Mick Cronin

[cincycpaw]

Honestly I’m tired of worrying about coaches leaving. If Mick wants to leave, then leave. And it’ll be the final nail in the coffin for anyone thinking any coach has loyalty to a school.

If Mick leaves for UCLA I don’t see him having long term success, but good luck to him. If he stays at UC...please change something up...either the offense or do something to change up recruiting (hello shooters?). Micks style can be successful IF he has 1-2 3-pt shooters that can get their own shot or run around the court all game and get off quick shots from screens. He needs more shooting talent, but that is in his control.

If Mick leaves for UCLA or anywhere else, I would hope the first call wouldn’t be to Pitino. I don’t want to hear about recruiting violations etc. Bruce Pearl is coaching in a final four. Calipari has won a national championship. If those guys are coaching and not taking any heat (not to mention many other coaches...I’m looking st you Kelvin...Sean Miller...) then Pitino should have another shot as well. UC would be the perfect spot for him. Can compete and not worry about righteous conference bullshit from ACC/Big 10 etc.

I hope Mick stays (mostly cause I don’t think UC will hire Pitino and I worry about Curtis leaving).

 

[UCAlum’96]

chris beard > all but a handful of maybe 5 guys. to think the guy wasn't even coaching div 1 4 years ago is nothing short of amazing.



but it also makes me think potentially great coaches are out there, its a matter of finding them and getting them into a good situation. much
easier said than done of course.

Mick is not leaving and here are the 2 reason why. First, custody of his daughter. Second is his ego. Mick is only leaving for a program he feels is on his level like a Duke, UNC etc. If a coaching position become available at program like that, Mick would even be on their list. Mick is only leaving if UC decides it is time for him to go and the way he’s been playing the contract game the past few years, that wouldn’t surprise me.

 

[TheRealUC]

chris beard > all but a handful of maybe 5 guys. to think the guy wasn't even coaching div 1 4 years ago is nothing short of amazing.



but it also makes me think potentially great coaches are out there, its a matter of finding them and getting them into a good situation. much easier said than done of course.

Posted this on another thread, but its a good article about the roster make up, and levels of talent, that were brought into each of the Final 4 teams. Texas tech not in the same league as the others but still anchored by a lottery pick player. Obviously Cincy, has a lot of work to do by comparison.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/26411800/how-2019-final-four-teams-were-built

 

[cincrulz11]

I don't think Mick is going anywhere. He showed interest in the UCLA job as leverage to get this contract extension much like he did with UNLV getting a renovated fifth third. Now Bohn is scrambling to extend Mick due to the news of his pay cut coming out.

I dont know if he's scrambling, but he did say the talk about a pay cut was bogus.

Bohn said the Decoursey article “was not accurate. It was a hatchet piece. I don’t know where that information came from.”


He also said no school has sought permission to talk to Cronin.

 

[waterhead]

A lot of Mick's success has been related to his defensive system. I have to wonder after seeing VA in the F4 with guys like Jerome, Guy, and Salt if we can manage to stay relevant defensively even if we start to go the route of less athletic players who are basketball sound like Jarron and SK. VA is ranked #8 this year in D and that would likely be our 2nd best D under Cronin. To be honest I don't know the athleticism of those VA guys I mentioned but I am pretty sure it's not Justin Jackson type. Salt is definitely not. Maybe Jerome and Guy are high flyers but I haven't watched much of them this year. I do know that Jarron and SK were not high flyers but our best players in the Cronin era.

I have been programmed to think our defense is mostly based on pure athleticism but I'm starting to think as Cincrulz11 has said before that it's mostly system related and not necessarily athleticism related. And if this is true...we need to shift gears. I think we need to have our shot blocker in the paint and the bigs need to be mobile but the perimeter players...if they are good basketball players can defend well even if they can't jump high or move laterally with speed. There is something to be said for instinct that is hard to put a number on. But in the end we need the offensive instincts if the D system can produce good results with marginal athletes. I mean we had Jenifer and Broome this year...that is less than desirable on D from a size and athleticism standpoint. I would rather have the size on the perimeter as those two could not close out on a shooter and their length doesn't effect passing lanes or make it hard to get an entry pass to the block.

Staying in front of a man is only 1 aspect of playing D and instinct can do just as well sometimes as athleticism in that regard. Reading passing lanes, getting your hands up, getting your hands on a ball, taking away the strong side of the guy you are guarding, fighting through a screen, positioning, understanding of when and how to switch, etc etc. Jarron is very good at many of those even if he's not quick or a good jumper.

Let's get some basketball players in here with a little bit of size.

 

[justinhub2003]

I dont know if he's scrambling, but he did say the talk about a pay cut was bogus.

Bohn said the Decoursey article “was not accurate. It was a hatchet piece. I don’t know where that information came from.”


He also said no school has sought permission to talk to Cronin.

But it’s alreadr been reported that mick met with UCLA

 

[waterhead]

But it’s alreadr been reported that mick met with UCLA

"met with" can probably mean a lot of things. I would guess behind the scenes discussions "feelers" can happen without meetings. I would guess if UCLA was interested Mick knows it and has let his interest known whether directly or indirectly.

 

[cincyalum2014]

But it’s alreadr been reported that mick met with UCLA

What he said

 

[waterhead]

But it’s alreadr been reported that mick met with UCLA

I would also say Bohn is saying no school "has sought permission" is another way of getting around the fact that two parties may or may not be interested. I would guess the "seeking permission" part is when things are starting to get serious and contract discussions are underway. Of course this does not mean it's a foregone conclusion when discussions are underway even if they are.

