SMU

[justinhub2003]

Just go back to the Houston game and watch how many times UC got beat up the court.

Yesterday win also had times where UC didn't get back on D and gave up dunks.

For the most part D hasn't been a problem, but i question effort at times.

The real issue that is getting lost in this win is the 12 minute scoring drought.

It doesn't really matter though, no way UC beats UConn 3 in a row, will be another quick exit in the AAC tourney for mick, and UC will prepare to host a first round NIT game.

If anyone thinks UC is in because of the SMU win is mistaken.

I like your optimism.

But a 12 minute scoring drought is kinda moot point if you win by 7 right?

I mean shooting 29% and 5% from 3 against a top 25 team with a #14 offense (according to kenPom) usually results in a loss. Ask Xavier about the game this year they lost by 14 when they shot 1-18 from 3, and to a much worst opponent no less.

We should be celebrating that our team didn't let its bad shooting dictate its overall focus on D. Sure sometimes we don't get back on D in time.....Ok. Yea no one does every thing all the time. But Kenpom says were the #6 defense in the country and thats with "questionable effort".

Why can't we beat uconn? they've showed me nothing that says they are a much better team than us. If we beat Uconn were in without a doubt, if we lose, we can still have a chance.

RPI forecast says we will be a 48 RPI if we lose.
If we win it could be 34 which is 100% in.

 

[westsidecat]

Why can't we beat uconn? .

Because this isn't the 1992 Bearcats. This team wont beat a team 3 times in a row exp in march. They just arent good enough.

Go on a 12 minute scoring drought against a team that can go as deep as you and see what happens.

 

[justinhub2003]

Because this isn't the 1992 Bearcats. This team wont beat a team 3 times in a row exp in march. They just arent good enough.

Go on a 12 minute scoring drought against a team that can go as deep as you and see what happens.

We went 7 deep yesterday. Same as SMU.. what chu talkin bout?

 

[Ryno99]

as a fan I can see how its frustrating. We had DeBerry in foul trouble, No Shaq. a limited Cobb and we needed a win. We are much better defensively then offensively so Playing to our strengths as the game unfolds is not a issue with me. Is it pleasing to my eyes, no. How about Brown leaving his best post player in to pick up his third foul with seconds left in first half and eventually fouling out midway through the second half.

Waite I see your point, but it's not just this game, it happens every game we have a lead and has led to many of the losses, the first SMU loss particularly sticks out. When you cut down on possessions, and you shoot as bad as this team does, you give the other team an advantage, if shots are even and they are shooting better, statistically they will narrow the gap if not close it completely. It's one thing to slow it down, but they were stopping and let's face it, this team is not going to get a good shot if only making an effort once the shot clock hits 10 seconds or less.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Waite I see your point, but it's not just this game, it happens every game we have a lead and has led to many of the losses, the first SMU loss particularly sticks out. When you cut down on possessions, and you shoot as bad as this team does, you give the other team an advantage, if shots are even and they are shooting better, statistically they will narrow the gap if not close it completely. It's one thing to slow it down, but they were stopping and let's face it, this team is not going to get a good shot if only making an effort once the shot clock hits 10 seconds or less.

There certainly is a balance. As for the first SMU game I'll bet if you asked Cobb or Mick They would tell you they wish they had a early in the shot clock three that Cobb took at the 3 minute mark up 7 back.

