SMU

[BearcatsNE]

We need him, & he did spark the team for a minute, but overall he had a terrible game...missed every shot, had 4 fouls and 3 turnovers in only 12 minutes...he made some good moves, but some awful ones too, I remember a sequence where he basically passed the ball into an SMU player's breadbasket (I forget who), then immediately fouled him & got yanked.
Don't get me wrong, we need him & he did some positive things last night, but as Cronin pointed out after the game, he had had only one practice..I'm sure he'll be a lot better in Florida...we'll need that against UCF...BJ Taylor is about due back, isn't he?

His return was something we need. But he haven’t been practicing he was just receiving treatment on his ankle. Which mean he wasn’t shooting as well. But I’ll bet that change over the next few days. He’s electric and the opposing team have to account for him when he’s out there. So that being said for his first game back without any practice he aided us in that game in the first half to build that lead to 15+ and we never looked back after that.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

I'd say from most concerned to least concerned I'd rank the games:

1) WSU (away)

2) WSU (home)

3) SMU (away)

4) UCF (away)

5) Houston (away)

I think I'd put at SMU #2. They have a great home streak going and will feel like they owe us one.

 

[cincyfan21]

I'd say from most concerned to least concerned I'd rank the games:

1) WSU (away)

2) WSU (home)

3) SMU (away)

4) UCF (away)

5) Houston (away)

I agree with this list. I know Moody is going to be tough, but after witnessing the beat down we gave them last night, I don't see us losing that one. I wasn't impressed with Chargois. He doesn't match up well with our bigs. I think it would have been closer if you take out some foul trouble with SMU, but we are far more talented than them. JEIII>Milton

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

after finishing the week 2-0 we are now up to 14 in AP poll.

 

[cincyfan21]

Would like to think we can crack the top 10 if we take care of business in FL. Should help that they aren't coming back between games and can get some practice on the road/not have to travel as much. Especially with the possibility of BJ Taylor coming back.

 

[justinhub2003]

Would like to think we can crack the top 10 if we take care of business in FL. Should help that they aren't coming back between games and can get some practice on the road/not have to travel as much. Especially with the possibility of BJ Taylor coming back.

Really just depends what happens in front of us.

We only play 1 game this week and its USF so I expect minimal movement unless all hell breaks lose again. But yea, the following weak is going to be tough.


We need to push the pace like we did against SMU and beat UCF down the floor

 

[david aka the TYZ]

Great win last night. Glad the refs finally starting calls on SMU. They play good defense but they're very physical and most games against SMU we never get in the bonus somehow. Game started out the same way last night with the refs reluctant to blow the whistle. I think the crowd (and I called them out before the game, so I was pleased) was the difference. As I've always said, Bearcats fans love to boo the refs and they gave us plenty of reasons early to boo. Really bad officiating last night, but they finally started blowing the whistles and as the game progressed SMU went into bully mode. Glad no one was hurt. But the crowd was great last night. The team fed off the energy.

20 point win vs. a team you're supposed to compete for the title with is good all around. Great day to be a Bearcat. So great I lost my voice yelling last night. That said, take nothing for granted the next time we play them. I'm sure they've already circled on their calendar when they play us again. They missed a lot of shots...a lot. While our defense played great, I was more impressed with the amount of turnovers we forced than the bad shooting we forced. I haven't had time to look at the box score yet, going to do that now.

Really liked Cronin's comments in postgame. Like how he called out Gary on getting the ball and waiting for the double team. Looks like his message was heard. I love Gary but I hate how he has to be prodded to be aggressive.

 

[cincyfan21]

Really just depends what happens in front of us.

We only play 1 game this week and its USF so I expect minimal movement unless all hell breaks lose again. But yea, the following weak is going to be tough.


We need to push the pace like we did against SMU and beat UCF down the floor

Agreed. I don't expect movement from this week, but if we win @ UCF and the trend of top 10 teams losing continues, we can expect some great news in a couple weeks. I've said it before... we are so much better when we push the pace. We have great weapons off the bench to sustain that style of play. Also, JJ is way more efficient pushing it up the floor vs slowing it down. All you have to do is rewatch the Temple game to see how bad we are when letting the D settle into their sets... but I don't recommend doing that haha

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Do they have a postgame press conference for SMU anywhere?

 

[waterhead]

https://youtu.be/j7d2XUEH0m4

Try this one...

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Try this one...

Ha I mean SMU Coach and Players.

 

[ZCat]

I agree on Evans but he is improving dramatically in the ability to get his own shot. he still does get to the rim enough for me but his pull up game is right there. If he could add some FT's to the stat sheet I would be thrilled.

If he could keep working on ball fakes, and Head fake, that would allow him more options. Picture the end of the Temple game.

Currently he can just jump up with his vertical to get a good look. If he can keep progressing look out.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

If he could keep working on ball fakes, and Head fake, that would allow him more options. Picture the end of the Temple game.

Currently he can just jump up with his vertical to get a good look. If he can keep progressing look out.

He has so much talent. He is getting there. Will be interesting to see how far he comes by the end of the year.

