NCAA Tournament

[Bearcat513]

Maryland a 6. Still can't get over that one.

Hmmm...and who gets to play the worst 6 seed in the field ???

 

[GarradJ21]

Or sister.....

whoops

 

[GarradJ21]

Tonight might be the first play-in game Ive ever watched. Not a fan of play-in games.

 

[Bearcat22]

Tonight might be the first play-in game Ive ever watched. Not a fan of play-in games.

It's also the night when a majority of basketball fans say "where the hell is TruTV!?!"

 

[cincyguy13]

I would like to win the first game, if nothing else, to see how we match up against one of the top teams

 

[UCBearcats]

Bilas picked us to lose to Wake Forest, he also picked a Duke vs UNC national championship game.........FWIW

 

[jacobkdoyle]

UCLA fans seem to think we're a cake walk, if we make it.

3 Things
1. Lavar Ball probably told them it'd be a cakewalk
2. They probably haven't seen us play 1 second all year
3. They probably saw the final score of the AAC Final and made assumptions from there.

There's always a team that everyone just assumes is fine for a few rounds, then uh oh. And I haven't heard 1 single person saying we'd win that game. Completely looking past it and trying to find mid-majors to be the Cinderella. Arizona gave them serious problems. I like that. we're a disciplined scouting report team like them. BPI or whatever says we win the game slightly more than 4 out of 10 times. We'll just have to see what happens IF WE WIN FRIDAY NIGHT FIRST.

 

[UCBearcats]

3 Things
1. Lavar Ball probably told them it'd be a cakewalk
2. They probably haven't seen us play 1 second all year
3. They probably saw the final score of the AAC Final and made assumptions from there.

There's always a team that everyone just assumes is fine for a few rounds, then uh oh. And I haven't heard 1 single person saying we'd win that game. Completely looking past it and trying to find mid-majors to be the Cinderella. Arizona gave them serious problems. I like that. we're a disciplined scouting report team like them. BPI or whatever says we win the game slightly more than 4 out of 10 times. We'll just have to see what happens IF WE WIN FRIDAY NIGHT FIRST.

I think there's a chance we could frustrate UCLA enough to pull one out, but Wake puts up points too. If we wind up playing them I'm not too confident this team can put together (2) solid offensive games B2B.

If we do wind up beating UCLA then we most likely match up with UK and would need a 3rd stellar offensive night in a row. I just don't see it, Mick's brand of basketball isn't built for March and a consistent run against the upper echelon teams.

Everyone keeps talking about Sweet 16, is that the goal? What about an Elite 8, what about a Final 4?

 

[jacobkdoyle]

3 Things
1. Lavar Ball probably told them it'd be a cakewalk
2. They probably haven't seen us play 1 second all year
3. They probably saw the final score of the AAC Final and made assumptions from there.

There's always a team that everyone just assumes is fine for a few rounds, then uh oh. And I haven't heard 1 single person saying we'd win that game. Completely looking past it and trying to find mid-majors to be the Cinderella. Arizona gave them serious problems. I like that. we're a disciplined scouting report team like them. BPI or whatever says we win the game slightly more than 4 out of 10 times. We'll just have to see what happens IF WE WIN FRIDAY NIGHT FIRST.

I've heard people say they're the worst matchup for us. I disagree. We're complete opposites. It'd be the worst matchup if we tried to do exactly what they do without the lottery picks. If nothing else, our brand will make them have to play tough and scrap to beat us. They don't seem to love that. I'd see them as the worst possible matchup for Wake Forest, not us. Obviously saying all of this I know we'd be the underdog, but what the hey. We wouldn't have to be anyone we're not to win that game. We'd just have to hit our shots more than we usually do away from home. But the shots would be there.

 

[UC86]

3 Things
1. Lavar Ball probably told them it'd be a cakewalk
2. They probably haven't seen us play 1 second all year
3. They probably saw the final score of the AAC Final and made assumptions from there.

There's always a team that everyone just assumes is fine for a few rounds, then uh oh. And I haven't heard 1 single person saying we'd win that game. Completely looking past it and trying to find mid-majors to be the Cinderella. Arizona gave them serious problems. I like that. we're a disciplined scouting report team like them. BPI or whatever says we win the game slightly more than 4 out of 10 times. We'll just have to see what happens IF WE WIN FRIDAY NIGHT FIRST.

I like our chances versus UCLA if we win Friday. I don't think they match up well against us. The knock on them is that they're soft and if we play physical and control the tempo, I think we will give them all they can handle.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

I think there's a chance we could frustrate UCLA enough to pull one out, but Wake puts up points too. If we wind up playing them I'm not too confident this team can put together (2) solid offensive games B2B.

If we do wind up beating UCLA then we most likely match up with UK and would need a 3rd stellar offensive night in a row. I just don't see it, Mick's brand of basketball isn't built for March and a consistent run against the upper echelon teams.

Everyone keeps talking about Sweet 16, is that the goal? What about an Elite 8, what about a Final 4?

We're taking steps towards becoming that type of team. Rome wasn't built in a day. I mean, in just 1 season we've managed to completely shift the National narrative from "First to 50 rock fight" to "This team can score". We're transitioning into the modern game much more successfully than the crappy Yukon's of the world.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Coach Cronin Talks Tournament

 

[UCBearcats]

We're taking steps towards becoming that type of team. Rome wasn't built in a day. I mean, in just 1 season we've managed to completely shift the National narrative from "First to 50 rock fight" to "This team can score". We're transitioning into the modern game much more successfully than the crappy Yukon's of the world.

