Rothstein on the Bearcats post Gates

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I like it. This team should be much better than last years

An interesting point: I don't think we've talked about this since our roster was (most likely) completed: What's the expectation for this season? I would say top 5 big east finish and a sweet 16 birth. Anything less than that is a disappointment in my opinion.
 
An interesting point: I don't think we've talked about this since our roster was (most likely) completed: What's the expectation for this season? I would say top 5 big east finish and a sweet 16 birth. Anything less than that is a disappointment in my opinion.

The expectation should be to at least duplicate this years accomplishments meaning top 4 in the Big East and a Sweet 16 birth (although the tournament is too hard to predict).
 
The expectation should be to at least duplicate this years accomplishments meaning top 4 in the Big East and a Sweet 16 birth (although the tournament is too hard to predict).

agreed. elite 8 and top 4 at worst. we will have a special combo of guards this year that we might not experience for a long time after.
 
The expectation should be to at least duplicate this years accomplishments meaning top 4 in the Big East and a Sweet 16 birth (although the tournament is too hard to predict).

I agree with this. And, as you say the tourney can be weird sometimes, so Top 4 in Big East and a 1st round win might be enough depending on all the circumstances.
 
I just pray we don't start out like this past season. If we can start out solid, it will be a massive resume booster come selection time.
 
agreed. elite 8 and top 4 at worst. we will have a special combo of guards this year that we might not experience for a long time after.

elite 8 at worst is your expectation? Nothing wrong with that but seems a bit high to me. Especially with such a thin front line.
 
I understand depth is a concern on the front line- but really was the depth any better last year on the front line if we are honest with ourselves? The answer is no. The difference was Yancy. So, if Rubles and Cheik can combine to produce solid numbers I see no reason why the 'Cats can't be a better overall team this coming season. We all know Mick likes to talk up his players, but he seems to really believe in Mbodj and feels he is back to the sort of player he recruited in the first place now that he is healthy.

Which leads us to the key of the season. Health. Most teams don't have the depth to excel (or survive) if key players get injured. This is definitely spot on for our 'Cats. Cash and Rubles/Mbodj have to be the biggest players in this. We all know if Cash stays healthy he can be one of if not the best PG in the BEAST this coming season. And that thin depth on the front line will get near transparent if Rubles or Mbodj go down for a significant period of time. Stay healthy and I like the pieces in place and the chemistry this team already has.

Why not set the bar at an elite 8 or final four? If we want the program to get back to a truly nationally elite level, there has to be a watershed moment. The Syracuse win in MSG was awesome and the Florida State victory to head to the sweet sixteen was great as well... but that was just the start. We could see something truly special this coming season, imo.
 
Depth isn't the only concern with the front line. The front line is a concern in of itself. JJ and Mbodj have to improve greatly from last year. JJ was extremely inconsistent last year and for most of the season he gave up/caused more points then he scored/created. Mbodj basically did nothing outside of the Miami game. Say whatever you want about Rubles but until I see a JUCO make an immediate impact for UC in year one, I will just assume that they won't do much. I hope I'm wrong. Gaines won't provide anything.

The back court is a big asset this year but the front court is a huge concern IMO.
 
Depth isn't the only concern with the front line. The front line is a concern in of itself. JJ and Mbodj have to improve greatly from last year. JJ was extremely inconsistent last year and for most of the season he gave up/caused more points then he scored/created. Mbodj basically did nothing outside of the Miami game. Say whatever you want about Rubles but until I see a JUCO make an immediate impact for UC in year one, I will just assume that they won't do much. I hope I'm wrong. Gaines won't provide anything.

The back court is a big asset this year but the front court is a huge concern IMO.

Parker developed by leaps and bounds between his soph and junior years. So did Cash in my opinion. Why can't JJ? Mbodj was hurt the majority of the season. Lets see him play while healthy (and at a good playing weight) before we damn him as the next Adam H.

Don't worry, be happy! This front court has lots of potential in the new system Mick wants to run, imo.
 
Parker developed by leaps and bounds between his soph and junior years. So did Cash in my opinion. Why can't JJ? Mbodj was hurt the majority of the season. Lets see him play while healthy (and at a good playing weight) before we damn him as the next Adam H.

Don't worry, be happy! This front court has lots of potential in the new system Mick wants to run, imo.

Glad to see you posting again. One of my favorite posters on bearcat sites. Check will be able to defend and hopefully board. He looks to be in better shape but he won't bring much offensively to the table. Jj will be fine if he limits his fouling. Rubles will be like jj and he can run. We won't need much scoring from the bigs with our guards and bench.
 
Glad to see you posting again. One of my favorite posters on bearcat sites. Check will be able to defend and hopefully board. He looks to be in better shape but he won't bring much offensively to the table. Jj will be fine if he limits his fouling. Rubles will be like jj and he can run. We won't need much scoring from the bigs with our guards and bench.

I've been busy the past year. I'm settled into the Omaha area permanently now so I'm back to being able to do the small things in life that make me happy and keep me sane! I just hope I can find the time/money to fit a few Bearcat football and basketball games into my schedule this upcoming fall, winter and spring.
 