 

[waterhead]

If he could keep working on ball fakes, and Head fake, that would allow him more options. Picture the end of the Temple game.

Currently he can just jump up with his vertical to get a good look. If he can keep progressing look out.

I love that he has become more aggressive. A couple of things I am a little concerned with is that he seems to opt for that pull up j when he makes a move to the lane. I would like him to get to the rack just a little more to draw some fouls. After a few more games the defense could figure out his tendency to settle for the jumper. With his height and jumping ability it's hard to block...but it's been done before. We need to get a bail out going if it's not there. We can have him try that jump shot and kick it out to the corner for a 3 or something like that.

I would also like to see us use Cane a little bit in these scenarios. He has more ability to separate than anyone on the team. He can get to the rack and draw a foul a lot better. He has a nice step back move for a 3 which Evans does not really have. He can also throw a lob in there if he gets a big defender to help. The kick out should always be there. His floater isn't bad. There are just more options with Cane it seems...but the biggest thing is he has to earn Cronin's trust in those situations...we cannot afford a turnover in crucial moments.

Evans is either going to pull up for a 3 or a mid range jumper. I trust him more not to turn it over and to make a shot...but there are more options with Cane in those late clock scenarios.

 

[cincrulz11]

I love that he has become more aggressive. A couple of things I am a little concerned with is that he seems to opt for that pull up j when he makes a move to the lane. I would like him to get to the rack just a little more to draw some fouls.

he doesn't have the first step to get to the rim, thats why he takes those jumpers. they are contested jumpers for the most part as well.


they honestly probably aren't shots he's going to hit with a high percentage. that game winner he hit vs temple is probably a 40% shot at best.

 

[waterhead]

he doesn't have the first step to get to the rim, thats why he takes those jumpers. they are contested jumpers for the most part as well.


they honestly probably aren't shots he's going to hit with a high percentage. that game winner he hit vs temple is probably a 40% shot at best.

I agree with part B here but maybe not part A. Troy never had the quickness to get past his man going to the hoop but once the defender is beside him he just put his head down like Cumberland does or SK did and went all the way to the rack. Evans can do that same thing but he's not as comfortable finishing at the hoop through contact. You have to be able to use your body...you have to seek the contact and be the one delivering the contact so you can predict how it's going to affect the shot. You can't let the defender knock you off balance. You have to expect the contact so you can stay on balance. You have to move into it. This is not something that is hard to learn really...you just have to practice it. When you are both in the air the foul is going to be called on the defender...so put your body into the defender hard...and try to finish. Worst case is a couple of FT's.

 

[waterhead]

I agree with part B here but maybe not part A. Troy never had the quickness to get past his man going to the hoop but once the defender is beside him he just put his head down like Cumberland does or SK did and went all the way to the rack. Evans can do that same thing but he's not as comfortable finishing at the hoop through contact. You have to be able to use your body...you have to seek the contact and be the one delivering the contact so you can predict how it's going to affect the shot. You can't let the defender knock you off balance. You have to expect the contact so you can stay on balance. You have to move into it. This is not something that is hard to learn really...you just have to practice it. When you are both in the air the foul is going to be called on the defender...so put your body into the defender hard...and try to finish. Worst case is a couple of FT's.

Troy, SK, and Cumberland are not quick. Evans is quicker than all of them. Those other three guys knew contact and body control close to the rim. Evans let's the defender dictate what happens at the rim...the other three dictate what happens at the rim. It's just basically leaning into the contact and expecting to get bumped back to level shoulders.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Troy, SK, and Cumberland are not quick. Evans is quicker than all of them. Those other three guys knew contact and body control close to the rim. Evans let's the defender dictate what happens at the rim...the other three dictate what happens at the rim. It's just basically leaning into the contact and expecting to get bumped back to level shoulders.

Caupain struggled around the rim. He got swatted a lot and him overdriving was why we were so bad in late clock situations for years. And Cumberland may be aggressive but he also gets blocked sometimes and picks up a zillion charges. I don't want Evans trying to force his way all the way in. He has enough touch that if he can rise up and get a clean look, I'll take that. Now 19 feet isn't ideal. But 12-17 is what I'd hope for.

 

[ME80]

Caupain struggled around the rim. He got swatted a lot and him overdriving was why we were so bad in late clock situations for years. And Cumberland may be aggressive but he also gets blocked sometimes and picks up a zillion charges. I don't want Evans trying to force his way all the way in. He has enough touch that if he can rise up and get a clean look, I'll take that. Now 19 feet isn't ideal. But 12-17 is what I'd hope for.

And if he keeps making those 12-17 at a good clip he will start drawing others away from under the basket and it will open up a passing lane for an easy layup

 

[cincrulz11]

I agree with part B here but maybe not part A. Troy never had the quickness to get past his man going to the hoop but once the defender is beside him he just put his head down like Cumberland does or SK did and went all the way to the rack. Evans can do that same thing but he's not as comfortable finishing at the hoop through contact.

you are talking about 3 guys with far different body types. they were all stronger players than what evans is. they used their strength to drive.