I bet a large position of Rome was built in less than 11 years, and they didn't have airplanes and million dollar salaries.

I'm not so sure about that narrative, I think this team NEEDS to make a DEEP run in the NCAA's before anyone is really going to take them seriously going forward. Every time we've played a good team this year away from home we've played scared. After the SMU game any confidence I had in Mick's ability to reach this teams' full potential was washed away.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

I bet a large position of Rome was built in less than 11 years, and they didn't have airplanes and million dollar salaries.

I'm not so sure about that narrative, I think this team NEEDS to make a DEEP run in the NCAA's before anyone is really going to take them seriously going forward. Every time we've played a good team this year away from home we've played scared. After the SMU game any confidence I had in Mick's ability to reach this teams' full potential was washed away.

I don't see the point in going back to 11 years ago. Basketball was different, especially college...and in large part bc of the old Big East. The pace and space era has demanded that you need 5 guys on the floor who can shoot and score. We have that now, and we've maintained a Top 10 defense. Certainly something to build on, especially considering we have just 2 scholarship SRs.

Obviously I'd like us to make a run. That's true every year. But we've had too good of a year for me to meltdown if we lose in the 2nd round.

 

[UCBearcats]

I don't see the point in going back to 11 years ago. Basketball was different, especially college...and in large part bc of the old Big East. The pace and space era has demanded that you need 5 guys on the floor who can shoot and score. We have that now, and we've maintained a Top 10 defense. Certainly something to build on, especially considering we have just 2 scholarship SRs.

Hey, we're still alive until we're not. In my mind the time is NOW for this program, not next year or the year after or the year after that.

Maybe living outside of Cincy has softened you a bit? You're not here to live through the misery of year after year the teams you root for constantly letting you down. Next year is the Cincinnati fan anthem, but next year hasn't come in over 25 years.

If we're not raising the bar we're going backwards. A Sweet 16 doesn't raise the bar, an Elite 8 or Final 4 does.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Hey, we're still alive until we're not. In my mind the time is NOW for this program, not next year or the year after or the year after that.

Maybe living outside of Cincy has softened you a bit? You're not here to live through the misery of year after year the teams you root for constantly letting you down. Next year is the Cincinnati fan anthem, but next year hasn't come in over 25 years.

If we're not raising the bar we're going backwards. A Sweet 16 doesn't raise the bar, an Elite 8 or Final 4 does.

I'm not softened, I just don't think the Tournament is the end all be all. Not saying in any way I don't want to make a run. I do. More than anything. But what happens in the next couple weeks can't possible undo the immense joy I've gotten from watching this team over the past few months.

Starts Friday night. We'll be favored. Win the game and see what's what. I like that the UCLA/Kent State game is after us. There's zero reason to look ahead when we won't even know what we'd be looking ahead to.

 

[UCBearcats]

I'm not softened, I just don't think the Tournament is the end all be all. Not saying in any way I don't want to make a run. I do. More than anything. But what happens in the next couple weeks can't possible undo the immense joy I've gotten from watching this team over the past few months.

Starts Friday night. We'll be favored. Win the game and see what's what. I like that the UCLA/Kent State game is after us. There's zero reason to look ahead when we won't even know what we'd be looking ahead to.

I don't disagree with the tourney not being the end all be all. I guess I'm just not as satisfied with the end result of the regular season.

 

[JasonS]

I'm not softened, I just don't think the Tournament is the end all be all. Not saying in any way I don't want to make a run. I do. More than anything. But what happens in the next couple weeks can't possible undo the immense joy I've gotten from watching this team over the past few months.

Starts Friday night. We'll be favored. Win the game and see what's what. I like that the UCLA/Kent State game is after us. There's zero reason to look ahead when we won't even know what we'd be looking ahead to.

I agree with Jake. I'm not going to let something I can't control (tourney seeding and placement) tarnish what has been one of the most enjoyable seasons and teams in recent memory. If this team makes a run (and I hope they do), it's like the cherry on top.

 

[GarradJ21]

Crazy thing about the tourney is a team can have an amazing year and still be one and done, or it can be the opposite, squeak by in the regular season and make a run in the tournament. The majority of the basketball season is a teams regular season. So the majority of our season has been excellent. Would love a deep run in the tournament but anything can happen. Next year we could lose 12 games and make it to the elite eight. Does that mean that year would be better than this year? It depends who you ask. Overall I'm happy with UC, our players, and the continuous winning seasons. Cronin has a lot of what I like in a coach and I think the perfect man for the job here in Cincinnati. Not everyone can agree and that's there business but the majority of the people do and that's what matters. Plenty of support and positive buzz around the program. So if there's going to be someone that just isn't happy until we make a final 4 that's their choice. With that said I would love to see two wins this weekend! Go Bearcats!

 

[justinhub2003]

Looking at Wake Forest:

It seems like when they play other teams who like to get up and down the court and play really fast, they can compete with you and even beat you.


But they struggle when teams try to slow them down. Louisville decided to just out score Wake and lost on Wake's senior night.

But Virginia and Pittsburgh were able to hold them under 70 and Virginia kept the game at 62 possessions.

I think we should really really try to slow them down. Make them play a style were comfortable with. They also have only 1 SR on the team. Ill be really upset if we lose to a bunch of sophomores.