player excitement

[mdchick]

Who is the player that you are most excited to watch?

For me I think it's Mbodj, everywhere I read on the web, says he has slimmed down, and he is very healthy and strong this year, I know we are going to have a solid guard game this year, but I believe this team could be banking on Mbodj to have a solid senior year.

 

[JasonS]

Shaq Thomas is the player I am most excited to watch with JJ a close second.

 

[bearcat18]

This questions is impossible for me to answer. I think we know what Cash and JaQuon will bring us. My answer could be literally any of these guys:

SK - improved body, more athletic, better ball-handler, BE POY candidate
Jackson - bulked up, worked on his perimeter game/ball-handling
Sanders- obviously had a great offseason, will he be that lockdown shooter and scorer we thought we were getting?
Shaq/Titus - new guys, both crazy athletic, could create some major matchup problems
Nyarsuk - doesn't need much of an explanation, excited to see what he can do
Cheikh - looks like a completely different player
Davis/Ge'lawn - see who can step up to backup Cash

This season is gonna be a blast to say the least.

 

[C I N C Y]

Of the returning guys kilpatrick. If he improved his ball handling watch out.
Newcomer. Rubles. Hearing he is the real deal
Also. Sanders. Sk said he is easily the most improved player on the team.
Also excited about shaq but think he is behind sanders and rubles although in a year or two he will be the best of the bunch. Shaq is good but is not ready for major minutes yet

 

[bearcat jeff]

For me in this order:

Kilpatrick - He stays healthy he may average 18 ppg
Back up PG - GG/Davis, can either emerge? I hear this is the primary area of concern for Mick.
Sanders - Changed body but maintained his basketball skills.
TRub- Could be a difference maker by being a bit of everything for this team.

 

[ucswais]

It's the new guys for me. The great thing about this team is that we know what we've got in a lot of areas. Our upside lies in whether Shaq and Rubles can burst on the scene.

Close 2nd I'm excited to see what JJ can do in the "new" offense.

 

[mdchick]

I'm excited to see how JJ's offense has improved as well as everyone else on this thread, we know he's an amazing defensive player. That being said, I thought he was always very good around the rim, he has always had great inside moves, he's been able to make some nice putback dunks, and I hear he's been working on a mid Range shot, and dribble moves, from the perimeter to the basket.

I guess another thing I'm excited to see is the different line-ups Mick uses at a time. I know he likes to switch up his defenses throughout the game and I could see him using a numerous amount of people in different ways. Full-court man-to-man I could see a line-up like Guyn, SK, Shaq, T-Rubs, JJ. IF we wanted to back up into a 2-3 zone we could do a numerous amount of line-ups, I like the idea of a big line-up at times like Parker, Saunders, T-Rubs/Shaq, JJ, and Mbodj/Nyrasuk/Gaines. That being said I think the starting line-up is Cash, SK, Park, JJ, Mbodj. There is an infinite amount of line-ups that can be used, and one of the things I'm most excited about is seeing what players play well together, and what players will play in different situations.

Also another thing about this year is no Red-Shirts, this is the first year in..... what 4 years we havn't used a red-shirt on a player. That means Cronin thinks he can get something valuable out of everyone of his players. Can't even begin to say how excited I am for Cincinnati basketball right now.

 

[UCalum08]

I'm excited to see how JJ's offense has improved as well as everyone else on this thread, we know he's an amazing defensive player. That being said, I thought he was always very good around the rim, he has always had great inside moves, he's been able to make some nice putback dunks, and I hear he's been working on a mid Range shot, and dribble moves, from the perimeter to the basket.

I guess another thing I'm excited to see is the different line-ups Mick uses at a time. I know he likes to switch up his defenses throughout the game and I could see him using a numerous amount of people in different ways. Full-court man-to-man I could see a line-up like Guyn, SK, Shaq, T-Rubs, JJ. IF we wanted to back up into a 2-3 zone we could do a numerous amount of line-ups, I like the idea of a big line-up at times like Parker, Saunders, T-Rubs/Shaq, JJ, and Mbodj/Nyrasuk/Gaines. That being said I think the starting line-up is Cash, SK, Park, JJ, Mbodj. There is an infinite amount of line-ups that can be used, and one of the things I'm most excited about is seeing what players play well together, and what players will play in different situations.

