Next years team

[Bearcat Rob]

Si.com ranked the top 50 scoring freshman this season. Gary clark came in at 49th, they project him to average 7.7pts and 5 boards a game. Here's the link
http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2014/10/15/top-scoring-freshmen-jahlil-okafor-rashad-vaughn

 

[juckerrules]

I am disputing the alleged disparity in talent. It's not anywhere near as big as you think it is. Bellarmine is long and can shoot the rock. UC is probably quicker, but not as skilled. Bellarmine will have to execute extremely well to win, but the thing about them is that they almost always do execute well. I do believe that the big difference between higher level D1 and the best D2 teams(and lower D1) is the D1 teams are capable of playing much better defense.

The trap for a team like UC playing their first exhibition game against a D2 team is that UC may not come with their best defensive effort. They will find that is some ways, Bellarmine is as hard to guard as anybody they will be playing and if they don't bring their best defensive effort, they will get embarrassed.

Results last year:

Bellarmine lost 3 times to Southern Indiana, twice to Indianapolis, & to Truman, WV Parkside & Lewis....

They beat teams like William Jewel and Drury & Cristian Brothers (don't they make wine?) & a bunch of other teams I've never heard of.

They may be pumped and psyched to play with the big boys and so hold their own for a while, but in the end, it's just a scrimmage - UC will be more interested in seeing what combos work & will still easily stomp Bellarmine.

 

[bearcat jeff]

I think the scoring is going to be about right but if he plays as much as I think he will, the rebounds will be a bit higher. He has a chance to be a very good offensive rebounder.

 

[coachpipe]

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/spo...eontae-deberry-difference-maker-net/17325215/

A little write up on Deberry. They finally measured his hands. From thumb to pinky it measures to be 11 3/4 inches. So his hands are as large as my forearm

 

[Robert]

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/spo...eontae-deberry-difference-maker-net/17325215/

A little write up on Deberry. They finally measured his hands. From thumb to pinky it measures to be 11 3/4 inches. So his hands are as large as my forearm

Geez. I just grabbed a tape measure and my hand measures a little over 9-1/2 inches. I'm 6'2" and can almost palm a basketball. That guy's hands are humongous.

 

[LaxCat31]

I am friends with one of the basketball student managers on the team and we chatted about Gary Clark yesterday and he said is going to start. He said the team looks really good in practice and that they are very physical and fast-paced, but very young. That is going to be our biggest hurdle.

 

[bearcat jeff]

UC will play 5 teams ranked in the cbssportsline.com top 25 including SMU and UConn in league. But they will also play some cupcakes which will help them get their legs under them. My concern is youthful turnovers and responding to crush time and pressure. I believe this is a very talented deep team but can they raise up when it is winning time and can they hold onto the ball?

I believe overall basketball iq will be higher, the effort constant and defense and rebounding will be fine. If they can find their identity in close games and not commit stupid turnovers this team is going to be every competitive at a high level imo.

They also play North Carolina State, Ole Miss/Creighton, good mid-majors like E. Illinois, Middle Tennessee St. and North Carolina Central; not to mention Houston, Temple, and Memphis who all will be competitive as well. My point is they will have opportunities to be sharpened and opponents they can build confidence against.

 

[Robert]

I am friends with one of the basketball student managers on the team and we chatted about Gary Clark yesterday and he said is going to start. He said the team looks really good in practice and that they are very physical and fast-paced, but very young. That is going to be our biggest hurdle.

I've heard that too. Seems like the starting front court is set with Shaq, Clark, and Ellis. I believe the backcourt will be Caupain and Johnson, but maybe Guyn still has a shot.

 

[JasonS]

I've heard that too. Seems like the starting front court is set with Shaq, Clark, and Ellis. I believe the backcourt will be Caupain and Johnson, but maybe Guyn still has a shot.

I always say it's not about who starts, but who finishes the game. I think that lineup is even more difficult to predict than the starting 5. We don't yet know how the big guys will shoot free throws, which of the guards are better with ball security, etc.

 

[LaxCat31]

I've heard that too. Seems like the starting front court is set with Shaq, Clark, and Ellis. I believe the backcourt will be Caupain and Johnson, but maybe Guyn still has a shot.

I would absolutely love for Caupain to get the start, but I have a hard time believing Cronin won't start his senior, veteran point guard. Even though he is much better.

