South Florida

[jacobkdoyle]

We need to use the big guys that stretch the floor against these big teams. Mick clearly prefers Clark down low, so that leaves Quadri Moore. But he got the fewest minutes on the team today. Mick came at this team strictly from a defensive mindset today, and imo the offense suffered bc of it. I just don't like to see us give so much credit to a 3-14 team in our game planning. We should've run this bottom feeding team out of the gym.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

I was wondering if they went straight to USF from SMU. I can't believe they went back to Cincy first. Just seems for logistics it would make sense to go straight to Florida. Is there a rule which prohibited that?

Mick said he prefers not creating long road trips. He said he didn't want them to spend a day in Florida and have a "vacation" in the sun and warm weather.

 

[waterhead]

Outside of the Tulsa game, we haven't looked NCAA-worthy for quite a while. 5-5 in the last 10, including a home loss to a .500 team doesn't even scream NIT, much less NCAA. I'm sure there was a reason I posted that we have Final 4 potential back in November, but I'm having trouble remembering. I didn't think the coach was going to re-seek the "make your eyeballs bleed" offense once again. He loves the identity that we have. Today made him so happy. 54 points against a 3-14 team. We're right where we want to be again, ready to charge forward to another 1st or 2nd round defeat. And then, we'll start the process all over again.

I think maybe our 30 % FG had a lot to do with it too. It wasn't all tempo by any means...we couldn't hit the broad side of a barn today.

 

[GarradJ21]

Just for perspective.


Xavier was 11-6 last year at this time with losses to UTEP, Long Beach state, Auburn, Depaul, butler and Villanova.

And they peaked at the right time and went to the sweet 16.. UC last year this time was also 12-5.

last year none of the teams UC lost to were ranked.
Only 1 team of the 6 Xavier loses were from top 25 teams.

that all said, we have 5 loses this year and 4 of them are top 20 loses. and 1 of them was top 100 in RPI and kenpom.


We are scoring more ppg, giving up just about the same amount of PPG and ultimately will figure it out. Everyone is acting like the world is over and just a little perspective shows its not even close



Also, only one team has blown USF out at home. The houston USF game was much like the UC game, USF only lost by 6 even though it had 20 TO. SMU only won by 14 @ home against USF. Thing is USF is better than their record. Lets just beat Houston and we will be fine

Great post!

I knew going into this game it was going to be ugly and sloppy. It's just nice to come out with a win. I know everyone is very critical on us right now, but truthfully usf always plays us tough. Always a battle with them. Here are the most recent games against USF:

Last year: won by 5 at home won by 10 away

2014 (SK): won by 5 at home won by 7 away

2013 (cash): won by 8 in OT at home senior day

2012: (yancy): lost by 1 at USF

People need to chill it happens. Just keep the wins coming. BIG game against Houston. I know we all just had such high hopes for this team but you never know like justihub says it's about getting hot at the right time. Let's just get in. Ask UCONN about that on their championships

 

[ZCat]

The message is: If you're a leader on the team, going 11-5 on your watch and crumbling down the stretch is not acceptable at Cincinnati. And not just Caupain, but all the veterans.

Excellent post!!!

 

[ZCat]

South Florida's only wins are against Albany, Savannah State, and Jacksonville.

Thank goodness we did not join that group.

 

[L-T]

Now that we're seeking to re-establish our old identity, I have a question. The eye-test on past NCAA tournament teams under Mick has never been real great. The offense has been brutal to the eyes, but the defense has been much more soothing to the eyes. Now we have people telling us to be patient, we're going to make our usual tournament run. My concern is that to me, I'm finding this year's eye test, in total, to be about as bad as it's ever been. The offense started out soothing to the eyes, but is morphing into something as ugly as past years. The defense has never looked comparable to past years. The net result is a product that right now looks as bad as it's ever looked. Do we have a defense this year that can cushion the ugliness of our offense as in past years? Or, do we think the offense is better and the defense is worse with the net result being about the same? To me, what I'm seeing evolve on the court almost looks worse than anything we've seen in past years. I don't know if this team has what it's going to take to make this run we need.

 

[coachpipe]

This team is a mess. Any expectations I had for this group are long gone

 

[jds513]

This team is a mess. Any expectations I had for this group are long gone

Me too. I won't say the team is a total mess. We could still make the tournament and win one game which would be a success in Mick's eyes. But I will admit my final four expectation was much too lofty. I was deceived by Mick.

