Marshall

[david aka the TYZ]

Anyone else get the impression mick wanted them to lose that game? He said in post game he could see it coming due to our effort and arrogance all week. He sat more than I've ever seen him sit during a game, especially a game we're losing. He let Savino do the yelling, which I've never seen. He didn't jump on the refs as much as he normally would and should while we were getting jobbed for a stretch. He's said plenty of times in past a loss is the only thing the team learns from. Just seems to me he had an air of self arrogance in watching them lose. Don't get me wrong, obviously he wants to win, but being a non-conference game he just seemed to be OK with letting things unfold to a loss. I about lost my shit in the upper deck, why was he not madder during the game? He wouldn't pull that during a conference game. Just think he wasn't too concerned if we lost for the message it would send.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

Obviously this isn't the way we really wanted this game to go, but the cats really didn't play bad. Our 3pt defense could have been better, but we survived a team shooting 17 of 31 from deep, that's not going to happen very often. Cats shot above 50% for the game, and I don't know for sure but I'm guessing had our best 3pt shooting game, just under 44%, when we really needed it. Showed a lot of toughness not letting this one get away, clawed it out til the end and came away with a win.

Clark was the Clark we all though we would see this year, he really seems to be going the right direction after his slow start. If Washington and him can get going at the same time they are going to be an absolute force down low.

Jacob Evans picked it up as well, and was super clutch tonight with some a big steak and some huge 3s including the game tying one.

Troy still seems to be struggling to find his shot, he needs to realize he has other guys that can score now, and just stop forcing it so much. However, despite missing shots he was still big for us tonight. 12 boards is huge for a guard, and is a huge help no matter what anyone thinks. And he still came up with the game winning rebound and shot. Love it.

All in all I really like the toughness of this team, I really think that is gonna pay off come conference play and tourney time. They just seem to really wanna win and no one is giving up. We have seen flashes from just about everyone on the team. Right now just seems we are waiting for everyone to get going together. But the good thing is if a guy or two is in foul trouble or has an off night we got guys who can step up their game and do a little extra to make up for it. Been some hiccups along the way but I really like where we are right now, gonna be a great season for bearcats basketball.

Shot 48% from 3 against FDU, 47% against Lipscomb

 

[bearcatbacker82]

As much as I hate to say it. We would have lost this game with Kyle and Cumberland on the floor tonight. We needed defense and toughness. Scott and KJ were there. Coach Cronin has a pretty good plan. I am humbled tonight by him playing Scott and KJ. They (Marshall) were killing us...and we didn't have an answer.

Winning this game with Kyle on bench is huge! Hopefully it resonates!

We actually won at ISU with Kyle on the bench as well. We can dominate with him back in track though.

 

[waterhead]

We need 3 players to attempt as many shots as possible and we need to make it a point to get the ball in their hands. Washington, Evans, Clark. I sure hope Gary doesn't take a back seat when Washington is on the court. He was 12-15...but he's always been efficient. If he stays aggressive when Kyle is in...they will be a nightmare. Also, if Evans is going to shoot 40 plus from 3...he needs to take more.

 

[JasonS]

Anyone else get the impression mick wanted them to lose that game? He said in post game he could see it coming due to our effort and arrogance all week. He sat more than I've ever seen him sit during a game, especially a game we're losing. He let Savino do the yelling, which I've never seen. He didn't jump on the refs as much as he normally would and should while we were getting jobbed for a stretch. He's said plenty of times in past a loss is the only thing the team learns from. Just seems to me he had an air of self arrogance in watching them lose. Don't get me wrong, obviously he wants to win, but being a non-conference game he just seemed to be OK with letting things unfold to a loss. I about lost my shit in the upper deck, why was he not madder during the game? He wouldn't pull that during a conference game. Just think he wasn't too concerned if we lost for the message it would send.

This is a joke, right? Mick wanted them to lose? Yeah right.

 

[M64W]

Anyone else get the impression mick wanted them to lose that game? He said in post game he could see it coming due to our effort and arrogance all week. He sat more than I've ever seen him sit during a game, especially a game we're losing. He let Savino do the yelling, which I've never seen. He didn't jump on the refs as much as he normally would and should while we were getting jobbed for a stretch. He's said plenty of times in past a loss is the only thing the team learns from. Just seems to me he had an air of self arrogance in watching them lose. Don't get me wrong, obviously he wants to win, but being a non-conference game he just seemed to be OK with letting things unfold to a loss. I about lost my shit in the upper deck, why was he not madder during the game? He wouldn't pull that during a conference game. Just think he wasn't too concerned if we lost for the message it would send.

