Rutgers Postgame comments

[UCalum08]

After yesterday's poor performance I felt Cronin's comments summed up how I was feeling. Part of what he said was:

“We’re soft,” Cronin said. “The going has gotten tough in the Big East. We’re not tough enough to win a game right now. Not ready to play, no mental toughness. Give Rutgers credit. They’re not too good to listen to their coach. They’re not too good to play hard right now. We’re too good for both things. We’re too good to listen. We’re too good to play hard. We’re too good to get a loose ball with the game on the line or even dive for it.”


I am not trying to start a Cronin debate or take jabs at him but, how many times have we heard this in the past 2 years?! This is a ridiculous problem that has been brewing. Pretty sure you hardly ever, ever hear this from any other team and for some reason these comments are being addressed after majority of our losses. I am having problems trying to identify the real problem. Is it our coach or the players? Or both? I mean if Cronin can't get his players to listen to him, which apparently has been a problem for years, whats his problem?! Why is he recruiting these lazy a$$ players who don't have the right drive and motivation.
Cronin also said he was so embarrassed to coach these guys and he is miserable. From a fan's point of view we are miserable too. When the coach is making these comments over and over again, what makes the university think the fans want to support a bunch of over privileged losers who don't play for their school and coach? Our own coach has grown tired of the play of our players, and I sure can tell you from a season ticket holder point of view, I surely do not want to give any money to support the product on the floor. Clearly something is broken, I am not sure what is causing this, maybe its a combination of a lot of things but it sure is growing old because even with a tourney appearance last year, the past 3 years have been beyond frustrating for the wrong reasons.

 

[ralph1950]

Comments immediately after a game, especially a loss, should always be taken with a grain of salt.

 

[UCalum08]

Comments immediately after a game, especially a loss, should always be taken with a grain of salt.

I agree but not this time. We all know what he said was the truth because it happens every other game. Its like we are in the denial stage of a bad relationship. Clearly something is broken but it never changes and it will just keep happening.

 

[westsidecat]

After yesterday's poor performance I felt Cronin's comments summed up how I was feeling. Part of what he said was:

“We’re soft,” Cronin said. “The going has gotten tough in the Big East. We’re not tough enough to win a game right now. Not ready to play, no mental toughness. Give Rutgers credit. They’re not too good to listen to their coach. They’re not too good to play hard right now. We’re too good for both things. We’re too good to listen. We’re too good to play hard. We’re too good to get a loose ball with the game on the line or even dive for it.”


I am not trying to start a Cronin debate or take jabs at him but, how many times have we heard this in the past 2 years?! This is a ridiculous problem that has been brewing. Pretty sure you hardly ever, ever hear this from any other team and for some reason these comments are being addressed after majority of our losses. I am having problems trying to identify the real problem. Is it our coach or the players? Or both? I mean if Cronin can't get his players to listen to him, which apparently has been a problem for years, whats his problem?! Why is he recruiting these lazy a$$ players who don't have the right drive and motivation.
Cronin also said he was so embarrassed to coach these guys and he is miserable. From a fan's point of view we are miserable too. When the coach is making these comments over and over again, what makes the university think the fans want to support a bunch of over privileged losers who don't play for their school and coach? Our own coach has grown tired of the play of our players, and I sure can tell you from a season ticket holder point of view, I surely do not want to give any money to support the product on the floor. Clearly something is broken, I am not sure what is causing this, maybe its a combination of a lot of things but it sure is growing old because even with a tourney appearance last year, the past 3 years have been beyond frustrating for the wrong reasons.

It's a broken record with Cronin. Never seen a coach throw his players under the bus as he does."It's the players fault, thats life in the Big East, We're a young team, we don't have our highest rated recruit this year, they didn't listen to me,ect,ect."

This was suppose to be the year we break through. Now, just like most years, UC is a bubble team. Unlike those early years, there is talent on the team and UC should not be in this postion.

How our fanbase can just over look home losses to team such a presbyterian and Marshall is beyond me. It's almost as some are happy to be in 7th place.

