My Concern

[bearcat jeff]

It seems like every season we go thru a stretch where Mick Cronin struggles with getting guys to do what is asked of them and yet we don't see any changes. We are on a string of games where we have seen this especially on defense. This is an ongoing issue with this staff and it has been my one consistent criticism of Mick. His inability to get buy in from his players over the course of a season.

We have also seen a shift in terms of style of play. The result has been the offense has become stagnant again. If guys aren't going to rebound and can't score why are the Bearcats sticking to this style of play? Justin Jackson and Mbodji in particular stand out to me. I personally would much rather see a guy like Gaines get minutes because I know at least he will give 100% and rebound.

Cashmere Wrights defense has been non-existent. Opposing pg's have been having a field day getting in the lane and scoring on him. Is it time for GG or Davis to get some minutes or a start?

It is apparent this team has taken a step backward in terms of effort and energy. With a season hanging in the balance it is time to do something to shake this team back to life. If that's four guards go back to that. If it means giving time to some of the young guys then let them play. Sanders has decent wing size and can shoot the mid-range shot and make the three as well as pass. This team needs points from some where other than behind the arc. Teams have adjusted and now it's time for Mick Cronin to do the same.

For a team that was on a major role this is very disappointing. This group of guys just can't seem to stand any type of success and seem to need to be on the edge to come alive and give the needed effort to win at this level. They lost on hustle and effort to Presbytarian, St. Johns and Rugers. Mistakes are a direct result of not being mentally into a game and I put that in the effort category. Mental mistakes down the stretch cost them the WVU and Marshall games especially on the defensive end.

I'm a big proponent of the ideal that players play and should be held accountable for lack of execution. However, I also believe that when this happens and we see nothing change, it is the responsibility of the head coach to make those changes to shock his team into motion. I haven't seen any of that as of yet and I hold Mick Cronin directly responsible for that. Winning goes beyond talent. It involves the molding and bringing together of a group of guys for one purpose. If players aren't on the same page you have to play guys that are. Thoughts?

 

[TheLivingLegend]

This will be an interesting thread. I have said this for years and get bashed and proclaimed as a Mick Hater.

Mick needs to directly look at what his assistant coaches bring. I dont know enough about them to say they shouldnt be their, but its clear Mick needs to be surrounded by an offensive guro and a motivator.

 

[JasonS]

I am disappointed in the play of the bigs outside of Gates this year. Without being in practice, I don't know where the blame should fall. I am more concerned about next year when Gates is gone. There is no inside presence left on this team. Unless Justin Jackson improves immensely on the offensive end, this team could really struggle next year. There is not a freshman big that can come in and help next year and frankly, I don't know that there is an impact JUCO big either.

The other issue with this team is that there is no go-to guy. SK could be that guy but he doesn't seem to have the handle to create enough off the bounce. He doesn't yet seem to have a consistent pull up game. Shaq Thomas could ultimately be the answer here but he will only be a freshman next year.

 

[Bearcat04]

This will be an interesting thread. I have said this for years and get bashed and proclaimed as a Mick Hater.

Mick needs to directly look at what his assistant coaches bring. I dont know enough about them to say they shouldnt be their, but its clear Mick needs to be surrounded by an offensive guro and a motivator.

I know it's been mentioned on a few other boards, but in the past Mick hasn't had the money to bring in some of the assistant coaches that he would have liked.

Mick can definitely motivate a team and win big games. The question is why doesn't it happen more consistently. They look very good against ranked teams on the road, but against young teams that they should kick around (SJU/Rutgers) it looks like they are going through the motions.

My biggest concern is the lack of fire to not only protect your home court, but to dominate at home. This team regularly takes a half of at home, allowing the visitor to look more than comfortable at 5th/3rd. If this is going to be a tournament team they need to lock down at home at go at least 4-1 (DePaul, Providence, Seton Hall, Louisville, and Marquette).

 

[Eternal E]

No need for too much analyzing. This team shoots a lot of 3's, when they go in UC wins (@Gtown and @UCONN) when they don't they lose (St. Johns, Syracuse and Rutgers).

 

[Bearcat04]

No need for too much analyzing. This team shoots a lot of 3's, when they go in UC wins (@Gtown and @UCONN) when they don't they lose (St. Johns, Syracuse and Rutgers).

They made more 3's and shot a better percentage from 3 at Rutgers than they did against Georgetown. More analysis needed.

 

[ralph1950]

It's the Big East, every team has their ups and downs. Pitt, UConn, ND, UC, Georgetown, WVU, have all lost and won games in which they should have done the opposite.

 

[Eternal E]

They made more 3's and shot a better percentage from 3 at Rutgers than they did against Georgetown. More analysis needed.

touche sir

 

[bearcat jeff]

It's the Big East, every team has their ups and downs. Pitt, UConn, ND, UC, Georgetown, WVU, have all lost and won games in which they should have done the opposite.

Ups and downs in terms of wins and losses you expect in this league. Ups and downs in terms if effort and motivation you don't, especially when you have something to play for. That is a major concern and part of the reason this team has had problems recapturing the heart of the city. They are up and down with effort.

 

[cincycpaw]

Unless Mick finds a player he can suspend immediately, I fear this is a lost season.

I'm kinda kidding, but I agree with Jeff. And it appears that suspensions are the only thing that has ever motivated this team.

