Some Crosstown Observations

[Ryno99]

Ok, so I'm pretty lucky and got to sit way down front in the 1st row behind the bench next to a lot of Coach's family. Some things I noticed/was told:

- Shaq Thomas was at the game and from what I was told, he came to the shoot around before the game, walked in wearing a pair of boots and was making shots consistently from 2 steps inside the center court "C". Comment was that he may be the best shooter on the team if he was here now.

- Darryl Hicks attended the game (2013 SF recruit that we have offered) I was told he is high on UC right now and that Mick feels good about where things are with him at this point.

- Lots of Alumni showed up. I saw Patterson, JMax, Stokes, Kirkland, Buford, Blount, Bostic, and Sulymane (sp). Nice to see them all in attendance supporting the team. Patterson walked in just about the time the team was getting announced and walked over and shook hands with the entire starting lineup as they sat on the bench waiting to be announced.

- It was confirmed to me again last night that Mick is hot on the trail of Philip Jurick and he is the one he wants to add to next years class and is close to bringing him in.

So just some things heard and seen last night. What a night! What a time to be a Bearcat Fan!

 

[Thegreatone]

Ok, so I'm pretty lucky and got to sit way down front in the 1st row behind the bench next to a lot of Coach's family. Some things I noticed/was told:

- Shaq Thomas was at the game and from what I was told, he came to the shoot around before the game, walked in wearing a pair of boots and was making shots consistently from 2 steps inside the center court "C". Comment was that he may be the best shooter on the team if he was here now.

- Darryl Hicks attended the game (2013 SF recruit that we have offered) I was told he is high on UC right now and that Mick feels good about where things are with him at this point.

- Lots of Alumni showed up. I saw Patterson, JMax, Stokes, Kirkland, Buford, Blount, Bostic, and Sulymane (sp). Nice to see them all in attendance supporting the team. Patterson walked in just about the time the team was getting announced and walked over and shook hands with the entire starting lineup as they sat on the bench waiting to be announced.

- It was confirmed to me again last night that Mick is hot on the trail of Philip Jurick and he is the one he wants to add to next years class and is close to bringing him in.

So just some things heard and seen last night. What a night! What a time to be a Bearcat Fan!

You gotta bring me down there sometime!!!

Thank you for the insightful thoughts and information. For people who don't know Darryl Hicks is going to be a top 50 and maybe top 25 player in the country. He is a huge stud. I think around 6'4 with very good quickness and shooting. Big timer.

Shaq Thomas is going to be a contributor next season. He is 6'7 and a great scorer when he is motivated. With us losing bishop I think he could get some good time off the bench if he is committed to rebounding.

Philip Jurick was a top 50 recruit. I heard he is putting up some good numbers in JUCO. He is a big man at 6'10 or 6'11 (I think). Had some issues but I don't think it was anything too serious but will do some looking.

thanks again rhyno

 

[Ryno99]

One other thing I forgot was I heard that Justin Jackson made the comment at the shoot around to someone that he couldn't wait to put on 20 lbs of muscle and get to the size he needs to be to be consistent in the BEast. From what I hear he is a gym rat and loves to work out so hopefully that will happen in short time.

 

[ralph1950]

Mick the Great!

What UC fans are witnessing is the greatest rebuilding job in the history of college basketball. What Mick has accomplished in 4+ years is nothing short of a miracle. Mick throughly outcoached Chris Mack last night. UC could not have made a better choice than Mick to rebuild the program that was left in shambles by BH.

 

[JasonS]

Mick the Great!

What UC fans are witnessing is the greatest rebuilding job in the history of college basketball. What Mick has accomplished in 4+ years is nothing short of a miracle. Mick throughly outcoached Chris Mack last night. UC could not have made a better choice than Mick to rebuild the program that was left in shambles by BH.