I've been busy the past year. I'm settled into the Omaha area permanently now so I'm back to being able to do the small things in life that make me happy and keep me sane! I just hope I can find the time/money to fit a few Bearcat football and basketball games into my schedule this upcoming fall, winter and spring.

Brightside: You're halfway to Vegas for that Invitational!
 
Why not set the bar at an elite 8 or final four? If we want the program to get back to a truly nationally elite level, there has to be a watershed moment. The Syracuse win in MSG was awesome and the Florida State victory to head to the sweet sixteen was great as well... but that was just the start. We could see something truly special this coming season, imo.

I agree that the bar should be set at an elite 8 or final four but I caution anyone who says that anything less than an elite 8 is a failure. I think we should all HOPE for an Elite 8 and depending on how this team plays, we may adjust our expectations (higher or lower) but there are too many things that play into an elite 8 run for us to blindly say Elite 8 or bust. We are still at the point in this program's build (it is not rebuilding anymore, but is still continuing to build on recent success IMO) where matchups in the NCAA Tourney will determine a lot, potential injuries will determine a lot, and the play of developing guys and new guys will determine a lot.
 
I hope the entire front line is working on their free throws. Year after year we see how much good free throw % wins games for us. If our offense is going to be on the attack as much as we think they are, getting to the line and making ft is huge.
 
I agree that the bar should be set at an elite 8 or final four but I caution anyone who says that anything less than an elite 8 is a failure. I think we should all HOPE for an Elite 8 and depending on how this team plays, we may adjust our expectations (higher or lower) but there are too many things that play into an elite 8 run for us to blindly say Elite 8 or bust. We are still at the point in this program's build (it is not rebuilding anymore, but is still continuing to build on recent success IMO) where matchups in the NCAA Tourney will determine a lot, potential injuries will determine a lot, and the play of developing guys and new guys will determine a lot.

true its not as simple as it sounds in terms of progressing in march and there are many moving parts. but in order to be revered at the national level and viewed as a big boy again, sweet 16's aren't going to do it. college basketball fans outside of cincinnati and syracuse probably have already forgotten and could not tell you that uc beat cuse in the big east tournament. without thinking hard, can you name who won the semi's of the acc, sec, and big ten tournaments? washington has been to 3 sweet 16's since 2005, but i would venture to say that few people here really think of them as a national power. the only time people remember sweet 16 teams are when they are cinderallas. as for established programs, no one nationally sits back in goes, remember when msu/marquette/florida/whover made the sweet 16 five years ago. thats because sweet 16s are not the barometer for great programs. uc fans and cronin want it to be a great program again, and annual sweet 16 stops don't put uc on that level.

point being, i agree with you in what you are saying. this is a uc team that will be a difficult matchup for many teams, but who also could get easily exposed in march were they to face a strong, dominant front line. its unfortunate that uc is really a high quality big away from being a very, very real final 4 contender in my opinion. outside of that, uc has a guard combination this year that i think will be very special and of a caliber that we might not see for a long time in the future. regardless, the team and fans need something tangible to reach for to continue the growth and rebuilding of the program. a sweet 16 would be a good accomplishment this year, but it doesn't get uc to where we want them to be on a national scale.
 
true its not as simple as it sounds in terms of progressing in march and there are many moving parts. but in order to be revered at the national level and viewed as a big boy again, sweet 16's aren't going to do it. college basketball fans outside of cincinnati and syracuse probably have already forgotten and could not tell you that uc beat cuse in the big east tournament. without thinking hard, can you name who won the semi's of the acc, sec, and big ten tournaments? washington has been to 3 sweet 16's since 2005, but i would venture to say that few people here really think of them as a national power. the only time people remember sweet 16 teams are when they are cinderallas. as for established programs, no one nationally sits back in goes, remember when msu/marquette/florida/whover made the sweet 16 five years ago. thats because sweet 16s are not the barometer for great programs. uc fans and cronin want it to be a great program again, and annual sweet 16 stops don't put uc on that level.

point being, i agree with you in what you are saying. this is a uc team that will be a difficult matchup for many teams, but who also could get easily exposed in march were they to face a strong, dominant front line. its unfortunate that uc is really a high quality big away from being a very, very real final 4 contender in my opinion. outside of that, uc has a guard combination this year that i think will be very special and of a caliber that we might not see for a long time in the future. regardless, the team and fans need something tangible to reach for to continue the growth and rebuilding of the program. a sweet 16 would be a good accomplishment this year, but it doesn't get uc to where we want them to be on a national scale.


Some good points. I will say that I do think annual sweet 16 trips does put UC firmly on the map. While I take you point, can you name for me the elite 8? Heck, even the final four the last 3 years?

Most people would say no. But...if they see a team playing into the second weekend in the NCAA tournament over a period of time, then they register them as good and it's not a surprise to see them go farther or in the polls, they come to expect it. I'm not sure if I'm relaying my thoughts clearer here.

I mean, a few years ago, if you saw Baylor playing in basketball you;d have been like.."Baylor, no way they are going to win, didn't one of their players murder someone???" Now you see Baylor in the bracket or on tv you expect them to be good and do well. Did they win a championship? How far did they get? How many years have they been good? But you still expect them to be good. Their perception has changed dramatically.
 
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