins care for players was/is much more public than Cronin's.

I'm just trying to think why people see a difference between Huggs and Cronin's "bashing" of players. That was my theory. So, the players may not see a difference at all, and that's really all that matters.

 

[ralph1950]

That could be true, but that is also why people don't get the Huggins/Cronin comparison when bringing up the "blaming players." Huggins care for players was/is much more public than Cronin's.

I'm just trying to think why people see a difference between Huggs and Cronin's "bashing" of players. That was my theory. So, the players may not see a difference at all, and that's really all that matters.

Huggins care for players is nothing but a show. Huggins is two faced. The only person Bob Huggins cares about is Bob Huggins.

 

[thebeast]

Huggins care for players is nothing but a show. Huggins is two faced. The only person Bob Huggins cares about is Bob Huggins.

lol

 

[TheLivingLegend]

And to LL what is wrong with Yancy's play? Am I missing something? Because the games I have watched this year he has been a pretty solid option. Playing improved offense and defense.

Maybe its me, but I feel like Yancy gets a free pass..

Mick will yell at Cash, Mick will yell at Justin.... but rarely lights into Yancy. Its not just this year, its in his four years here.

Yancy has improved this year it seems. Under Bob, Yancy may have quit. Maybe Micks strategy is right, this team clearly needs Yancy and he is still here.

 

[Butterfly]

While I do feel these kids are kids, I'm 25, I'm still a big ass kid myself, I don't think Cronin is intentionally coming off as condescending to them or to the fans. I don't think they take it as harshly as the fans. They want to compete and win. They know what they've done wrong and will work to improve upon it.
I like Cronin a lot as a coach, particularly because he doesn't offer up coach speak. He's just a normal guy when he talks. No greater persona, everything is set out in a practical easy to understand way. He's not a family, warm cuddly, fartherly figure, when he talks to the press; I get that turns some people off, but... I think if given the oppurtunity; he can take this program on a good tourny run.

As for his teams coming up short on effort, last year's effort was tremendous.
Previous years, I think the talent level was lesser and the 09 year, I think you had someone in Lance Stephenson with a lot of problems and Vaughn with an understandably big ego. That makes for a poisonous locker room environment.


This year, I'm dissapointed in our veteran guards, but I'm not going to knock any of the other kids. Jackson's heart has been on his sleeve, Yancy hasn't held back at all, I like watching him, and even though he's not the Fortson level of domination, he's been pretty impressive. The new kids, you can tell they are trying their best, they're just not all the way there yet. I feel really good about Guyn and Sanders.
Guyn was getting a pretty good feel for the tempo, those spot up shots last game were excellent and Sanders in spite of his lack of athleticism, did an excellent job driving. Given time, they'll both be solid bench players this year imo.

Ellis caught me off guard. I thought "No way in hell that guy will put in minutes this year." I have no problem with him getting a few minutes of playing time each game. He's good on defense, he's got the length to cause problems, his effort has been great and he's really bought into this system. With his athleticism and size, you know he's going to be tough in the coming years.

I like the new kids.

 

[bearcat jeff]

I still believe this team is going to be very good. The players have a good relationship with their coach. One statement Mick has used is a fact, "A man's passion is his own." Too many give the players a pass for their lack of passion.

I get that they take these games for granted. The difference between average teams and very good teams is that the very good ones use these games to get better and practice execution. Average teams play for 20 minutes and cruise.

It would be good to see those who were the fans of a coach become fans of the program. Keep hoping that'll happen. Marketing the program would help some but I'm not sure anything will completely help. I have always equated it to everyone saying they were Bulls fans when Jordan played. They wore the gear but when Jordan left so did the gear and passion for the Bulls. There is a generation that were Bob Huggins fans. They wore the gear, went to games, but when Bob left so did they. They weren't program fans.

UK, XU, have program fans. It doesn't matter who they play or who coaches them. They show up and support the program. I respect that. There are people who aren't going to support Mick no matter what. It is obvious in the constant critical comments that co from them, win or lose. Mick could help by being more visible and a marketing strategy for the coach and program would be huge. They can't even get stories in the local paper to help people get to know the team. That all has to change.