Mick a Candidate for UNLV?

[JasonS]

We can offer a coach over 2 million dollars, a new locker room project that is already funded and a new arena that should be ready to go in 2 years. Not to mention a great basketball history and an attendance over 9,000 with regular sellouts for the marquee games. Don't buy the excuse that we can't do better than Mick anymore.

Playing devils advocate here...

Offer a coach over $2 Million? We do that today so it makes sense that we can continue to do that. Check.

New funded locker room project? If this was funded why hasn't it been done?

New arena? Sounds good on paper but the fundraising is not completed and we won't actually know if it happens until this summer (July I think).

Basketball History? No disagreement with the history but history doesn't win you championships today.

Attendence? I seem to recall many people bashing the attendence saying that we can only get 9,000 or so for big games? How can this be a positive now? Not saying you specifically NTS but just in general.


Here is my suggestion: Get the private charter flights, get the new locker room done, get the arena finished and then hold your coach responsible for upgrading the program. He has gotten nothing from the administration in 10 years. I think he has proven he can win. Now, if you want him to win bigger, give him what he needs. Shoot, whether he succeeds or fails I don't care because at least I will know that my school's program is set up with everything it needs to be successful. The only missing piece then would be the coach. Right now, today, if Mick leaves, there are only missing pieces. Nothing with this program would be solidified. Surely not going to help us get into the Big 12 or any power 5 conference.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

Playing devils advocate here...

Offer a coach over $2 Million? We do that today so it makes sense that we can continue to do that. Check.

New funded locker room project? If this was funded why hasn't it been done?

New arena? Sounds good on paper but the fundraising is not completed and we won't actually know if it happens until this summer (July I think).

Basketball History? No disagreement with the history but history doesn't win you championships today.

Attendence? I seem to recall many people bashing the attendence saying that we can only get 9,000 or so for big games? How can this be a positive now? Not saying you specifically NTS but just in general.


Here is my suggestion: Get the private charter flights, get the new locker room done, get the arena finished and then hold your coach responsible for upgrading the program. He has gotten nothing from the administration in 10 years. I think he has proven he can win. Now, if you want him to win bigger, give him what he needs. Shoot, whether he succeeds or fails I don't care because at least I will know that my school's program is set up with everything it needs to be successful. The only missing piece then would be the coach. Right now, today, if Mick leaves, there are only missing pieces. Nothing with this program would be solidified. Surely not going to help us get into the Big 12 or any power 5 conference.

Mick himself said he doesn't even need an agent because he has no interest in leaving. Kind of hard to blame Bohn (even though I don't really like him at all) when you give up all possible leverage with comments like that.

 

[L-T]

Anyone who doesnt recognize the difference in our BASKETBALL facilities to that of the blue blood programs knows "NOTHING" about what kind of a disadvantage we are at in recruiting. I would trade Mick Cronin in a heartbeat for a new arena, practice gym, lounge area, and locker rooms. IN A HEARTBEAT. Then I would be 100% confident we could hire a top tier coach.

Lol....your post is about 10% valid. No recruit on the planet cares if the people sitting in the upper deck can see well or are comfortable. The arena itself is still appealing to the eye. It is still attractive enough that no recruit would give a rat's a$$ about it. The locker room and lounge might mean something. The practice gym is virtually brand new and was constructed as part of the many "MILLIONS" spent on the varsity village and Lindner Center construction project. Weight Room...state of the art. Training Facilities....state of the art. Rehab and medical facilities....state of the art. Athletes computer room and study facilities....state of the art. Video and conferencing facilities....state of the art. I'm forgetting a lot, but I was totally blown away after the administration gave me a tour of the whole complex. We don't hold a back seat to anyone. The arena needs to be updated, more for the fans than the recruits. A better coach, that could inspire the fans to fill the place, would do more for recruiting than actually remodeling the place.

 

[TheRealUC]

You're a terrible fan btw. I knew you only cared about Cronin and not the program. You have said some, uh, let's say head scratching things the past few days but this is by far the most bizarre.

