Bearcat_NTS
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Teams can start practice in 9 days.
Basketball starts in 9 days!!!!!!!!
Yessir! Can't wait to see this team come together!
Next years team
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Yessir! Can't wait to see this team come together!
bearcat jeff
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I'm excited every year but especially this year. Like NTS I can't wait to see it come together.
Also we need all the good juju we can muster pointed to football. Spirit bomb style.
bearcat jeff
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Kevin Johnson, DeShaun Mormon and Gary Clark are guys to keep an eye on. Gary Clark is going to be tough to keep off the floor even as a freshman. He is going to see a lot of minutes regardless. Throw in Ellis and there's a lot of intensity in that group of 4.
Heard GG's looking much better now that he's healthy too. This team is going to be intense and fun to watch. My opening day line up at this point is:
Caupain
Johnson
Thomas
Clark
Ellis
It's going to be interesting watching the line up variations this season. It could start out as a veteran line up and by January look totally different or it could look a little different game to game.
I'm excited!!
Heard GG's looking much better now that he's healthy too. This team is going to be intense and fun to watch. My opening day line up at this point is:
Caupain
Johnson
Thomas
Clark
Ellis
It's going to be interesting watching the line up variations this season. It could start out as a veteran line up and by January look totally different or it could look a little different game to game.
I'm excited!!
Robert
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I am very excited for this year as well. I think we'll have our ups and downs, but we have the talent to get back to the tournament. I won't dismiss the possibility of making a tournament run this year, but even if we don't, I think we really have a chance of having a special season in the next 2-3 years.
While I would love to see this as our starting lineup, I have a hard time believing Mick will not have at least one of the seniors in for the opening tip.
CanadianBearcat
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The team trainer has been posting alot of the testing results from the summer workouts on twitter. Shaq has a 42' vert and Morman has a 45', pretty darn impressive.
@RehfeldtU is his handle if you wanna check it out.
@RehfeldtU is his handle if you wanna check it out.
Robert
Well-known member
WOW. That is nuts. I would love to see these two throwing down dunks like James White and Melvin Levett this year.
UCalum08
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Those pictures are nasty. Almost looks photo shopped. Clark has shown a good transformation too. Deberry has a picture similar to Clark's on his FB page but he is so dark you can't really see the transformation.
Bearcat_NTS
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Agreed Jeff. That is the starting 5 I want to see by mid season. I wasn't expecting much from Morman this year, but he looks to have gotten a lot better this off season. He will be a key too.
bearcat jeff
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Yes, I should have added I believe that will be the line up before the season is done. My guess is early in the season vets will be on the floor, but if Clark can play defense he will be on the floor from jump. UC stole one with this kid IMO.
bearcat jeff
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Also agree that Mormon will play a role. I think this team has the potential to be an outstanding press and perimeter defensive team. But Mormon will give them some points on offense and off steals as well
bearcat jeff
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I would really like to see Morman, Johnson, Clark, and Ellis on the floor together offensively and pressing.
How do you feel we match up with UConn, SMU and Memphis? I am a little worried about fronrcourt experience but I really like and am excited about this team.
How do you feel we match up with UConn, SMU and Memphis? I am a little worried about fronrcourt experience but I really like and am excited about this team.
I too am worried about the front court situation, I like Ellis a lot I think he is going to be really good, if he gets in foul trouble though, we could be in trouble.
Bearcat_NTS
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I am worried too Jeff. All 5 front court players have essentially zero DI experience. Memphis has a very good front court with Nichols and Goodwin, that will be tough...SMU has the Kennedy kid (transfer from Villanova) who was good last year and UConn has Brimah as a sophomore.
Bearcat Rob
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I agree with you guys we do have big guys backing ellis up, but there will be big time growing pains with moore, strickland, and deberry. But ellis will have a terrific season hopefully he stays out of foul trouble and his length and athleticism makes up for maybe a slight drop in bulk against guys hes playingagainst. Hopefully guys like shaq and clark play big and fight down low with him if that happens it could be a great year. Im very excited about this team so much potential its awsome. Im in love with our backcourt, mick has options this year everyone better be ready to complete for a job
bearcat jeff
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One thing I will be watching this season is how Mick installs and utilizes these guys. Lots of potential but lots of unknowns. The extra practices were huge for this years team with their newness to one another and the expectations of the program. Mick said, "We've had a chance to get some things put in and the most important thing we put in was how hard we play and how we play together and how we play to win and what we try to stand for as a program out there on the court." (Enquirer - Mick Cronin: UC Bearcats fans 'should be excited') These players now understand the culture and now can actually be taught at practice instead of being prodded to play hard.