The fact is we are not talented enough to just out score teams. We are not fast or athletic. Look at our guards. I could careless about all the, this was Micks best team. We have not had a best team. We make the tourney, win 20 and play hard. With the upgrade in facilities and hopefully a new P-5 league Mick will be able to attract some better recruits. People are under the misconception that he doesn't have guidelines to adhere to such as graduation rate and such. He also has played second fiddle to the football program. You think he wouldn't love to coach one of Calipari's rosters? He recruits the guys he can land and try's to develop a style he can win with until he is able to land better players. He has had some hits and misses. When I weigh the risk of what a new coach would look like recruiting to our league in our facility against what he has done with what he has to work with, I'll stick with Mick for the time being. At least until I see if we land in a new conference with better facilities. We are consistently in the tourney and a 20 win program. Is that enough,no but I do not see anyone out there who can get us to that level in todays CBB landscape that would want to come here let alone stay when a better offer came along. As the networks get greedier it will also be tougher. Mick has done a great job with what he has to work with. Take a look at DePaul a once great program. The people who failed this fan base are the administration who butchered the Huggins termination, completely misread the conference realignment smoke signals and landed us on the outside looking in of all the major conferences. Now after the train has left the station they are proactive. We have a Coach who after all that has maintained a certain amount of respectability and winning under a very difficult circumstances. Does he get them all right,hell no. Brown left a guy in with 2 fouls in first half with seconds left to pick up a third while already playing with a short bench and he is a HOF. Mick may never win a national Championship here at UC. In My mind he has earned the opportunity to keep his job at least until the playing field has been adjusted with some improvements in facilities and conference affiliation is sorted out.
I'm not saying we can't question his strategies or recruiting. That's what fans do. They are emotional and Passionate. That's what makes the games exciting. But all things considered in todays CBB we have a very good coach. Those who think we don't write the BOT but I caution you be careful what you wish for.

 

[prancer]

WOWWWW -- Troy got AAC Player of the Week for this past week. I don't know what you guys think, but I'm shocked. He had a decent game in a horrendous team effort against Houston, but he was really off against SMU. Can't believe no one else in the conference had a better week than that.

https://twitter.com/GoBearcatsMBB/status/706944752869101569/photo/1

 

[Union Bearcat]

There certainly is a balance. As for the first SMU game I'll bet if you asked Cobb or Mick They would tell you they wish they had a early in the shot clock three that Cobb took at the 3 minute mark up 7 back.
The fact is we are not talented enough to just out score teams. We are not fast or athletic. Look at our guards. I could careless about all the, this was Micks best team. We have not had a best team. We make the tourney, win 20 and play hard. With the upgrade in facilities and hopefully a new P-5 league Mick will be able to attract some better recruits. People are under the misconception that he doesn't have guidelines to adhere to such as graduation rate and such. He also has played second fiddle to the football program. You think he wouldn't love to coach one of Calipari's rosters? He recruits the guys he can land and try's to develop a style he can win with until he is able to land better players. He has had some hits and misses. When I weigh the risk of what a new coach would look like recruiting to our league in our facility against what he has done with what he has to work with, I'll stick with Mick for the time being. At least until I see if we land in a new conference with better facilities. We are consistently in the tourney and a 20 win program. Is that enough,no but I do not see anyone out there who can get us to that level in todays CBB landscape that would want to come here let alone stay when a better offer came along. As the networks get greedier it will also be tougher. Mick has done a great job with what he has to work with. Take a look at DePaul a once great program. The people who failed this fan base are the administration who butchered the Huggins termination, completely misread the conference realignment smoke signals and landed us on the outside looking in of all the major conferences. Now after the train has left the station they are proactive. We have a Coach who after all that has maintained a certain amount of respectability and winning under a very difficult circumstances. Does he get them all right,hell no. Brown left a guy in with 2 fouls in first half with seconds left to pick up a third while already playing with a short bench and he is a HOF. Mick may never win a national Championship here at UC. In My mind he has earned the opportunity to keep his job at least until the playing field has been adjusted with some improvements in facilities and conference affiliation is sorted out.
I'm not saying we can't question his strategies or recruiting. That's what fans do. They are emotional and Passionate. That's what makes the games exciting. But all things considered in todays CBB we have a very good coach. Those who think we don't write the BOT but I caution you be careful what you wish for.

Important things to keep in mind. Good post.

Speaking to the point about this team not being fast or athletic; very true, but the starting 5 next year is very good. Caupain, Cumberland, Evans, Clark, Washington certainly bodes well for our offensive versatility. The bench will be bad though. Also, I'd like to see Mick stop redshirting uninjured players.

 

[Union Bearcat]

WOWWWW -- Troy got AAC Player of the Week for this past week. I don't know what you guys think, but I'm shocked. He had a decent game in a horrendous team effort against Houston, but he was really off against SMU. Can't believe no one else in the conference had a better week than that.

https://twitter.com/GoBearcatsMBB/status/706944752869101569/photo/1

Uh yeah that's pretty crazy.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Important things to keep in mind. Good post.

