Post Game Reflection

[Bearcat_NTS]

Before the season I saw this as a bubble team but they outdid my expectations and raced out to a 20-2 record and on January 30th they beat Louisville at the Yum! center. Unfortunately that was the peak of the season.

You cannot win in the NCAA Tournament if you do not have a consistent offense. There is a reason why every team that wins (or gets to the Final Four) is at least a top 30 offensive team in terms of efficiency. Cincinnati finishes at 118th in the country.

Until they become a good offensive team, there is no reason to expect them to be successful in the NCAA tournament.

Today wasn't a little school pulling an upset, after UC went up 6-5 they didn't lead again for the rest of the game. They were simply the better team today.

 

[anbuc88]

Before the season I saw this as a bubble team but they outdid my expectations and raced out to a 20-2 record and on January 30th they beat Louisville at the Yum! center. Unfortunately that was the peak of the season.

You cannot win in the NCAA Tournament if you do not have a consistent offense. There is a reason why every team that wins (or gets to the Final Four) is at least a top 30 offensive team in terms of efficiency. Cincinnati finishes at 118th in the country.

Until they become a good offensive team, there is no reason to expect them to be successful in the NCAA tournament.

Today wasn't a little school pulling an upset, after UC went up 6-5 they didn't lead again for the rest of the game. They were simply the better team today.

Great post. Harvard deserved to win, and it was a game where UC just couldn't get over the hump. If Jackson could have made a 2 footer to take the lead with 4 minutes left, the pressure would have shifted. If Rubles could have made a layup with 28 seconds left they would have called timeout and set up the press, and still would have had a chance. Can't win, and don't deserve to win, if you can't make 2 footers.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

I know many do not like Louisville around here but they are what UC would look like with a good offense. Pitinio also does a very good job of having his teams playing their best ball in March. He was playing guys like Chris Jones and Mango Mathiang even thought they weren't producing. Some of my UofL buddies were complaining about how those guys sucked and now they are both playing well and are important contributors.

The most exciting thing about this team was that the offense was supposed to keep improving as the year went on...in order to do that you have to play the better offensive players and let them figure it out. Then you've got it on film and you can help them improve.

 

[nkywestside]

Before the season I saw this as a bubble team but they outdid my expectations and raced out to a 20-2 record and on January 30th they beat Louisville at the Yum! center. Unfortunately that was the peak of the season.

You cannot win in the NCAA Tournament if you do not have a consistent offense. There is a reason why every team that wins (or gets to the Final Four) is at least a top 30 offensive team in terms of efficiency. Cincinnati finishes at 118th in the country.

Until they become a good offensive team, there is no reason to expect them to be successful in the NCAA tournament.

Today wasn't a little school pulling an upset, after UC went up 6-5 they didn't lead again for the rest of the game. They were simply the better team today.

Well I hope for UC's sake that offense will become priority number one going forward but I doubt it will. Mick said at halftime that offense wasn't the problem that defense was. The mentality will never change. That team couldn't guard us going to the rim yet they still were able to keep us out of the bucket all game long. It's really disturbing. I don't know what to think going forward.

 

[nkywestside]

I know many do not like Louisville around here but they are what UC would look like with a good offense. Pitinio also does a very good job of having his teams playing their best ball in March. He was playing guys like Chris Jones and Mango Mathiang even thought they weren't producing. Some of my UofL buddies were complaining about how those guys sucked and now they are both playing well and are important contributors.

The most exciting thing about this team was that the offense was supposed to keep improving as the year went on...in order to do that you have to play the better offensive players and let them figure it out. Then you've got it on film and you can help them improve.

Another good observation.

 

[UCalum08]

Before the season I saw this as a bubble team but they outdid my expectations and raced out to a 20-2 record and on January 30th they beat Louisville at the Yum! center. Unfortunately that was the peak of the season.

You cannot win in the NCAA Tournament if you do not have a consistent offense. There is a reason why every team that wins (or gets to the Final Four) is at least a top 30 offensive team in terms of efficiency. Cincinnati finishes at 118th in the country.

Until they become a good offensive team, there is no reason to expect them to be successful in the NCAA tournament.

Today wasn't a little school pulling an upset, after UC went up 6-5 they didn't lead again for the rest of the game. They were simply the better team today.

I couldn't agree more. Offense still plays a big role in success and IVE been saying all week its about our inability to score that causes us to lose. UC does it to themselves ad until we get a new offensive philosophy whether its in recruiting or schemes we will struggle to get over "the hump". I think we over achieved majority of the season BUT we mightly underachieved in the final stretch.
One thing is for sure...there needs to be some major changes with Mick's philosophies. Coaching style...recruiting...development... Whatever it is, it needs to happen. Can't keep doing the same sh*t and expect different results.

 

[IDC]

Mick was right about needing to play better defense comment at halftime. Harvard was shooting over 50% and made a lot of uncontested 3's. They improved their D in the second half and would have one if JJ and Rubles could make some bunnies.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

Mick was right about needing to play better defense comment at halftime. Harvard was shooting over 50% and made a lot of uncontested 3's. They improved their D in the second half and would have one if JJ and Rubles could make some bunnies.

Yep, Harvard scored 25 points in the second half and didn't make a three pointer. As usual the problem for Cincinnati was on the other end of the floor.

 

[bearcat jeff]

All good points B_NTS

 

[bearcat18]

I feared one of our scoring droughts would happen in the second round of the tourney all year - and unfortunately, we had two today. You just can't win in March without scoring for periods of time no matter how good your defense is.

I appreciate that Mick stresses defense because a lot of coaches don't, and you can tell by watching them. But man, I'm hoping in the future (hopefully next year) that each offensive possession we have won't be a grind. It's almost like I exhaled every time we scored, especially lately.

