Selection Sunday

[UCBearcats]

I'm not pleased that we didn't do better this year and get a higher seed but as long as we have a "chip and a chair" (poker term for having at least a chance) then I will be rooting my ass off!!

Judging the whole season can't be done until the season is over. The most important part has just begun!!

That's true, should we somehow sneak our way into the Sweet 16 I'd think most everyone would view the season as a success.

That being said.......I have already judged, jury'd (made up word) and convicted Mick for being a mediocre basketball coach who's absolute best case scenario is a Sweet 16. Now we're just waiting for the execution date.

I saw that Oklahoma State is looking to get rid of Travis Ford.......I would absolutely LOVE IT if they made a run at Mick. That might be the best case scenario at this point, let another school pluck him away.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

That's true, should we somehow sneak our way into the Sweet 16 I'd think most everyone would view the season as a success.

That being said.......I have already judged, jury'd (made up word) and convicted Mick for being a mediocre basketball coach who's absolute best case scenario is a Sweet 16. Now we're just waiting for the execution date.

I saw that Oklahoma State is looking to get rid of Travis Ford.......I would absolutely LOVE IT if they made a run at Mick. That might be the best case scenario at this point, let another school pluck him away.

Funny side note- Has anyone ever seen The Sixth Man? Did you know Travis Ford plays the PG Danny O'Grady?

 

[UCBearcats]

Funny side note- Has anyone ever seen The Sixth Man? Did you know Travis Ford plays the PG Danny O'Grady?

Can't say I have but if it's on Netflix or Amazon Prime I know what I'm doing later on tonight.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Can't say I have but if it's on Netflix or Amazon Prime I know what I'm doing later on tonight.

It's an awful 90s movie with Marlon Wayans. I've seen it 100 times. Fun to watch this time of year.

 

[waterhead]

That's true, should we somehow sneak our way into the Sweet 16 I'd think most everyone would view the season as a success.

That being said.......I have already judged, jury'd (made up word) and convicted Mick for being a mediocre basketball coach who's absolute best case scenario is a Sweet 16. Now we're just waiting for the execution date.

I saw that Oklahoma State is looking to get rid of Travis Ford.......I would absolutely LOVE IT if they made a run at Mick. That might be the best case scenario at this point, let another school pluck him away.

My parameters for success before the season were to either be ranked in the Top 15 for much of the year or to go to Elite 8 or better (or both). One of those was not accomplished. I wouldn't bet my house on the other one but that's why they play the tournament.

 

[UCBearcats]

My parameters for success before the season were to either be ranked in the Top 15 for much of the year or to go to Elite 8 or better (or both). One of those was not accomplished. I wouldn't bet my house on the other one but that's why they play the tournament.

I get it, there's definitely a chance. We've got a seat at the table any anything is possible, that's why March Madness is the greatest event in sports.

If Mick gets this team to an Elite 8 or Final 4 I'll never complain about him again because he'll have proved that he's capable of raising the bar. I'd probably be willing to bet my house that never happens.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

My parameters for success before the season were to either be ranked in the Top 15 for much of the year or to go to Elite 8 or better (or both). One of those was not accomplished. I wouldn't bet my house on the other one but that's why they play the tournament.

My desire was to win it all. What do you get for being close? I enjoyed the season to this point. Lots of competitive games against some good opponents. Exciting emotional season. I guess one mans junk is another mans treasure.

This season isn't over and I'm already looking forward to next year.

 

[waterhead]

My desire was to win it all. What do you get for being close? I enjoyed the season to this point. Lots of competitive games against some good opponents. Exciting emotional season. I guess one mans junk is another mans treasure.

This season isn't over and I'm already looking forward to next year.

National exposure! Not everyone can win the title but being in the top 25 all year or making a deep run will create publicity, more fans, and better recruits.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

National exposure! Not everyone can win the title but being in the top 25 all year or making a deep run will create publicity, more fans, and better recruits.

Oh how I wish it was that easy. Playing time is what lures better recruits. Putting players in the NBA lures recruits. having the right apparel company behind you gets recruits. Good facilities gets recruits. Good league gets recruits. Being attractive to the networks gets recruits. I cheer for the cats because they are my hometown team. Win or lose. We have a big hill to climb to get back to the what some consider the glory days. Its also not just about who the coach is or isn't. The game has changed in so many ways and not just on the court. I enjoyed the season and will enjoy next season. Win or lose.