With the brawl, the losses I stated earlier, his inabilty to land impact players, and his development of the players we got, his act is getting old. Sadly nothing is going to change. Guess we just have to accept the fact we are stuck with Cronin till somebody says enough is enough.

I remember wearing the cpaw with pride. Now I'm almost embarrassed to be a fan of this team simply because of who are coach is.

 

[UCalum08]

I understand what you're saying westside, I am right there with you. I am not so quick to say cronin is throwing his players under the bus because clearly they are not listening to him. These players have continued to play with low bball IQ and lose is terrible fashion. At the same time, what is Cronin doing wrong to where the players don't listen to him. At what point do you say, okay, Cronin can't get his players to listen and/or play for him...maybe he isn't made to be a head coach. After all, isn't that one of the main duties of a coach, besides getting them to graduate.

 

[mplebanon]

I have mixed feelings about Cronin. Just as soon as I think he's starting to get it and get the team and the program over the hump, the stagnant play takes over and the team looks really bad on the court. I don't get it.

My gripes for the past 5 years:
1. No offensive scheme. Reminds me completely of Huggins offense of zero movement and a player going one on one and trying to make something happen. This usually involves taking a shot rather than penetrating and kicking to an open man. Cronin's offense has always left something to be desired. Syracuse had movement. Notre Dame has movement. UC just stands around the perimeter and scratches their heads.

2. Cronin's teams typically play defense. Yes, they have lapses like all teams. But if you can hold an opponent to 50 to 60 points, you should win if you have some kind of offensive scheme, which he doesn't.

3. Cronin should hire a quality big man coach immediately. Whoever is responsible for the big men is flat out not getting any results in terms of improvement.

4. Basketball 101 IQ of Cronin's players is terrible. They play dumb at times.

5. I've often wondered if Cronin spends so much time recruiting that it might affect the gameplan and the players. I dunno. Maybe I'm reaching, but he seems like he enjoys recruiting more than he enjoys coaching. The results on the floor are mixed.

6. Mick seems to get little respect from the officials. If any respect.

 

[ralph1950]

It is the Big East, not C-USA. Anyone can beat anyone else. The team beat Pitt, Georgetown, and UConn on the road. Very impressive.

 

[westsidecat]

I understand what you're saying westside, I am right there with you. I am not so quick to say cronin is throwing his players under the bus because clearly they are not listening to him. These players have continued to play with low bball IQ and lose is terrible fashion. At the same time, what is Cronin doing wrong to where the players don't listen to him. At what point do you say, okay, Cronin can't get his players to listen and/or play for him...maybe he isn't made to be a head coach. After all, isn't that one of the main duties of a coach, besides getting them to graduate.

When I'm saying throwing his players under a bus I'm just not talking about this year. This year he has been pretty tame about it. Years past it was almost disgusting to hear him talk about his kids.

I wanted nothing more then Cronin to be the man. Love the ideal of a nati kid leading the Cats back to the powerhouse fans who grew up in the 90's remember.

After watching his brand of basketball for 7 years,sadly I don't hink he can do it. It took a fight for him to make changes to his offense. Why? You would think losing to a team who can't even compete in the tourney because they havn't been DIV 1 long enough would open his eyes.

Now he brought in an okay class this year but what have these guys done? Sanders was suppose to be able to score, nothing there. Mbodj was suppose to help with inside defense and rebounding, nope. Hell I could throw one done on him. Davis and Gyun is going to be our backcourt of the future? This scares me to death. The future of Cincinnati Basketball scares me to death.

 

[westsidecat]

It is the Big East, not C-USA. Anyone can beat anyone else. The team beat Pitt, Georgetown, and UConn on the road. Very impressive.

Yeah, I'm really impressed that UC beat a two win team at home. Not so impressive when you're able to win at a place that Wagner came in and bitch slapped them around.

Careful with that it's not C-USA line since we can't be an average C-USA team at home..

 

[ralph1950]

Yeah, I'm really impressed that UC beat a two win team at home. Not so impressive when you're able to win at a place that Wagner came in and bitch slapped them around.