It was a fun season overall, and I can't thank SK, JJ, and Titus enough. They might not be the biggest, best, or most skilled guys, but they busted their asses every game this year. Can't say we lost any games for a lack of effort this year.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

I feared one of our scoring droughts would happen in the second round of the tourney all year - and unfortunately, we had two today. You just can't win in March without scoring for periods of time no matter how good your defense is.

I appreciate that Mick stresses defense because a lot of coaches don't, and you can tell by watching them. But man, I'm hoping in the future (hopefully next year) that each offensive possession we have won't be a grind. It's almost like I exhaled every time we scored, especially lately.

It was a fun season overall, and I can't thank SK, JJ, and Titus enough. They might not be the biggest, best, or most skilled guys, but they busted their asses every game this year. Can't say we lost any games for a lack of effort this year.

I don't disagree with anything you just said but at some point you have to do more than just "play hard" or "give it your all." That is an important part of being a good player but that alone will get you no where further than the Sweet 16. Notice that the Chicago Bulls (who are the UC doppleganger of the NBA) always seem to overachieve yet can't get far in the post season.

The next question is how can UC improve it's offense next season? Especially when they lose 3 of the top 4 scorers....

 

[CanadianBearcat]

Sr- Guyn, Sanders
Jr- Shaq, Deberry
So- Johnson, Caupain, Lawrence
Fr- Clark, Moore, Strickland, Morman

This isn't the most reassuring thing Ive ever seen.

Gonna be young with the upperclassmen being role players, this sounds alot like a few years ago with the Goon Squad

 

[BearcatMick]

Sr- Guyn, Sanders
Jr- Shaq, Deberry
So- Johnson, Caupain, Lawrence
Fr- Clark, Moore, Strickland, Morman

This isn't the most reassuring thing Ive ever seen.

Gonna be young with the upperclassmen being role players, this sounds alot like a few years ago with the Goon Squad

So laughably wrong. They will be top 25 again. Mick will mold them and get the most out of each player

 

[bearcat jeff]

I don't disagree with anything you just said but at some point you have to do more than just "play hard" or "give it your all." That is an important part of being a good player but that alone will get you no where further than the Sweet 16. Notice that the Chicago Bulls (who are the UC doppleganger of the NBA) always seem to overachieve yet can't get far in the post season.

The next question is how can UC improve it's offense next season? Especially when they lose 3 of the top 4 scorers....

I think the younger guys bb iq is better and their overall skill set. Another year of strength training will help Shaq finish. The biggest thing is I believe they will actually score in the post.

 

[JackBauer151]

Sr- Guyn, Sanders
Jr- Shaq, Deberry
So- Johnson, Caupain, Lawrence
Fr- Clark, Moore, Strickland, Morman

This isn't the most reassuring thing Ive ever seen.

Gonna be young with the upperclassmen being role players, this sounds alot like a few years ago with the Goon Squad

Add Torian Graham to that list and I would feel a lot better.

 

[bearcat jeff]

Add Torian Graham to that list and I would feel a lot better.

I think if UC gets a scorer they will be really good.

 

[CanadianBearcat]

Add Torian Graham to that list and I would feel a lot better.

Ill agree with that, he and Johnson would be a very nice tandem at the 2

 

[anbuc88]

I think the younger guys bb iq is better and their overall skill set. Another year of strength training will help Shaq finish. The biggest thing is I believe they will actually score in the post.

Agree. They will have more offensive weapons next year. There is no individual player who will replace SK's production, but they will come close by committee. KJ and DM along with a yet to be signed recruit (hopefully) will take SK's minutes and come close to his production. I would be shocked if Cronin doesn't come to the conclusion in the offseason that Caupain is the better option at PG than Guyn. The front court will be better with Lawrence and Thomas getting the lion share of minutes at the 3 and 4. Lawrence will be able to play his natural position and I look for a huge leap in his production next year. Throw in Clark and Moore and they will be able to score much more consistently. The 5 will be manned by DeBerry and Strickland and they shouldn't miss bunnies like today. The defense will be a work in progress, but we shouldn't sees the droughts that we consistently saw this year. They will be much better at the end of the year than the start, but this will be a tourney team. 2015-16 is likely to be special.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

I think the younger guys bb iq is better and their overall skill set. Another year of strength training will help Shaq finish. The biggest thing is I believe they will actually score in the post.

I agree and I'm looking forward to a backcourt of Caupain and Johnson along with Thomas, Lawrence and Deberry/Strickland. With those guards, UC should be able to push the ball much more and get 4-6 points for Shaq Thomas on fast breaks and free throws.

If UC could land Graham that would be huge. He will be able to space the floor and create more driving lanes for Thomas, Caupain and Johnson. The major keys to next years team will be the emergence of Thomas and Lawrence as double figure scorers along with perimeter shooting from Johnson, Caupain and Sanders. I really think if things come together they can be a much better offensive team than the past 2 years.

 

[handwaver]

Hopefully, we will have an offense that, at least as far as production, will resemble Harvard a bit more. I'd much rather have 5 double figure scorers, with a 6th at 9.3/gm than one SK at 20.7 and only one other double figure scorer. I don't care how good the "D" is, if you can't score, you aren't going to win in March. It's scary that we lose the only double figure scores we have, not to mention our top 3 rebounders. I have no idea why Mick thinks Lawrence will be so good next year...he's shown nothing to suggest that this year. Moorman better arrive with a blast...that goes for the frosh as well. It will need to become the team of Caupain, KJ et al. that may be a good thing. As pivotal as the seniors were this year, that held back the development of the younger players. At least we know one thing for sure...if we make the dance, there's nowhere to go but up.