Did UCLA fly out to visit Cronin? Has Cronin flown out? I would think a lot of that would be verifiable news even if it's under tight lips.

Either way...we have been through this scenario before. The reporting is still very sketchy just like UNLV. Reaching out...contract talks...extensions etc. Odds are Cronin is still coaching us next year but things can break down even at last minute. Dream job is Cronin at UC (according to Cronin). It would take a total lack of respect from Bohn to push this conversation into anyone else's favor and I don't see Bohn doing that unless board members are pushing for it and I haven't heard that either.

Cronin at his dream job with his child custody is a major issue.

 

[cincrulz11]

But it’s alreadr been reported that mick met with UCLA

all i know is the only source that is actually putting his name to the quotes out there is Mike Bohn and thats what he said.

 

[justinhub2003]

If it really is between Dixon and Mick.


Dixon has a 8 million dollar buyout. Mick has a 2.2 million dollar buyout


IF they consider both on equal footing, that has to mean something.


I think Mick would do great at UCLA.


Think about the following:

• The Pac 12 is ready for the taking. its not a good league
• Mick's defense, plus 5 Star recruits Equals a of wins

UC would have won the Pac 12 last season if they played in it. And UCLA is the kinda school that recruits its self. Oh, you like great weather, the most beatiful college girls on earth & a program with prestige. Sign up. No Bag drop needed

Mick has to take this job. He has to.


Because, even if he fails, its a one in a lifetime experience. If he fails, he will get hired by someone else. Hell, he could get hired back by UC if they also struggle. |

 

[Bearcat93]

Mick is not taking that UCLA job for the reason we all know - but that should concern us rather than fill us w/ pride. UCLA - that's an All-Time Blue Blood Program - no matter where they have been recently. Unless you are a legendary coach that's a job you say yes to every time. Every time.

He'd rather be completely and consistently mediocre here and never held to a higher standard - looking at you Marvin Lewis. Same players. Same team. Same defense first strategy. Same offense last strategy. Same season. Same results. Year after year. We plateaued 5 years ago...

...only a laughably mediocre conference has disguised that fact.

Why not try a different approach? It's been famously said hoops is an easy game: put ball in hoop. Recruit guys who do that. They grown on trees all over this Country. The Zion gems will go where they go, but you can find shooters right in our own backyard.

I witnessed it in 92/93 - F4 and then E8 which should have been a F4...it can be done here. We sometimes forget how "storied" of a program we are. Those 2 big banners especially mean a lot. We should want more and not be afraid to risk it.

 

[[email protected]]

Mick is not taking that UCLA job for the reason we all know - but that should concern us rather than fill us w/ pride. UCLA - that's an All-Time Blue Blood Program - no matter where they have been recently. Unless you are a legendary coach that's a job you say yes to every time. Every time.

He'd rather be completely and consistently mediocre here and never held to a higher standard - looking at you Marvin Lewis. Same players. Same team. Same defense first strategy. Same offense last strategy. Same season. Same results. Year after year. We plateaued 5 years ago...

...only a laughably mediocre conference has disguised that fact.

Why not try a different approach? It's been famously said hoops is an easy game: put ball in hoop. Recruit guys who do that. They grown on trees all over this Country. The Zion gems will go where they go, but you can find shooters right in our own backyard.

I witnessed it in 92/93 - F4 and then E8 which should have been a F4...it can be done here. We sometimes forget how "storied" of a program we are. Those 2 big banners especially mean a lot. We should want more and not be afraid to risk it.

I hope he does leave. He will never live up to some of the very delusional fan base

 

[Hogsack]

I hope he does leave. He will never live up to some of the very delusional fan base

I agree! Those UCLA fans are crazy!

 

[Jon Rycek]

I hope he does leave. He will never live up to some of the very delusional fan base

You mean Bearcats fans?

 

[Hogsack]

You mean Bearcats fans?

I knew what he was referring to.

 

[cincycpaw]

You mean Bearcats fans?

I know right! I mean what other fan base would demand their team beat a powerhouse Iowa team in the 1st round? Or hold onto a 20 point lead in the 2nd half against Nevada? Or make it to the S16 more than 1x per decade?

Delusional fans is right.

 

[[email protected]]

You mean Bearcats fans?

Correct

 

[[email protected]]

I know right! I mean what other fan base would demand their team beat a powerhouse Iowa team in the 1st round? Or hold onto a 20 point lead in the 2nd half against Nevada? Or make it to the S16 more than 1x per decade?

Delusional fans is right.

My point was Cincinnati is not a destination like some of think it is. If you want to pay for players then sure you can get a fe 5 star kids

 

[TheRealUC]

I know right! I mean what other fan base would demand their team beat a powerhouse Iowa team in the 1st round? Or hold onto a 20 point lead in the 2nd half against Nevada? Or make it to the S16 more than 1x per decade?

Delusional fans is right.

I'm not sure what the word is actually. He's averaged 26 wins a year for the last 9 years and this board still implodes after almost every loss. The Nevada fiasco will never be explainable, i get that. But now, we're "shocked" we lost to a team that spent over half the season ranked in the Top 25 while playing in a top tier conference. I'm just curious how that loss gets thrown in the "games to use in the case against Cronin" category?