Dude settle down. you obviously can't grasp what I'm saying. If a new coach comes in, i'd like to see what he's able to build in the first few years. You wanna wait until the current guys are gone in 2-3 years only to find out that we didn't get any building blocks for the future and now maybe go on ANOTHER coaching search? I'm all set with that. And please give it a rest labeling fans as either good or bad. We have some of the weirdest fanbase i ever seen on here. It could have been L-T that took over for huggs, and if we were where we are now i wouldn't want him to leave either. It has nothing to do with Cronin personally (as much as you would like that to be the case). It has to with the fact that I'm not willing to risk getting buried again for 3-4 years like some people here are. I'll NEVER understand that logic.

 

[JackBauer151]

Lol....your post is about 10% valid. No recruit on the planet cares if the people sitting in the upper deck can see well or are comfortable. The arena itself is still appealing to the eye. It is still attractive enough that no recruit would give a rat's a$$ about it. The locker room and lounge might mean something. The practice gym is virtually brand new and was constructed as part of the many "MILLIONS" spent on the varsity village and Lindner Center construction project. Weight Room...state of the art. Training Facilities....state of the art. Rehab and medical facilities....state of the art. Athletes computer room and study facilities....state of the art. Video and conferencing facilities....state of the art. I'm forgetting a lot, but I was totally blown away after the administration gave me a tour of the whole complex. We don't hold a back seat to anyone. The arena needs to be updated, more for the fans than the recruits. A better coach, that could inspire the fans to fill the place, would do more for recruiting than actually remodeling the place.

It's 100% correct. I cant make a blind man see.

 

[Doogle]

I agree with Waite on this. Regardless of what happens, we should resolve ourselves to help advance the program in whatever small way each of us can.

 

[JasonS]

Mick himself said he doesn't even need an agent because he has no interest in leaving. Kind of hard to blame Bohn (even though I don't really like him at all) when you give up all possible leverage with comments like that.

As someone who negotiates for a living, at the time he said it, I thought it was the stupidest thing he could ever say. It's a no win for him. If he does what he is doing now, he potentially gets killed for it. If he truly means that, he has no leverage. In any negotiation, you have to hold as many cards as possible and only play them when you need to. He showed his hand too early and essentially backed himself into a corner. So, you are right about that comment. That doesn't exonorate Bohn though. In his role, he needs to be smart enough to assess what it takes to keep the other side happy enough to stay. The best deals are the ones in which they appear to be win-win deals for both parties involved. Right now, right or wrong, Mick doesn't feel he is in a win-win situation regarding his program.

 

[TheRealUC]

Pat Forde on Jaime Dixon and Mick Cronin.....

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/how-t...eam-and-its-coach-to-part-ways-051254792.html

Nice article

 

[L-T]

I think there are a lot of people that have gone through 2 pretty bad cycles of this program and would rather not go through a 3rd. Personally, I feel like the whole Huggins firing was a complete debacle that could've been avoided with competent leadership. Now, if all I'm hearing is correct, we have a Coach who bleeds red and black that has invested his own money into the program that feels like he's ice skating uphill against another administration that doesn't prioritize basketball.

This speaks to a larger issue. I understood the need to build up football 15 years ago but the University of Cincinnati has been, and always will be, a basketball school in my eyes. And let's be honest, we've allowed our crown jewel to be hijacked by the Nancy Zimphers and Mike Bohns of the world while across town, Xavier's administration doubled down on basketball with facilities and resources and shot right past us. You can say what you want about Mick but any notion that he's even partially to blame for that when he's been fighting tooth and nail to make the program better all around is ludicrous. He shouldn't have to help bankroll a locker room refurbish or beg for charter flights. Every second he's had to do these things is another second away from focusing on recruiting and coaching.

Personally, I'm pretty tired of fickle Cincinnati fans who want to invest pennies and get a windfall in return. I'm not a rich man but I will sure as hell put my money where my mouth is on this.

I'm one of the few who "does" put their money where their mouth is. And, I will whether Cronin is here or not.