No, he was sitting there wondering why he never recruits, or at least gets, shooters like Marshall had. That's the name of the game, putting the ball in the basket.

 

[waterhead]

No, he was sitting there wondering why he never recruits, or at least gets, shooters like Marshall had. That's the name of the game, putting the ball in the basket.

The trick is not finding shooters. It's finding shooters who can defend. Like Evans. Marshall has shooters but their D is 290ish. How's that working for them?

It will be interesting to see how much Moore will find the floor when he gets here.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

This is a joke, right? Mick wanted them to lose? Yeah right.

Obviously he didn't want them to lose, I'm saying he seemed OK by the fact he saw the loss coming. He's said plenty he doesn't care about wins and losses. Losing that game doesn't blow the season and it's a non conference game. So yes I question if he really was terribly upset at the thought of losing. He said he saw it coming....well what did he do about it? When do you know Mick to ever sit on the sidelines as much as he did last night? In a game we're down double digits. I think he was fine if we took the loss to get into the heads of his team.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

I've heard Coach Cronin explicitly say it should not have to take a loss to improve.

 

[Jon Rycek]

I've heard Coach Cronin explicitly say it should not have to take a loss to improve.

Right, like literally a week ago. Some people look for any reason to criticize. Tell him to act calm and then get mad when he does. Being mad that Marshall recruited better players, lol.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Right, like literally a week ago. Some people look for any reason to criticize. Tell him to act calm and then get mad when he does. Being mad that Marshall recruited better players, lol.

I think he was just incredulous. He talked about being too cool to do the little things for the first 28 minutes. He has put a lot more on the players this year, and complimented them on being mature. He was putting it on them to dig themselves out since they weren't taking to coaching and would not have been in that position had they brought the proper focus.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

I've heard Coach Cronin explicitly say it should not have to take a loss to improve.

By saying it should not have to take a loss to improve implies his team does have to take a loss to improve and it should not be that way. I just really thought last night was odd. I've noticed it around this time of year every year too.

 

[#BearcatNation]

Obviously he didn't want them to lose, I'm saying he seemed OK by the fact he saw the loss coming. He's said plenty he doesn't care about wins and losses. Losing that game doesn't blow the season and it's a non conference game. So yes I question if he really was terribly upset at the thought of losing. He said he saw it coming....well what did he do about it? When do you know Mick to ever sit on the sidelines as much as he did last night? In a game we're down double digits. I think he was fine if we took the loss to get into the heads of his team.

Uhhh, it kind of does, though. A home loss to a team outside the top 130 KenPom would be one of those "bad losses" the committee can't get over. I think if the season ended today, we'd have a 5 seed. If we lost last night, it'd be more like a 7 or 8.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

Uhhh, it kind of does, though. A home loss to a team outside the top 130 KenPom would be one of those "bad losses" the committee can't get over. I think if the season ended today, we'd have a 5 seed. If we lost last night, it'd be more like a 7 or 8.

Loss doesn't bounce us from the tournament. Mick knows this teams success this year is based on how it finishes, i.e. if it wins the conference. Yesterday's game doesn't change that. He sees them with the big head and the swagger and think they can just show up and win (his words) and he wants them to learn they cant, so he let's yesterday's game play out how it's going to play out. Of course he didn't WANT to lose, but I seriously wonder if he was worried about losing or if he was willing to sacrifice a game for the greater good in his eyes. Every year somewhere in the bin conference slate it's the same thing. We lose a game and he says it's been building, team is over confident, thinks it can just show up and win. I'm not saying he was intentionally trying to lose or even game planning to lose. He made moves to win, like take Washington out. But at the end of the day he left the team a leash he doesn't normally leave. We're down double digits and he's sitting on the bench watching it. Say what you will about Mick but he's a maniac of sorts on the sideline. He controls everything, every aspect. So why so calm last night?

