Pitt

[UCalum08]

Modji, thanks for coming back into the game lol. I wish we didn't press that last play, set up half court. This last 1:34 is going to be nerve racking!!

 

[westsidecat]

dn where have you been? doesnt matter,just happy you showed up!

 

[UCalum08]

WOW crazy game, HAPPY NEW YEARS EVE TO EVERYONE. I can now party hard and happy today! I can not believe we got to 70 points. Amazing what spacing, passing and a minor presence of a big man can do. The best thing from this game is, we got better as the game went on. Good win in a very tough opening Big East game.

 

[bearcat18]

I know Cheikh fouled out but I don't know why Mick didn't have Nyarsuk or Jackson in to rebound the free throw when Zanna was shooting his and-1. Having Sanders on the block is asking for disaster when a guy like Zanna is shooting.

But other than that, great W!

 

[ralph1950]

How about them Bearcats!

 

[TheLongHaul]

Much better second half. Better ball movement and were much more aggressive... DNy came up huge. Mbodj was really disappointing and Sanders still looks like a scared freshman. Though it was beyond dumb that he was even in the game and especially dumb that he was taking the ball out...

Cash is so much better when he attacks. Same with Rubles.

 

[UnivCincy]

Great second half for the Cats. Nyarsuk provided a nice spark. I've said it countless times to friends, and perhaps on here, but I really believe that Nyarsuk should be starting. He has all the tools to be a solid 5 at this level.

New rankings update: Cincinnati drops to 14th in the AP Poll. Happy New Year, everyone. Stay safe.

 

[#BearcatNation]

New rankings update: Cincinnati drops to 14th in the AP Poll. Happy New Year, everyone. Stay safe.

If we beat St. Johns Saturday, I think we should climb back up to at least 11.

 

[Hicks' Guns]

Huge comeback in the 2nd half. Mbodj and Nyarsuk were obviously much improved in the second half. And our FT shooting was huge.

Like Mick calling the press on in the 2nd half (which seems to be a theme since the XU game).

I also think Pitt did us a favor going into a zone. It forced us to pass the ball around to either find open shots or gaps to drive into. We still need to work on the man-to-man O but obivously, a wonderful turnaround.

I really think finding open paint shots, getting paint points and finishing around the hoop is going to be instrumental in determining whether this team is a top 10 team or a top 25 team. If we can get inside buckets (like we did in the 2nd half), we are such a more complete team. The alternative is the driving around the permiter "weave" that's frustrating all of us.

D is great...a few missed rotations but all around, stifling...especially in the 2nd half.

 

[Hicks' Guns]

Much better second half. Better ball movement and were much more aggressive... DNy came up huge. Mbodj was really disappointing and Sanders still looks like a scared freshman. Though it was beyond dumb that he was even in the game and especially dumb that he was taking the ball out...

Cash is so much better when he attacks. Same with Rubles.

Absolutely did not understand the Sanders substitution. Maybe he wanted FT shooters in the game but as we learned the hard way, getting that RB in the first place was most important. Hope the missed block out and subsequent TO doesn't lead to a Sanders regression where he's scared to shoot / attack...IMO he's sort of dealing with that as it is.

 

[bearcat18]

Absolutely did not understand the Sanders substitution. Maybe he wanted FT shooters in the game but as we learned the hard way, getting that RB in the first place was most important.

Your logic makes sense but Sanders shoots 52% from the line. I'd rather just put Jackson or Dave in there and hope they'd make 1 out of 2, but be sure you'd get the rebound.

 

[TheLivingLegend]

I think its time to start Rubles...

Yes he is inconsistent, but when hes playing well this team is 10 times better... He is one of the few people that can get to the rim and get someone an easy look.

I fear that Justins game will be the same for the remainder of his career....

Cash makes some big time shots. Big time.

How about big dave! Huge 6 minute stretch from him.

 

[TheLivingLegend]

Also, I think its time Mick changes up the pre game.. Whatever they are doing isnt working..