He's currently ranked as the 22nd highest paid coach in America, but the only ranking of the best college basketball coaches that I could find has him as the 41st best in America. Maybe we should pay him the 41st highest salary and take the savings and get him use of the plane he needs. We're certainly not ranked anywhere near 22nd as a program these days. So, it appears that we are really taking care of him when we are compensating him so highly. He needs to start producing at that level.

 

[JasonS]

I agree with Waite on this. Regardless of what happens, we should resolve ourselves to help advance the program in whatever small way each of us can.

Yes. And this is why I am supporting what Mick has been trying to do with this administration. I ultimately don't care who the coach is as long as the program is set up with what it needs to be successful. If it takes Mick getting on a plane, going to Vegas, and scaring the crap out of the administration, great! If that doesn't work and he leaves, we have bigger problems than who our coach is going to be.

 

[Doogle]

Dude settle down. you obviously can't grasp what I'm saying. If a new coach comes in, i'd like to see what he's able to build in the first few years. You wanna wait until the current guys are gone in 2-3 years only to find out that we didn't get any building blocks for the future and now maybe go on ANOTHER coaching search? I'm all set with that. And please give it a rest labeling fans as either good or bad. We have some of the weirdest fanbase i ever seen on here. It could have been L-T that took over for huggs, and if we were where we are now i wouldn't want him to leave either. It has nothing to do with Cronin personally (as much as you would like that to be the case). It has to with the fact that I'm not willing to risk getting buried again for 3-4 years like some people here are. I'll NEVER understand that logic.

The anti-Mick crowd on here see your way of thinking as a weak one. They are willing to roll the dice and take 2 steps back just for the off-chance some shiny new coach will take us to the promised land. I'm not trying to be critical toward either way of thinking but I'm more in line with you on this. Furthermore, I actually believe this season was a step forward in many ways and the next 2 seasons could be huge leaps forward with Mick at the helm. Last year, we lost to Tulane and East Carolina. What are we basing this year as a step backward for - lofty expectations based on 1 tournament win against an average Purdue team and a half of competitive basketball against Kentucky?

We were pretty damn close this year to being about 27-5 and fighting for a top 4 seed in the tourney. You can argue that coaching lost us a few of those close games but I'd disagree. Most of those games were tooth and nail and came down to tenths of a second, fluke 3 pointers or full court shots, or both. The team was better this year. Hoping Mick sticks around to see the fruits of what he's been building here.

 

[L-T]

It's 100% correct. I cant make a blind man see.

Sorry to hear that. I hope you get your sight back soon.

 

[Doogle]

I'm one of the few who "does" put their money where their mouth is. And, I will whether Cronin is here or not.

He's currently ranked as the 22nd highest paid coach in America, but the only ranking of the best college basketball coaches that I could find has him as the 41st best in America. Maybe we should pay him the 41st highest salary and take the savings and get him use of the plane he needs. We're certainly not ranked anywhere near 22nd as a program these days. So, it appears that we are really taking care of him when we are compensating him so highly. He needs to start producing at that level.

I don't disagree with the sentiment here but some arbitrary ranking of coaches isn't the best way to judge him. I could make an argument that he's a top 20 coach. I could make an argument that he's not even top 50. It's just in what criteria you use to judge.

 

[L-T]

The anti-Mick crowd on here see your way of thinking as a weak one. They are willing to roll the dice and take 2 steps back just for the off-chance some shiny new coach will take us to the promised land. I'm not trying to be critical toward either way of thinking but I'm more in line with you on this. Furthermore, I actually believe this season was a step forward in many ways and the next 2 seasons could be huge leaps forward with Mick at the helm. Last year, we lost to Tulane and East Carolina. What are we basing this year as a step backward for - lofty expectations based on 1 tournament win against an average Purdue team and a half of competitive basketball against Kentucky?

We were pretty damn close this year to being about 27-5 and fighting for a top 4 seed in the tourney. You can argue that coaching lost us a few of those close games but I'd disagree. Most of those games were tooth and nail and came down to tenths of a second, fluke 3 pointers or full court shots, or both. The team was better this year. Hoping Mick sticks around to see the fruits of what he's been building here.