 

[Bearcat Rob]

Was disappointed with the last play call. Troy had five pts going into that possession, evans had 25 clark had 26 one of them two should have gotten that shot. Gary had the game winner last year against UConn and freshamn year should have had the game winner against xu so he can get it done. Evans played like a man that second half(needs to play like that constantly) was hoping he got an iso at the end. Also this team needs to learn what a two for one is at the end of halves, 50 seconds left in first half you go down get a quick shot then get the ball back very simple

-side note we do not win that imo without that crowd, players fed off it. Actually hope temple packs their areana next game. Fun game proud of the effort to come back we score. Kj really stepping up gonna make his senior season count good for him

 

[Jon Rycek]

Was disappointed with the last play call. Troy had five pts going into that possession, evans had 25 clark had 26 one of them two should have gotten that shot. Gary had the game winner last year against UConn and freshamn year should have had the game winner against xu so he can get it done. Evans played like a man that second half(needs to play like that constantly) was hoping he got an iso at the end. Also this team needs to learn what a two for one is at the end of halves, 50 seconds left in first half you go down get a quick shot then get the ball back very simple

-side note we do not win that imo without that crowd, players fed off it. Actually hope temple packs their areana next game. Fun game proud of the effort to come back we score. Kj really stepping up gonna make his senior season count good for him

It turned into a win, who cares.

 

[Bearcat Rob]

gary plays his best ball when kyles not in. And someone needs to tell kyle that it's ok to occasionally PASS the ball doesn't need to go up everytime.

-Our matchup zone gives up to many open threes

 

[#BearcatNation]

Loss doesn't bounce us from the tournament. Mick knows this teams success this year is based on how it finishes, i.e. if it wins the conference. Yesterday's game doesn't change that. He sees them with the big head and the swagger and think they can just show up and win (his words) and he wants them to learn they cant, so he let's yesterday's game play out how it's going to play out. Of course he didn't WANT to lose, but I seriously wonder if he was worried about losing or if he was willing to sacrifice a game for the greater good in his eyes. Every year somewhere in the bin conference slate it's the same thing. We lose a game and he says it's been building, team is over confident, thinks it can just show up and win. I'm not saying he was intentionally trying to lose or even game planning to lose. He made moves to win, like take Washington out. But at the end of the day he left the team a leash he doesn't normally leave. We're down double digits and he's sitting on the bench watching it. Say what you will about Mick but he's a maniac of sorts on the sideline. He controls everything, every aspect. So why so calm last night?

I'm not worried about making the tournament. That will happen. If it didn't, I'd be absolutely livid.

I'm worried about getting a good seed, and being set up to make a run. As so many have said around here, the last couple years have burned us by getting that 8/9 seed. The real best-case scenario in that spot is you win one tournament game. Woo. I want this team to have a fantastic regular season (no more than 5-6 losses), get a 3-6 seed, and have a nice path to the sweet sixteen. Hell, even if you look at our sweet sixteen appearance 4 years ago, that team had early season losses to Presbyterian and (ironically) Marshall. Both insanely winnable games that we choked, and even though we beat 8 (!!) ranked teams from January-March, we couldn't even get back into the polls and ended up a 6-seed. Luckily, we were good enough to still reel off a couple wins, but I'll always wonder what would've happened if we were fully focused in those two games and went into the tournament with that resume. That's a 27-8 record playing in the old Big East. That's a 3-seed. And considering how good we were, I think an elite eight could've happened with that seed, if given a good draw.

I guess my whole point is, it's not *just* about making the tournament. It's not *just* about getting hot in March. You have 4+ months to set up that March success. Dropping one at home to Marshall would severely hurt that, and would put a ton of pressure on winning even more AAC games.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

Was disappointed with the last play call. Troy had five pts going into that possession, evans had 25 clark had 26 one of them two should have gotten that shot. Gary had the game winner last year against UConn and freshamn year should have had the game winner against xu so he can get it done. Evans played like a man that second half(needs to play like that constantly) was hoping he got an iso at the end. Also this team needs to learn what a two for one is at the end of halves, 50 seconds left in first half you go down get a quick shot then get the ball back very simple

-side note we do not win that imo without that crowd, players fed off it. Actually hope temple packs their areana next game. Fun game proud of the effort to come back we score. Kj really stepping up gonna make his senior season count good for him

The play was designed to get the ball to Clark on a duck in.

 

[Bearcat Rob]

The play was designed to get the ball to Clark on a duck in.

Ya I forgot troy did say that in postgame. Watching that replay tho troy had his head down going to hoop before clark even posted up, just looked like a troy iso again. If it was to go to Gary it would be awful hard to feed him in the post from top of key. But your right troy did say that