Speaking to the point about this team not being fast or athletic; very true, but the starting 5 next year is very good. Caupain, Cumberland, Evans, Clark, Washington certainly bodes well for our offensive versatility. The bench will be bad though. Also, I'd like to see Mick stop redshirting uninjured players.

To really rev this offense up the way the fans want we will need to move TC off the PG spot to the 2 guard. Making him the second ball handler instead of the primary will help if we replace him with a guy who can get in the lane and hit some jumpers. Also it will help stop dribble penetration which TC has a problem doing with quicker PG's. Really don't see Jenifer being that guy.

 

[waterhead]

To really rev this offense up the way the fans want we will need to move TC off the PG spot to the 2 guard. Making him the second ball handler instead of the primary will help if we replace him with a guy who can get in the lane and hit some jumpers. Also it will help stop dribble penetration which TC has a problem doing with quicker PG's. Really don't see Jenifer being that guy.

I don't think Troy has that big of a problem penetrating other than a reluctance to do so. The one thing I would like to see as more of an option in late shot clock and end of game situations is the lane penetration and kick out. Troy rarely has a problem getting to the lane when he wants or needs to. ..but the results need to be more efficient. We have had huge problems defending the kick out 3 after penetration. ..but I don't think that is unique to UC. We need to use that universal problem to our advantage.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

I don't think Troy has that big of a problem penetrating other than a reluctance to do so. The one thing I would like to see as more of an option in late shot clock and end of game situations is the lane penetration and kick out. Troy rarely has a problem getting to the lane when he wants or needs to. ..but the results need to be more efficient. We have had huge problems defending the kick out 3 after penetration. ..but I don't think that is unique to UC. We need to use that universal problem to our advantage.

Generally when a guy is reluctant to do something it's because he is not comfortable doing it. That speaks to confidence and skill level. TC takes care of the ball but is far from a threat to create shots for himself off the dribble. He always has to have a high ball screen to get in the lane. Would much rather see him as a 2 who could also handle the ball.

 

[TheLongHaul]

Generally when a guy is reluctant to do something it's because he is not comfortable doing it. That speaks to confidence and skill level. TC takes care of the ball but is far from a threat to create shots for himself off the dribble. He always has to have a high ball screen to get in the lane. Would much rather see him as a 2 who could also handle the ball.

UC doesn't need a 2 that can't shoot from the outside. Right now Cobb is the only guy that teams are really concerned about, they need him on the floor to at least stretch the defense somewhat. Troy shooting around 31% from 3, KJ at 30%, Evans at 32. That is terrible from 3 out of your 4 outside threats.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

UC doesn't need a 2 that can't shoot from the outside. Right now Cobb is the only guy that teams are really concerned about, they need him on the floor to at least stretch the defense somewhat. Troy shooting around 31% from 3, KJ at 30%, Evans at 32. That is terrible from 3 out of your 4 outside threats.

Before the game against SMU they had comparisons of 3Pt and 3Pt%. UC has shot 200 more 3's than SMU and only made 40 more.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

UC doesn't need a 2 that can't shoot from the outside. Right now Cobb is the only guy that teams are really concerned about, they need him on the floor to at least stretch the defense somewhat. Troy shooting around 31% from 3, KJ at 30%, Evans at 32. That is terrible from 3 out of your 4 outside threats.

Your right we have been terrible from 3. After a good start even Cobb has been bad.

My thought is we need to get more athletic in the backcourt. Tulsa's guards killed us going to the rim. 3of our 4 wing players are just not intimidating athletically. If I'm Mick I'm looking for some very skilled athletic guards 1 PG and 1 combo. Maybe Cumberland fits one slot but I don't think JJ fits the other. I also hope he is looking for a big grad transfer who can come in and spell Washington. I know Brooks is coming but we have some nice pieces back and I don't want to put all my eggs in a freshman basket. TC,Clark,Evans and Washington is a good start.