Also another thing about this year is no Red-Shirts, this is the first year in..... what 4 years we havn't used a red-shirt on a player. That means Cronin thinks he can get something valuable out of everyone of his players. Can't even begin to say how excited I am for Cincinnati basketball right now.

That pretty much sums up how I feel! I was at the ticket office this morning picking up my basketball tickets and there were at least 20 students getting their basketball tickets! I was pleasantly surprised, this early and seeing the students already getting their tixs, it is a good sign the buzz is already going around campus!

 

[bearcat jeff]

I have to admit after hearing Mick's interview that I want to see JJ as well. It sounds like he is finally putting serious gym time in and that the team as a whole is as well. Mick says this group is "driven".

He did mention in a pinch JPark could slide over but I have to believe Mick would love GG or Davis to step up and take those minutes to keep Killa, Cash, and Park on the floor for maximum time..

I love GG's defensive intensity. Davis has the ability to shoot but has to improve his decision making. One of them has a big opportunity.

 

[C I N C Y]

I think Jackson deserves to,start but if I am mick I ask jj if he is ok being the 6th man. I start rubles and bring in Jackson as a spark off the bench. Ultimately jj gets more minutes and finishes the game but bringing Jackson's energy and experience off the bench to help the younger guys would be huge.

 

[CPAW29]

I think Jackson deserves to,start but if I am mick I ask jj if he is ok being the 6th man. I start rubles and bring in Jackson as a spark off the bench. Ultimately jj gets more minutes and finishes the game but bringing Jackson's energy and experience off the bench to help the younger guys would be huge.

for the reasons you have mentioned, i think parker should be the 6th man and also spell cashmere. rubles and jackson can both start for size and rebounding

 

[Scheids21]

for the reasons you have mentioned, i think parker should be the 6th man and also spell cashmere. rubles and jackson can both start for size and rebounding[/QUOTE

So who starts at the 3 for you? I don't see who would start over parker

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

Parker, Wright, Kilpatrick, JJ will all start the season as starters.

 

[C I N C Y]

That is not going to happen. Listen to the podcast that is posted on this board with Andy Katz. Mick wants to go 4 out. That means 3 guards and a face up 4 who can get to the rim. Mick wants to run run run this year so expect 3 ball handlers on the floor at all times. I don't see Jackson and rubles playing at the same time much at all

 

[kg5]

That is not going to happen. Listen to the podcast that is posted on this board with Andy Katz. Mick wants to go 4 out. That means 3 guards and a face up 4 who can get to the rim. Mick wants to run run run this year so expect 3 ball handlers on the floor at all times. I don't see Jackson and rubles playing at the same time much at all

You might want to listen to the podcast

 

[mdchick]

I'm excited to see what Rubles can do, but I dont think Rubles and jackson are the same player..... From what I hear Rubles is more of an offensive threat and jackson could be an all big east defensive player of the year canidate. To me we have enough offense with Cash, SK, Park, on the floor, we need someone like JJ on the floor for defense, and I have to assume he is a better rebounder then Rubles, but I guess we will see, since we havn't seen him play D1 NCAA ball yet.

 

[CPAW29]

If rubles game is compared to ruben patterson than he can be the 3. he is a combo forward so he should have a decent outside game and be able to defend the wings. my starting 5, mbodj,jj,rubles,killa,and cash. they can still be up-tempo with no true back to the basket player

 

[mdchick]

Parker will start, theres no doubt in my mind about that, if anything Ruble would start over JJ.

 

[ucdave]

Parker will start, theres no doubt in my mind about that, if anything Ruble would start over JJ.

Agree on that, no way Parker does not start.

 

[Cronin crazy 5]

Agree on that, no way Parker does not start.

Absolutley no way that Parker does not start. he is the most important piece of the puzzle to running a 4 guard offense. His rebounding is spectacular to say the least. Rubles will be a player but no way he starts either. I think Cronin will be running 5 guys in and 5 guys out.

Starters or first 5 in..
Cash
SK
Jaquon
jj
cheikh, Would love to see David here because i dont think cheikh will be as good as led on to be.


Second 5
first off bench or 6th man is Jermaine
Guyn
shaq
rubles
David
Just imagine if there were no drop offs in terms of offensive production and defensive production. This would be a legitamate Big East championship contender.