People are going to kill you for this statement ralph (greatest rebuilding job in history) and there is no way for anyone to really quantify that statement. You are right about one thing though. I agree that Mick was the best choice to rebuild the program. I said it the day he was hired and it is really becoming evident this year.

 

[Thegreatone]

It was always easy to rip him when we had no chance at being competitive. Look, I dont know how good Mick is or isn't but I know he is better than half of the fanbase wanted you to believe and probably not as good as Ralph claims.

Every year I feel better about his progress and have been a constant supporter.

 

[Ryno99]

I'm with you guys, I wanted him originally and still want him around. I think he finally has a team of the type he would like and he's got a great class coming in next year to further the success they've had this year, I can only hope that Mike Thomas sees this and allows him to see this thing through. There have been some tough times, but there is finally a light and maybe even a pot of gold at the end of the tunnel.

 

[JasonS]

I'm with you guys, I wanted him originally and still want him around. I think he finally has a team of the type he would like and he's got a great class coming in next year to further the success they've had this year, I can only hope that Mike Thomas sees this and allows him to see this thing through. There have been some tough times, but there is finally a light and maybe even a pot of gold at the end of the tunnel.

Mike Thomas has never waivered in support of Mick and the program. That is why he not only gave him an initial 6 year contract but also an extension recently. Patience is about to start paying dividends. Mick has been super close to landing several blue chip prospects but the lack of success on the floor has been the straw that broke the camel's back. After this season, I look for the recruiting ball to really start rolling. 2011's class is a top 20 class and I think 2012 and 2013 are only going to be better. It's a great time to be a UC Bearcat fan. Basketball is back and I really think football will be back playing for Big East titles in no time.

 

[thebeast]

i think the biggest reason that this team is were it is at is not only cuz the players have improved but mick has made the biggest leap of them all. he is a completly different coach in my opinion. teams dont get this type of chemistry from no where they get it from there coach and thats not something you would have seen last year let alone 4-5 years ago.
mick was the greastest coach to choose cuz he wants uc basketball to be good again just as bad as me and all of you. he is a fan and that is an element not many coaches have for certain programs. i truely feel he is in it more for the name of the university than for himself because this is the top of the mountain for him.

 

[cincycpaw]

I thought Mick was a good hire. The last 2 years I wanted him gone. Last year was a disaster and it was entirely his fault.

But, it seems like both the players and Mick learned from it. And they are poised to make me eat some crow for wanting Mick gone. Still lots of ball to be played, but it is very impressive...the difference between last year and this year and the strides that the coaching staff and the players have made.

It is nice feeling good about the program again. Though they still have more to prove.

 

[JasonS]

I thought Mick was a good hire. The last 2 years I wanted him gone. Last year was a disaster and it was entirely his fault.

But, it seems like both the players and Mick learned from it. And they are poised to make me eat some crow for wanting Mick gone. Still lots of ball to be played, but it is very impressive...the difference between last year and this year and the strides that the coaching staff and the players have made.

It is nice feeling good about the program again. Though they still have more to prove.

This is the best part. The fact that these guys still feel slighted by the National Media has really been a big help these last couple weeks. I have not seen a UC team this focused since that 1999-2000 team with Kenyon Martin as a senior. That team was on a mission the entire season and would have won the whole thing if not for the broken leg. I don't think this team can win it all (yet) but I could become more and more convinced over the next 3 weeks if they put together a good string of wins.

 

[TheLongHaul]

Mick the Great!

What UC fans are witnessing is the greatest rebuilding job in the history of college basketball. What Mick has accomplished in 4+ years is nothing short of a miracle. Mick throughly outcoached Chris Mack last night. UC could not have made a better choice than Mick to rebuild the program that was left in shambles by BH.

Seriously Ralph, do you have to do this not only on every message board across the country, but on every thread as well? We get it already. Go preach it to someone else or keep it in one thread. This thread has nothing to do with that. Man I want to meet you in person to see what you are really like.

 

[bearcat jeff]

You gotta bring me down there sometime!!!