A light 5 on 5 scrimmage would be ideal imo...

These slow starts are killing me.

 

[JumpinJack5]

I think its time to start Rubles...

Yes he is inconsistent, but when hes playing well this team is 10 times better... He is one of the few people that can get to the rim and get someone an easy look.

I fear that Justins game will be the same for the remainder of his career....

Cash makes some big time shots. Big time.

How about big dave! Huge 6 minute stretch from him.

I think judgement of Rubles and Big Dave must be held off for a while. It's their first year playing at this level. Both have lots of talent and by the end of the year, could become consistent contributors.

 

[TheLivingLegend]

I think judgement of Rubles and Big Dave must be held off for a while. It's their first year playing at this level. Both have lots of talent and by the end of the year, could become consistent contributors.

There is no judgement...

Im simply saying Rubles should start over Justin. Right now he brings more.

 

[#BearcatNation]

There is no judgement...

Im simply saying Rubles should start over Justin. Right now he brings more.

I've always thought the "starting lineup" is overrated and not something to worry about. It's just the people in at the opening tip. Now if Rubles wasn't getting enough minutes, that's a separate issue. But as long as he keeps getting the PT he deserves, I won't complain.

 

[TheLongHaul]

There is no judgement...

Im simply saying Rubles should start over Justin. Right now he brings more.

I've been thinking the same thing since really the beginning of the season. Not only has Rubles been the better player but starting vs. being a sub is also a mental thing and Rubles doesn't seem to get into the flow of it when he comes off the bench. Jackson, with all his faults is at least a high energy player which is perfectly suited for coming off the bench. Not only that, if this team is going to take the next step forward, they absolutely are going to need production from Rubles. He has the potential, Jackson IMO doesn't. Let Rubles start and hope by the end of the season it has clicked for him.

 

[TheLivingLegend]

I've always thought the "starting lineup" is overrated and not something to worry about. It's just the people in at the opening tip. Now if Rubles wasn't getting enough minutes, that's a separate issue. But as long as he keeps getting the PT he deserves, I won't complain.

It matters...

UC starts really slow. Titus adds offense. He should start.

Plus, id prefer a high energy "spark" in Justin off the bench.

 

[JumpinJack5]

There is no judgement...

Im simply saying Rubles should start over Justin. Right now he brings more.

I know, but I've heard some say Rubles is bad or that David is bad. David has only played NAIA-level basketball and Rubles grew from 6-2 to 6-8 in a short amount of time. Rubles has potential to be very good.

 

[waterhead]

We are a top 15 team the way this team is currently "wired". Great D and very good play from the 1-3 positions. There are two things which I think can bring this team to the level of top 10 to top 5 and those are...

Better offensive sets and better production from the 4 and 5 offensively. Tonight that combination seemed to be Rubles and Nyarcuk (offensively speaking). So what do we give up defensively and rebounding wise from JJ and Mooj? That seems to be the question. IDK. Rubles and Nyarcuk seems to be just fine in those departments.

JJ doesn't have the handles of Rubles...and today that seemed to be very important especially considering we have no post offensive presence. I fell we need more of what Rubles can bring since both can turn the ball over, steal the ball pretty well, and rebound well. T-Rub give us better penetration efficiency. As for Mooj and Nyarcuk I am 50-50 right now. Nyarcuk actually showed the better ability to score in or around the bucket today. Mooj just doesn't have great timing or awareness down low offesnively.

We can't have other teams crowding our perimeter. I think perhaps rather than working the 4 corners on the offensive end we might be better served stacking one side and letting SW, SK, JP, or TR use their penetration moves to drive and score or kick it back out for a 3.

All in all I am impressed that we could score 4 points midway through the 1st half and still manage to score 70 and win. Our D is just out of this world and the players have bought in. From here we just need the right pieces in place offensively in terms of offensive strategy and then determine who gives us the best chance at the 4 and 5 positions. Rubles, JJ, Mooj, and Nyarcuk will all get their time...we just need to figure out the right allotment of that time.