 

[L-T]

National exposure! Not everyone can win the title but being in the top 25 all year or making a deep run will create publicity, more fans, and better recruits.

Outstanding point WH. Many try to discount the Huggins years because of the bad luck in the NCAA. But, he was regularly in the top 15, garnering high seeds in the NCAA, landing top recruits, selling out the same pathetic arena that we have today, while the administration was forcing BB season ticket holders to also buy football season tickets in order to get their basketball tickets, and they weren't giving away the nosebleed seats at bargain basement prices, all while playing in a mid-major conference very similar to what we have today. Top 25 teams get on the ESPN highlights every game also. So, there is obviously a lot to gain by being close. Problem is, we're not even close anymore.

 

[UCBearcats]

Oh how I wish it was that easy. Playing time is what lures better recruits. Putting players in the NBA lures recruits. having the right apparel company behind you gets recruits. Good facilities gets recruits. Good league gets recruits. Being attractive to the networks gets recruits. I cheer for the cats because they are my hometown team. Win or lose. We have a big hill to climb to get back to the what some consider the glory days. Its also not just about who the coach is or isn't. The game has changed in so many ways and not just on the court. I enjoyed the season and will enjoy next season. Win or lose.

some people have a motive regardless.

LOL......indeed they do Waite, indeed they do

 

[BCM]

Oh how I wish it was that easy. Playing time is what lures better recruits. Putting players in the NBA lures recruits. having the right apparel company behind you gets recruits. Good facilities gets recruits. Good league gets recruits. Being attractive to the networks gets recruits. I cheer for the cats because they are my hometown team. Win or lose. We have a big hill to climb to get back to the what some consider the glory days. Its also not just about who the coach is or isn't. The game has changed in so many ways and not just on the court. I enjoyed the season and will enjoy next season. Win or lose.

Promising fancy cars and lavishments without getting caught lures recruits

 

[L-T]

Butler, VCU, SDSU, Gonzaga, Dayton, etc...and many others have had no trouble navigating the college basketball landscape of today. Many of the P5 teams today were eating our dust only 15 years ago. The only thing that turned many of the P5 teams and mid-major teams around was one simple thing.....a good coach.....Brad Stevens, Thad Matta, Shaka Smart, Mark Few, Archie Miller, etc., among others. Many of these coaches were unknown before they made an impact....as was Bob Huggins. Anyone that thinks it is more complicated than that at a storied program like we have, doesn't know basketball. Doing it at some of the places mentioned above was much more difficult!

 

[UCalum08]

Butler, VCU, SDSU, Gonzaga, Dayton, etc...and many others have had no trouble navigating the college basketball landscape of today. Many of the P5 teams today were eating our dust only 15 years ago. The only thing that turned many of the P5 teams and mid-major teams around was one simple thing.....a good coach.....Brad Stevens, Thad Matta, Shaka Smart, Mark Few, Archie Miller, etc., among others. Many of these coaches were unknown before they made an impact....as was Bob Huggins. Anyone that thinks it is more complicated than that at a storied program like we have, doesn't know basketball. Doing it at some of the places mentioned above was much more difficult!

All those schools you just mentioned have one thing in common. They don't have to compete with Football. Non football schools have clearly reaped the benefits of how football has changed the college landscape. That is why the parity in college basketball is at a high right now.

Typically, only big state schools are going to have high success in both bball and football. UC is not that and we fall into a tough category to appease both.

Majority of schools can't have both, so you pick one and flood the money into that program.

Even big state schools that are top 15 in football year in, year out don't have a basketball program that can make the tourney consistently. And vice versa.

Not much more to say about that. It's not changing my friend.

 

[ZCat]

I get it, there's definitely a chance. We've got a seat at the table any anything is possible, that's why March Madness is the greatest event in sports.

If Mick gets this team to an Elite 8 or Final 4 I'll never complain about him again because he'll have proved that he's capable of raising the bar. I'd probably be willing to bet my house that never happens.

He can get us to an E-8. This year it is unlikely, but if he has one of his really good D teams, and that same year he has a solid offensve team we absolutely could. That is scenario 1. Think his best Big East team. We also could w/ an average offense with a strong D. This would be the scenario like so many teams that have come out of nowhere and make an E-8 or FF. Problem is we usually aren't in the position of scenario 1. Maybe 1 breakthrough year and it would turn the tide?