I'm on record as saying I think this team has the potential to be a dominant perimeter defensive team and spot press team. When Ellis is in I think they will press more and when the other bigs are in I think they will go more man and now and then match up zone.
Clark WILL rebound, and I'm interested to see how DeBerry, Moore and Strickland are on the boards. Conditioning has had a visible effect on them all. I heard Clark has been very impressive and plays like Morman does aka "like a Bearcat." Strickland will need some court time to get his legs under him but let's not forget he averaged 21 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks during the 2012-13 season at Queen City Prep Academy on a team that was ranked top 12 nationally. Moore may be what the Bearcats have never had. A big that can pass and score from all 3 levels. Love DeBerry's size but there's a reason he played limited minutes in juco and now he's stepping up to a whole new level. If the motor is running consistently most agree he can be an impact player. This group is my question mark on both sides of the ball. Intriguing but so unknown.
Looking forward to seeing the perimeter rotations and how often they go small with Sanders at the 4. I'm curious to see who starts at pg and how Mormon is utilized. He had I believe 7 assists in the exhibition game in the Bahamas; on top of his defense and explosiveness. There will be games he makes a play in the air that will ignite a the crowd. I think many people under-estimate how good Kevin Johnson is going to be before it's all said and done. He's not going to be flashy, but I believe he's going to be a very steady and reliable player. Troy Caupain is going to be 19 this season. How exciting is that? GG is healthy and he will be more agressive. Look for his ft percentage to go back up with his shoulder healthy. Can't wait to see if Cobb can be what we've missed the past 3 seasons. A guy off the bench who can consistently drill 3's.
I'm on record as saying I think this team has the potential to be a dominant perimeter defensive team and spot press team. When Ellis is in I think they will press more and when the other bigs are in I think they will go more man and now and then match up zone.
Clark WILL rebound, and I'm interested to see how DeBerry, Moore and Strickland are on the boards. Conditioning has had a visible effect on them all. I heard Clark has been very impressive and plays like Morman does aka "like a Bearcat." Strickland will need some court time to get his legs under him but let's not forget he averaged 21 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks during the 2012-13 season at Queen City Prep Academy on a team that was ranked top 12 nationally. Moore may be what the Bearcats have never had. A big that can pass and score from all 3 levels. Love DeBerry's size but there's a reason he played limited minutes in juco and now he's stepping up to a whole new level. If the motor is running consistently most agree he can be an impact player. This group is my question mark on both sides of the ball. Intriguing but so unknown.
Looking forward to seeing the perimeter rotations and how often they go small with Sanders at the 4. I'm curious to see who starts at pg and how Mormon is utilized. He had I believe 7 assists in the exhibition game in the Bahamas; on top of his defense and explosiveness. There will be games he makes a play in the air that will ignite a the crowd. I think many people under-estimate how good Kevin Johnson is going to be before it's all said and done. He's not going to be flashy, but I believe he's going to be a very steady and reliable player. Troy Caupain is going to be 19 this season. How exciting is that? GG is healthy and he will be more agressive. Look for his ft percentage to go back up with his shoulder healthy. Can't wait to see if Cobb can be what we've missed the past 3 seasons. A guy off the bench who can consistently drill 3's.
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Knightmoves
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Watch out for Bellarmine
I want to warn you UC fans not to become disgruntled if your team losses its exhibition against Bellarmine. It will not mean that UC is no good this year, Bellarmine should be very good. Bellarmine played UC relatively close last year and they should be better this year. I don't think UC will be as good as last year, at least not right out of the box.
I am warning you because a few years ago when Bellarmine beat Xavier, X fans were besides themselves with angst for losing to a D2 team. Of course Bellarmine went on to win the D2 championship. This BU team may have more talent than that team.
I want to warn you UC fans not to become disgruntled if your team losses its exhibition against Bellarmine. It will not mean that UC is no good this year, Bellarmine should be very good. Bellarmine played UC relatively close last year and they should be better this year. I don't think UC will be as good as last year, at least not right out of the box.
I am warning you because a few years ago when Bellarmine beat Xavier, X fans were besides themselves with angst for losing to a D2 team. Of course Bellarmine went on to win the D2 championship. This BU team may have more talent than that team.
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