Thank you for the insightful thoughts and information. For people who don't know Darryl Hicks is going to be a top 50 and maybe top 25 player in the country. He is a huge stud. I think around 6'4 with very good quickness and shooting. Big timer.

Shaq Thomas is going to be a contributor next season. He is 6'7 and a great scorer when he is motivated. With us losing bishop I think he could get some good time off the bench if he is committed to rebounding.

Philip Jurick was a top 50 recruit. I heard he is putting up some good numbers in JUCO. He is a big man at 6'10 or 6'11 (I think). Had some issues but I don't think it was anything too serious but will do some looking.

thanks again rhyno

Just posted Jurick's number's from a recent game. He routinely gets double digit rebounds and 8-10 blocks a game. I believe he had 19 rebounds in their last outing. I've been following Hicks for sometime now. I don't get excited till a guys senior year. Too many kids change their minds as the recruiting landscape changes over time. He is a very good young player. He is sitting out the season after transferring to Trinity.

 

[BearcatAlum1]

Ok, so I'm pretty lucky and got to sit way down front in the 1st row behind the bench next to a lot of Coach's family. Some things I noticed/was told:

- Shaq Thomas was at the game and from what I was told, he came to the shoot around before the game, walked in wearing a pair of boots and was making shots consistently from 2 steps inside the center court "C". Comment was that he may be the best shooter on the team if he was here now.

- Darryl Hicks attended the game (2013 SF recruit that we have offered) I was told he is high on UC right now and that Mick feels good about where things are with him at this point.

- Lots of Alumni showed up. I saw Patterson, JMax, Stokes, Kirkland, Buford, Blount, Bostic, and Sulymane (sp). Nice to see them all in attendance supporting the team. Patterson walked in just about the time the team was getting announced and walked over and shook hands with the entire starting lineup as they sat on the bench waiting to be announced.

- It was confirmed to me again last night that Mick is hot on the trail of Philip Jurick and he is the one he wants to add to next years class and is close to bringing him in.

So just some things heard and seen last night. What a night! What a time to be a Bearcat Fan!

Great stuff. Thanks for posting.

 

[BearcatAlum1]

Just posted Jurick's number's from a recent game. He routinely gets double digit rebounds and 8-10 blocks a game. I believe he had 19 rebounds in their last outing. I've been following Hicks for sometime now. I don't get excited till a guys senior year. Too many kids change their minds as the recruiting landscape changes over time. He is a very good young player. He is sitting out the season after transferring to Trinity.

I want Hicks. He is a baller.

 

[bearcat jeff]

I want Hicks. He is a baller.

Me too!

 

[ralph1950]

it way down front in the 1st row behind the bench next to a lot of Coach's family. Some things I noticed/was told:

- Shaq Thomas was at the game and from what I was told, he came to the shoot around before the game, walked in wearing a pair of boots and was making shots consistently from 2 steps inside the center court "C". Comment was that he may be the best shooter on the team if he was here now.



- Lots of Alumni showed up. I saw Patterson, JMax, Stokes, Kirkland, Buford, Blount, Bostic, and Sulymane (sp). Nice to see t

- It was confirmed to me again last night that Mick is hot on the trail of Philip Jurick and he is the one he wants to add to next years class and is close to bringing him in.

So just some things heard and seen last night. What a night! What a time to be a Bearcat Fan![/QUOTE]
Did Thomas get to meet Pete, Oscar, Nick and Venessa?

 

[BamaCat]

I don't think Oscar was at the game last night.

 

[bearcat jeff]

Maybe the best thing about the game last night is that there were multiple recruits across several classes that were at the game. A sellout crowd, a big win, is always good to have when you have visitors. I'm sure they left Fifth Third with a very good impression. This is especially good considering the amount of Ohio players that were in attendance. Some of which are being recruited by both schools.

 

[Ryno99]

So Jeff, who else was there recruit wise?