 

[UCBearcats]

He can get us to an E-8. This year it is unlikely, but if he has one of his really good D teams, and that same year he has a solid offensve team we absolutely could. That is scenario 1. Think his best Big East team. We also could w/ an average offense with a strong D. This would be the scenario like so many teams that have come out of nowhere and make an E-8 or FF. Problem is we usually aren't in the position of scenario 1. Maybe 1 breakthrough year and it would turn the tide?

Anything is possible. I think for your scenario to play out though we'd have to be entering the tournament as a 4 seed at the worst. The problem with "Mick-ball" is that it's too one dimensional. In the NCAA's you're going to run up against a team that can fill it up no mater how strong your defense and rebounding are (see UK last year) and when you can't throw the ball into the ocean you aren't going to win those games. Mick's D is a nice little side show, and it allows us to compete for 1 game against virtually any team, but it doesn't lend itself to sustained runs in a tourney like March madness.

Now if he ups the recruiting significantly, recruits some shooters and starts running some semblance of an offensive system then sure.......but we're in year 10 and that hasn't happened yet so I doubt it changes going forward.

 

[L-T]

He can get us to an E-8. This year it is unlikely, but if he has one of his really good D teams, and that same year he has a solid offensve team we absolutely could. That is scenario 1. Think his best Big East team. We also could w/ an average offense with a strong D. This would be the scenario like so many teams that have come out of nowhere and make an E-8 or FF. Problem is we usually aren't in the position of scenario 1. Maybe 1 breakthrough year and it would turn the tide?

This was Mick's best offensive team by far....a good 5 points better than the best of his other 9 teams.....the only team to ever hit 70 points per game, and they didn't stop at 70. They averaged over 73 per game. The defense rated out as one of the best in the country again. This is the very scenario you're citing in your post. With that solid offensive/defensive combination, we finished 4-5 in a weak mid-major league, got knocked out of the league tournament in the first round, and garnered a 9 seed in the NCAA. However, a new season is about to begin and if we make the Elite 8, you'll look like a prophet. I would love for you to be right. How long should we wait for this elusive breakthrough year?

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

He can get us to an E-8. This year it is unlikely, but if he has one of his really good D teams, and that same year he has a solid offensve team we absolutely could. That is scenario 1. Think his best Big East team. We also could w/ an average offense with a strong D. This would be the scenario like so many teams that have come out of nowhere and make an E-8 or FF. Problem is we usually aren't in the position of scenario 1. Maybe 1 breakthrough year and it would turn the tide?

Hope your right ZCat. Either way I can't wait for the games to start. Will need very good all around efforts to knockoff St. Joes and Oregon. Heard Seth Davis this morning having Oregon as a very underrated team. A lot of talking heads are very high on them.

 

[Cin City]

off topic?

Per Rothstein...

Cincinnati's record and seed is somewhat deceiving

The Bearcats may enter the NCAA Tournament at 22-10 overall and be a nine seed in the “region of mystery” a.k.a the West Region, but those who have followed this team know that it's much more capable than its record may indicate.

Five of Cincinnati's losses were by two points and that doesn't include a seven-point overtime loss to UConn last week at the American Conference Tournament in Orlando.

Mick Cronin's squad has its work cut out for itself -- especially defensively -- in the Round of 64 against Saint Joseph's, but if the Bearcats can advance, they'd be an absolute nuisance for anybody to play because of how lethal they are defensively.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Per Rothstein...

Cincinnati's record and seed is somewhat deceiving

The Bearcats may enter the NCAA Tournament at 22-10 overall and be a nine seed in the “region of mystery” a.k.a the West Region, but those who have followed this team know that it's much more capable than its record may indicate.

Five of Cincinnati's losses were by two points and that doesn't include a seven-point overtime loss to UConn last week at the American Conference Tournament in Orlando.

Mick Cronin's squad has its work cut out for itself -- especially defensively -- in the Round of 64 against Saint Joseph's, but if the Bearcats can advance, they'd be an absolute nuisance for anybody to play because of how lethal they are defensively.

Cin City I agree with him. With how close we have played some very good teams this year I can't conceive teams wanting to see us in the Tourney. If the worm turns and we are able to catch a break or two we can be a very tough out.