Careful with that it's not C-USA line since we can't be an average C-USA team at home..

What about Georgetown and UConn? Pitt beat #10 Georgetown at home yesterday.

 

[waterhead]

Had you considered that this IS Cronin's way of motivating? Do you think he wants them to see this in the media outlets so they know that even the fans are going to be watching for hustle? Do you think Cronin expects MORE from his players than most coaches...especially on D? Of course he does...that's why he has good defensive teams. Disgusting defense to him...is probably decent D in the eyes of many coaches. Cronin throws kids under the bus sometimes for the right reasons...EFFORT!! He doesn't really call kids out for missing shots. Not even if the guy they are guarding makes a bucket...unless it was poor EFFORT or if were out of position.

I would love to see more offense as well...but it's not going to come at the expense of defense and effort as long as Cronin is around. I use to think he was making excuses...but to me now...he kind of just tells it like it is. He's not all that PC...and I don't think he cares.

 

[waterhead]

In other words...his players DOOOOO play hard (when compared to other teams)...but Cronin wants/expects even more from them.

 

[UCalum08]

I like that Cronin Calls out his players bc he should. Their effort sucks and the fact That they don't listen to him deserves to be called out. Cronin said exactly what I was thinking. The problem I have is why this is a reoccurring problem. A coach should not have to call out his junior and senior players after every loss.

Also I don't care what other BE teams do to each other bc honestly the game we should have lost is the Syracuse game. All the others has been to stupid poor bball play.

 

[waterhead]

If it was easy to get players to sell out on every single play...we would all be coaches. Let's be happy that we have a coach that continually makes it priority #1.

 

[TheLivingLegend]

The problem I have is why this is a reoccurring problem. A coach should not have to call out his junior and senior players after every loss.

I feel like this has been a problem under cronin. I dont understand it, do the players not respect him?

 

[waterhead]

It's only a recurring issue because Cronin makes it one...it's his MO. Some coaches in their pressers give all the credit to the other team. If Cronin tells his players that it was their own fault...he is giving them credit because he knows they can do better and beat even teams like Syracuse if they keep their focus on the right things.

If it were that easy to always be focusing on the right things...all golfers would be like Tiger Woods...because he is/was a master at it...and masters of that type of thing are the exception rather than the rule.

Anyhow...it was a bad game...let's put this one behind us and see what happens. It's not always the end of the world after a bad game...even though some fans have the same reaction after every bad game.

 

[ready2go]

Sure is a great way to get guys to play hard for you, by calling them out in the media.....give me a break

I dont think its a scheme for him to get his players to play harder. We all had our gripes a few years ago when Vaughn and LS were here. When they left Mick basically said chemistry will be better off without those 2. Bunch of excuses to keep the fanbase interested

You can play the best defense in the world but when you can't put the ball in the hoop, you won't win many games

 

[TheLivingLegend]

In all seriousness, Mick has always struggled to get his guys going. I dont know why.

I think its very evident Mick needs to make some changes in his coaching staff.
- Offensive guru
- Motivator
- Big man specialist

 

[ready2go]

I felt last night those guys played hard, they just couldnt make a bucket and Mick had no answer or set for helping the situatuion.

Its easy to blame player effort, but honestly I felt they were playing hard. The gameplan is what screwed them.

They have completely gone away from what got them to where they were

Mick takes to much into effect the other teams capabilities instead of what his own team posseses

 

[waterhead]

Sure is a great way to get guys to play hard for you, by calling them out in the media.....give me a break

I dont think its a scheme for him to get his players to play harder. We all had our gripes a few years ago when Vaughn and LS were here. When they left Mick basically said chemistry will be better off without those 2. Bunch of excuses to keep the fanbase interested

You can play the best defense in the world but when you can't put the ball in the hoop, you won't win many games

I get your point but I disagree. If he is calling out EFFORT I am all for it. If he says a player (or the team) sucks or can't shoot or choked...that's a different story.

I agree with you on offense...we need more of it. FT's are one easy way to get it. A new offensive schems is another...and I can only hope that will come to him at some point soon.