 

[waterhead]

Your right we have been terrible from 3. After a good start even Cobb has been bad.

My thought is we need to get more athletic in the backcourt. Tulsa's guards killed us going to the rim. 3of our 4 wing players are just not intimidating athletically. If I'm Mick I'm looking for some very skilled athletic guards 1 PG and 1 combo. Maybe Cumberland fits one slot but I don't think JJ fits the other. I also hope he is looking for a big grad transfer who can come in and spell Washington. I know Brooks is coming but we have some nice pieces back and I don't want to put all my eggs in a freshman basket. TC,Clark,Evans and Washington is a good start.

It's funny Waite. I've been seeing a lot of comments about how we aren't athletic enough now. Our fan base was begging for some BB players rather than just athletes. Now we are starting to get BB players but less athletic. Of course every coach and program will slobber over the really athletic BB players with skills. Asking for that is basically just saying "Hey Mick...why don't you just fill your team up with Mcdonalds All Americans...what's the problem?"

We are the #6 D in the country. Defense is not the problem

 

[jacobkdoyle]

It's funny Waite. I've been seeing a lot of comments about how we aren't athletic enough now. Our fan base was begging for some BB players rather than just athletes. Now we are starting to get BB players but less athletic. Of course every coach and program will slobber over the really athletic BB players with skills. Asking for that is basically just saying "Hey Mick...why don't you just fill your team up with Mcdonalds All Americans...what's the problem?"

We are the #6 D in the country. Defense is not the problem

Waterhead, my issue is that basketball players over athletes doesn't have to mean slow and out of shape players.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

It's funny Waite. I've been seeing a lot of comments about how we aren't athletic enough now. Our fan base was begging for some BB players rather than just athletes. Now we are starting to get BB players but less athletic. Of course every coach and program will slobber over the really athletic BB players with skills. Asking for that is basically just saying "Hey Mick...why don't you just fill your team up with Mcdonalds All Americans...what's the problem?"

We are the #6 D in the country. Defense is not the problem

we play great defense. No doubt. Would just like to be able to create some shots outside the offense on ocassion. We really lack that dimension. To be a great team you have to have more then one style. Good coaches will defend that all day. Right now we don't have one player who consistently can get his own shot. If we had that type of player we would have won at least half the close games we lost. Being able to put the ball in someone's hands at he end of a tight game and say make a hoop or shoot FT's is huge. SK gave us that. He would come get the ball at top of key and we would clear out. We get a little of that from Clark,TC and Evans but not enough. You add that to what we have next year and we will be top 10. Hope that guy is Evans.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Waterhead, my issue is that basketball players over athletes doesn't have to mean slow and out of shape players.

jake don't think we are out of shape. Just not a team full of athletic players. SK wasn't athletic but he was a great athlete and player. With what Mick is able to recruit as a whole we need that one player. Haven't had it since SK left. Next year we will have good players and will one step up and be that go to guy. All good teams have them.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

I guess what I'm trying to say is the kind of team we all want has a star on it. We have some nice players but none are stars. Maybe Evans or Clark can be but right now they are not. TC is a good player but you can not ask him to do to much. Ellis is a good player in spurts not great. KJ has his days but is a complimentary piece as is Cobb. We lack a play maker and by fear is at this pint in the season we won't be finding one. Hope I'm wrong. When your in tight games all teams who fair well have that one guy that gets it done. This years team and last had nice pieces but not the one piece. I hope it doesn't happen again next year. I want a stud guard who wants the ball in crunch time and can get the job done. Otherwise will be having this same dialogue next year.

 

[waterhead]

Waterhead, my issue is that basketball players over athletes doesn't have to mean slow and out of shape players.

Jacob Evans seems to have both characteristics. Not sure about Cumberland...he might be less athletic but just as skilled. I'm happy with Clark's mobility as a big.

But I agree...when we have had to make a choice between good skills but not athletic or athletic with not so good skills we have chosen guys like KJ or Mormon etc. Those who can't play D like Moore, Davis etc sometimes can't even find the court because their D is horrible and gives up more points than they can produce.

The player who has it all is highly sought after