 

[bearcat jeff]

I've heard that too. Seems like the starting front court is set with Shaq, Clark, and Ellis. I believe the backcourt will be Caupain and Johnson, but maybe Guyn still has a shot.

Point guard is interesting to me and who we will see. I believe it will be Caupain but I know he is still working thru a couple bad habits. Ideally I want Caupain and Johnson as my guards; and I have an inkling we will see Guyn, Mormon together to defensively change tempo at times. Guyn will play some 2 as well. I want to see how Cobb fits in and how Mick uses Morman and Guyn. I'm betting on Caupain and Johnson and I've heard Caupain has made some really nice strides of late.

The other interesting thing to me is how Sanders fits in but I think we'll see him play multiple positions. Last, I am interested to see the frontcourt rotation and I think Strickland could be the odd man out initially but I think he will be a good player once he gets his legs under him mentally and physically.

 

[JasonS]

I would absolutely love for Caupain to get the start, but I have a hard time believing Cronin won't start his senior, veteran point guard. Even though he is much better.

I'm not so sure. Caupain played a lot last year and is basically a veteran in my eyes. It will be interesting to see how Ge plays though. Cronin said in an interview that he is healthy and was playing with a shoulder injury (I believe) last year. Hopefully Ge is healthy this year and has improved on his outside jumper consistency.

 

[bearcat jeff]

I'm not so sure. Caupain played a lot last year and is basically a veteran in my eyes. It will be interesting to see how Ge plays though. Cronin said in an interview that he is healthy and was playing with a shoulder injury (I believe) last year. Hopefully Ge is healthy this year and has improved on his outside jumper consistency.

You will see both on the floor at the same time some.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Point guard is interesting to me and who we will see. I believe it will be Caupain but I know he is still working thru a couple bad habits. Ideally I want Caupain and Johnson as my guards; and I have an inkling we will see Guyn, Mormon together to defensively change tempo at times. Guyn will play some 2 as well. I want to see how Cobb fits in and how Mick uses Morman and Guyn. I'm betting on Caupain and Johnson and I've heard Caupain has made some really nice strides of late.

The other interesting thing to me is how Sanders fits in but I think we'll see him play multiple positions. Last, I am interested to see the frontcourt rotation and I think Strickland could be the odd man out initially but I think he will be a good player once he gets his legs under him mentally and physically.

I really dont see how Guyn playing the 2 at any point helps this team. I'm not saying he wont, I just really dont like the sound of that.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

Ideally Guyn is your back up point and plays some off the ball with Caupain. Strickland likely won't be a meaningful contributor until his last two years.

 

[bearcat jeff]

Ideally Guyn is your back up point and plays some off the ball with Caupain. Strickland likely won't be a meaningful contributor until his last two years.

I agree.

 

[L-T]

Mick likes experience and defense, both of which GG has. If he also believes that last year's GG was impacted by an injury, then I believe all signs point to him starting, at least initially. We'll see if he is able to hold onto it as the season unfolds.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Mick likes experience and defense, both of which GG has. If he also believes that last year's GG was impacted by an injury, then I believe all signs point to him starting, at least initially. We'll see if he is able to hold onto it as the season unfolds.

Don't think GG starts this year regardless. Really see him being utilized off the bench to provide D and energy. Mick has more flexibility with this team then any other. He also has some depth. Getting the youngsters and newcomers experience will be his big challenge. I think some upper classmen will be asked to come off the bench like the Bomb squad did a few years ago.

 

[L-T]

Don't think GG starts this year regardless. Really see him being utilized off the bench to provide D and energy. Mick has more flexibility with this team then any other. He also has some depth. Getting the youngsters and newcomers experience will be his big challenge. I think some upper classmen will be asked to come off the bench like the Bomb squad did a few years ago.

Maybe Waite, but I seem to remember this whole board trashing GG last year and guaranteeing he wouldn't hold off Caupain as the starter by year's end, but he did. I predict Caupain will still be the spark off the bench, unless Guyn is moved to the 2-guard. Note, this is my prediction, not my desire. I like Caupain better than Guyn. I'm not a big Guyn fan, but I believe Mick sees more in him than we do.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

Don't think GG starts this year regardless. Really see him being utilized off the bench to provide D and energy. Mick has more flexibility with this team then any other. He also has some depth. Getting the youngsters and newcomers experience will be his big challenge. I think some upper classmen will be asked to come off the bench like the Bomb squad did a few years ago.

Are you referring to the "Goon Squad?" I believe JJ was on it.