bearcat jeff
Hoops Moderator
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2010
- Messages
- 7,502
There is no bright side in not making the tournament. It is crucial for the further advancement of this program. They need to win 6 of 9.
My Concern
- Thread starter bearcat jeff
- Start date
Help Support BearcatTalk:
There is no bright side in not making the tournament. It is crucial for the further advancement of this program. They need to win 6 of 9.
This is a drastic over statement in my opinion. UC will have the same players on the court next season whether or not they make the NCAA Tourney this year. I do not understand how it can be crucial for the further advancement of the program when you will have the same players regardless.
Recruiting for future seasons maybe? Kids getting to see UC play on TV in the Big Dance...kinda has an effect, no?
But you know that and are just being silly I'm sure.
Recruiting is about the personal relationship between Mick, the recruit, and the recruits parents and less about did you make the NCAA Tourney last year.
TheLivingLegend
Well-known member
So your saying a team that never makes the NCAA tournament will get top notch recruits if theres a good relationship with the coach and prospect!?
bearcat jeff
Hoops Moderator
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2010
- Messages
- 7,502
If your statement was true Mick would have signed several top players the last several seasons. Players want to play with a winner and where they get the most exposure. There is a reason Top players go predominately to the same schools Ralph. They want to play for the UK's, Kansas, Dukes, UNC, OSU's of the world.
Butler went to the Final game the last two years, how they doing this year? How many 4 and 5 star recruits have they signed the last 2 years? On the court success does not automatically turn into better recruits nor does a bad year turn into bad recruits.
Mick did not sign those players because Cal has a better relationship with World Wide Wes.
User Name:
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2012
- Messages
- 324
Exactly. This team was a borderline top 25 team on paper before the season. Anything short of making the NCAA tournament would be failure. Ralph knows it deep down
This is a tournament worthy team, but due to the OOC scheduling problems there is a very small margin of error in the conference schedule. Had the budget been there to afford more RPI 100-200 teams and less 250+ teams then 9-9 might have been enough for a bid. WVU and UConn both sit at .500 in the BE and neither team is even on the bubble.
TheLongHaul
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2009
- Messages
- 3,036
Why are you guys arguing with Ralph? Have you not figured out his m.o. yet?
DontMissHim
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2010
- Messages
- 807
Thats the problem.
Seriously, though- I expect UC to make the tournament. Also think they can win a game or two with that defense. I wouldn't be shocked at a little run in the Big East tournament to help things
TheLivingLegend
Well-known member
Thats the problem.
Seriously, though- I expect UC to make the tournament. Also think they can win a game or two with that defense. I wouldn't be shocked at a little run in the Big East tournament to help things
Glad to see your back from hiatus...
If UC doesnt make the tournament alot of fans are going to lose it, including myself. Ill throw something, probably at Ralphy.
Who Dey Time
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2010
- Messages
- 151
Normally I would agree but you have to think that this layoff has helped get the guys back healthy. SK has really been laboring out there and you have to really wonder whether or not Cash's recent struggles are injury/fatigue related. Cash really wore down during the stretch run last season because of his problematic knee to the point where he was basically playing on one leg in the NCAA.
UCalum08
Well-known member
I know the Bearcats lack a true identity of play but I really hope they come out and make the Blue Demons uncomfortable by pressing them and running and gunning. I swear if we let them hang around and dictate the flow of them game I will be very pissed off. Its time for this team to form some kind of identity and play their game.
bearcat jeff
Hoops Moderator
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2010
- Messages
- 7,502
Mick has hinted at line up changes. We'll see....
Mick has certainly had his ups and downs coaching this team. Whatever offense they were running through the Xavier game was a huge tactical error on his part. Then he showed a great deal of flexibility (uncommon for most coaches) in changing tactics and his in-game decisions were spot on through the WVa loss.
The last 2 games have proven that sometimes, a coach can simply out-smart himself. The whole notion that because a certain team plays Style X, doesn't mean you necessarily have to combat it differently on your end. While it might have made strategic sense to game plan for the zone with some special sets, I think it sapped the team of their confidence and put them back on their heels. Anytime they try to run a low-post set, I'm reminded of the Hickory Huskers first game under Norman Dale - fear and uncertainty will get you beaten on any playing field.
It's not that the strategy has been poor - quite the contrary, it's obvious what Mick was doing, and invariably it's the players' job to execute the gameplan with confidence. If I saw SK flash to the foul line begging for the ball one time during that 'Cuse game, I saw it 20 times. Everyone played tentatively. What I feel lacks a bit with Mick is what many of you have already expressed - are players getting better? Are they learning, getting smarter, more confident, more skilled? And if not, why?
Cash Wright shows flashes, JJ, Parker, and Dixon too. Sanders had moments early in the season. But are these guys really improving game over game, year over year? Hard to say, but the incomplete answer right now would be a resounding "no". Good news - the entire month of February awaits, and we will find out a great deal about the character of the players we have and the character and skill of our coach.
Yes to the big man coach. George Jackson is clearly not the answer.
The last 2 games have proven that sometimes, a coach can simply out-smart himself. The whole notion that because a certain team plays Style X, doesn't mean you necessarily have to combat it differently on your end. While it might have made strategic sense to game plan for the zone with some special sets, I think it sapped the team of their confidence and put them back on their heels. Anytime they try to run a low-post set, I'm reminded of the Hickory Huskers first game under Norman Dale - fear and uncertainty will get you beaten on any playing field.
It's not that the strategy has been poor - quite the contrary, it's obvious what Mick was doing, and invariably it's the players' job to execute the gameplan with confidence. If I saw SK flash to the foul line begging for the ball one time during that 'Cuse game, I saw it 20 times. Everyone played tentatively. What I feel lacks a bit with Mick is what many of you have already expressed - are players getting better? Are they learning, getting smarter, more confident, more skilled? And if not, why?
Cash Wright shows flashes, JJ, Parker, and Dixon too. Sanders had moments early in the season. But are these guys really improving game over game, year over year? Hard to say, but the incomplete answer right now would be a resounding "no". Good news - the entire month of February awaits, and we will find out a great deal about the character of the players we have and the character and skill of our coach.
Yes to the big man coach. George Jackson is clearly not the answer.
More reason to get Guyn more minutes. When they get to the BE tournament, Cash isn't going to hold up for 2, 3, 4 days in a row. Mick needs to start utilizing his depth.
I said it earlier. Make an AD Jackson to Nick Van Exel move. No, I'm not comparing these guys to those guys. But I think a similar move needs to be made.
Put Guyn at PG for 30+ minutes. Use Cash as his backup for 5 to 10 mins.
Stick Yancy in the low post, and give him breathers by using Mbodj, Jackson and Gaines to back him up.
Then, for the other 3 spots, rotate Cashmere, S K, Dixon, Parker, and Davis III. The ones who play defense, rebound, and give you the most offense, get the most minutes. Rotating 5 guys gives you a chance that 1 or 2 will be "hot". Also has Cash playing off the ball and not guarding the other teams PG. Also allows you to play Cash less minutes.
That is my lineup and I'm sticking to it. Guyn is the far better defensive player and Cash can't keep up with opposing PG's anymore.
I love Guyn and think he will be great, but no way do you take him and Cash and flip their minutes. Maybe Guyn gets 5 more a game, but not 30. I love his defense but he gets sloppy with the ball under pressure. He needs more time to adjust to the speed of the college game.