 

[ralph1950]

Ups and downs in terms of wins and losses you expect in this league. Ups and downs in terms if effort and motivation you don't, especially when you have something to play for. That is a major concern and part of the reason this team has had problems recapturing the heart of the city. They are up and down with effort.

What you perceive as a lack of effort and motivation may in reality be the other team playing really good offense and defense. All the other teams in the Big East get 13 scholarships and recruit Big East caliber players, it is not just UC that does this.

 

[JasonS]

What you perceive as a lack of effort and motivation may in reality be the other team playing really good offense and defense. All the other teams in the Big East get 13 scholarships and recruit Big East caliber players, it is not just UC that does this.

Ralph, Rutgers got EVERY single loose ball. That is an effort stat. If you think Rutgers is more talented and played really good offense and defense, I would like to know what game you were watching.

 

[rallie25]

I agree with Jeff too. I look at some of the big men in the Beast like Kilicli and wonder why Gates can't play that hard in th paint! Gates has a nice touch fron the outside but plays small when he gets contact in the paint! Wright look good in the scrimage weaving in and out of traffic! I want him to do that in the games! I love Dixon as a baseline player but he they don't use him there!

 

[waterhead]

I think there is a lot more to all of this than meets the eye. Obviously we have been offensively challenged under Cronin but defensively he gets the effort more often than most other coaches. Why are we offensively challenged? Could be X's and O's and it could be the type of recruit we have been getting.

I think we can all agree we aren't getting the cream of the crop. That would be a combination of athleticism, skill, and intelligence. Mick has been struggling to bring them in from the start...mostly due to the situation the program was in. He got a couple 5 star players that were backed off of by other schools yes. But let's be honest...I don't think he is an all world recruiter...but definitely can hold his own. Since he is not all world...a lot more of the recruiting is in the hands of the fans and the atmosphere that a recruit sees when he visits or watches on TV. If Mick needed a push over the top from the fans for some of these guys...the fans have generally let him down.

I think if Mick were able to work with some of the recruits that these other BE coaches are working with we might all be singing a different tune. I think we have a pretty decent coach who is working with less talent across the board (in general). This is not a shot at players. I think Mick can be a top 15 or so recruiter with the help of the fan support at games and on court success of course. For the time being he is probably between 25-35 as a recruiter. He has done a good job with spotting and getting production out of players outside the top 100. Imagine if he was working with what some of these other coaches are...all or most players from inside the top 100?

I think that is what we are missing on offense. He keeps getting stuck with middle of the road skill players and athletic projects...and not necessarily a lot of BB IQ. I say getting stuck like he's not partly to blame...I think he is...but like I said in the beginning there is more to it than that.

 

[rallie25]

I agree 100% on your post! Cash is good but not true point and when he had one in the sight a bigger program stole them away! Mick finds these diamond in the ruff type guys but bigger program steal the really good ones! I think it's going to come around because I really like Shaq!

 

[ralph1950]

Ralph, Rutgers got EVERY single loose ball. That is an effort stat. If you think Rutgers is more talented and played really good offense and defense, I would like to know what game you were watching.

It could be Rutgers got every loose ball because when the ball came loose a Rutgers player was closer to it than a UC player.

 

[ralph1950]

Ralph, Rutgers got EVERY single loose ball. That is an effort stat. If you think Rutgers is more talented and played really good offense and defense, I would like to know what game you were watching.

Rutgers has somehow managed to beat UConn, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, and UC. That should tell everyone that Rutgers has talented players on their team.

 

[UCBearcats]

Rutgers has somehow managed to beat UConn, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, and UC. That should tell everyone that Rutgers has talented players on their team.

Rutgers is a good, young team. There is nothing terribly wrong with dropping a game to Rutgers. The problem is that this team has already dropped too many other games like the Rutgers game. A slip up to Rutgers on the road isn't a huge deal if you've only had 1 or 2 slip ups all season. We've lost to Pres, Marshall, SJU at home and now Rutgers on the road.

I think even you can agree Ralph that the season isn't over yet but we now have very little breathing room if we want to make the tourney. If we drop a couple more, say Depaul and USF, then we're probably looking NIT.

Anything less than an NCAA birth is a failure for this team. This is a good team, certainly capable of an NCAA birth. It's now or never for Mick's men, 9 games left....let's see what they've got.

Would you agree Ralph that not making the tournament would be a failure for this team?

 

[mplebanon]

Before November ended, I said Mick would need to make an AD Jackson to Nick Van Exel switch with Wright for Guyn. Cash cannot keep up with his opposite number. Guyn can.

They need a rotation of Guyn at PG, with Wright giving him about a 5 minute breather per game.

Then, if they're going to do a 4-guard rotation, which leaves 3 shooting guards in the game plus Guyn at PG, they need to rotate S K, Dixon, Wright, Parker, and Davis III between those 3 spots. The requirements are - defense, rebounding, and scoring. The 3 that do it the best, get most of the minutes. Also gives you 5 guys to get "hot". Certainly one to two of them are in scoring mode.

Guyn's job is to shut down his opposing number, and on offense, to penetrate under control and make things happen. I think Cash is more suited for off the ball anyway.

I seriously think this change needs to be made.

 

[ralph1950]

"Would you agree Ralph that not making the tournament would be a failure for this team?"

It would be a disappointment, not a failure.

On the positive side it would force Mick to upgrade the OOC schedule, if UC does not get in the NCAA tourney the OOC schedule strength will be the main culprit.