Last year = 8 seed. This year, with basically the whole team back, another year older, another summer of conditioning and practicing, and addition of Evans.....and we get a 9 seed. We finish 5th is a weak league. We lose in the first round of both postseason tournaments. If you think that is a step forward, I honestly feel sorry for you.

 

[TheRealUC]

The anti-Mick crowd on here see your way of thinking as a weak one. They are willing to roll the dice and take 2 steps back just for the off-chance some shiny new coach will take us to the promised land. I'm not trying to be critical toward either way of thinking but I'm more in line with you on this. Furthermore, I actually believe this season was a step forward in many ways and the next 2 seasons could be huge leaps forward with Mick at the helm. Last year, we lost to Tulane and East Carolina. What are we basing this year as a step backward for - lofty expectations based on 1 tournament win against an average Purdue team and a half of competitive basketball against Kentucky?

We were pretty damn close this year to being about 27-5 and fighting for a top 4 seed in the tourney. You can argue that coaching lost us a few of those close games but I'd disagree. Most of those games were tooth and nail and came down to tenths of a second, fluke 3 pointers or full court shots, or both. The team was better this year. Hoping Mick sticks around to see the fruits of what he's been building here.

I mean if someone told me it was my choice then yes they would stay just so i can enjoy watching them next year in a cincy uniform. It's funny how wanting see what the new coach can do on his own gets me a labeled a terrible fan yet being ok with 3-4 years of irrelevance, just to get a coach out you don't like, makes some a super fan.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Dude settle down. you obviously can't grasp what I'm saying. If a new coach comes in, i'd like to see what he's able to build in the first few years. You wanna wait until the current guys are gone in 2-3 years only to find out that we didn't get any building blocks for the future and now maybe go on ANOTHER coaching search? I'm all set with that. And please give it a rest labeling fans as either good or bad. We have some of the weirdest fanbase i ever seen on here. It could have been L-T that took over for huggs, and if we were where we are now i wouldn't want him to leave either. It has nothing to do with Cronin personally (as much as you would like that to be the case). It has to with the fact that I'm not willing to risk getting buried again for 3-4 years like some people here are. I'll NEVER understand that logic.

I have no problem grasping what you're saying. What you have said has been heard loud and clear.

Why is it a foregone conclusion that we'd fall off in 2-3 years after the current players left? You're so sure that it would happen that you're willing to make it a guarantee and just wear it right away. Bizarre.

 

[UCBearcats]

Some of you guys are making like Cyndi Lauper and showing your True Colors...and they are not red and black...

It's hysterical. These are the same people who for years have busted anyone who doesn't support Mick's balls about not being a true fan of UC and just being a Bob Huggins homer. Now they're doing exactly what they've wrongly accused people like me of doing for years. It's like I'm taking crazy pills..........

 

[TheRealUC]

I have no problem grasping what you're saying. What you have said has been heard loud and clear.

Why is it a foregone conclusion that we'd fall off in 2-3 years after the current players left? You're so sure that it would happen that you're willing to make it a guarantee and just wear it right away. Bizarre.

I said "Maybe" have to go on another coaching search in 2-3 years. That's actually nowhere near a forgone conclusion or indicative of me being so sure it would happen...hence the reason i used the word maybe. Like i said I just don't think it's worth the risk, nothing more.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

I mean if someone told me it was my choice then yes they would stay just so i can enjoy watching them next year in a cincy uniform. It's funny how wanting see what the new coach can do on his own gets me a labeled a terrible fan yet being ok with 3-4 years of irrelevance, just to get a coach out you don't like, makes some a super fan.

Lol. You're clueless. I can't have a conversation with someone who misrepresents the opposing point of view.

 

[L-T]

We're also not considering that the new coach might actually land some great recruits when he gets here, or bring some with him. Who knows? Lol.... but, Mick's coming back. Stop worrying. It's me that will be depressed. The rest of you will enjoy Easter!