 

[UCBearcats]

This team is a mess. Any expectations I had for this group are long gone

Of course this is what you get when you've got a coach who says things like "I'll be here next year no matter what". I don't think I've ever seen a guy who's accomplished less be more confident than Mick. He's a slick talker and will probably make a great analyst some day but it's amazing that no one calls him on his BS.

The truth of the matter is that a lot of our fans have nowhere to look other than the mirror if they want to place blame. For far too long everyone has acted like Mick walks on water when his results have been pedestrian at best. In the meantime Xavier has completely overtaken us as the dominant program in this city and Dayton has even risen to a status above us. We're the #3 team in our region and we've got people getting a hard on over whether or not we'll make the tourney so we can lose in the first round.

Sorry people, time for Mick to go..........I know it won't happen because we're a city full of losers who embrace mediocrity, but it needs to happen. I've said this for years but Mick Cronin is the absolute worst thing that could ever happen to UC sports. He's not good enough to make us elite and live up to the history of our program but he's not bad enough to get himself fired. What we wind up with is a mediocre program that is now the #3 program in our region behind XU and Dayton............and the worst part is most of you worship the ground this man walks on.

 

[justinhub2003]

Joe Lunardi just released this weeks bracketology and he has UC in as first 4 byes

With a 9 seed

We need a strong run to get at least a 7 seed or even a 6

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology


Right now he has houston getting in with us and UCONN

 

[Bearcat513]

With two games vs HOU and UCONN we still have chances to get some Ws. SMU at home to end the year might seal the deal for us. Winning the conference tourney is a must too, I think, to get out of the 8 vs 9 matchup.

 

[CHEER CINCY]

Of course this is what you get when you've got a coach who says things like "I'll be here next year no matter what". I don't think I've ever seen a guy who's accomplished less be more confident than Mick. He's a slick talker and will probably make a great analyst some day but it's amazing that no one calls him on his BS.

The truth of the matter is that a lot of our fans have nowhere to look other than the mirror if they want to place blame. For far too long everyone has acted like Mick walks on water when his results have been pedestrian at best. In the meantime Xavier has completely overtaken us as the dominant program in this city and Dayton has even risen to a status above us. We're the #3 team in our region and we've got people getting a hard on over whether or not we'll make the tourney so we can lose in the first round.

Sorry people, time for Mick to go..........I know it won't happen because we're a city full of losers who embrace mediocrity, but it needs to happen. I've said this for years but Mick Cronin is the absolute worst thing that could ever happen to UC sports. He's not good enough to make us elite and live up to the history of our program but he's not bad enough to get himself fired. What we wind up with is a mediocre program that is now the #3 program in our region behind XU and Dayton............and the worst part is most of you worship the ground this man walks on.

So, it's time for him to go. Our big boosters are clearly NOT behind getting rid of Mick. So, how do we make that happen? Do we pull our UCATS donation (which provides athletic scholarships for kids)? Do we donate and just not buy tickets at all (many people use tickets as a gathering ground for family/friends). What gives?

I'd love to fire this clown ASAP. But, if I do any of the above, what does that solve in the bigger equation unless the masses follow suit?

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

Joe Lunardi just released this weeks bracketology and he has UC in as first 4 byes

With a 9 seed

We need a strong run to get at least a 7 seed or even a 6

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology


Right now he has houston getting in with us and UCONN

He only has Houston in because rather than predict a conference champion, he just automatically places whoever is in 1st place in the standings.

 

[L-T]

Of course this is what you get when you've got a coach who says things like "I'll be here next year no matter what". I don't think I've ever seen a guy who's accomplished less be more confident than Mick. He's a slick talker and will probably make a great analyst some day but it's amazing that no one calls him on his BS.

The truth of the matter is that a lot of our fans have nowhere to look other than the mirror if they want to place blame. For far too long everyone has acted like Mick walks on water when his results have been pedestrian at best. In the meantime Xavier has completely overtaken us as the dominant program in this city and Dayton has even risen to a status above us. We're the #3 team in our region and we've got people getting a hard on over whether or not we'll make the tourney so we can lose in the first round.

Sorry people, time for Mick to go..........I know it won't happen because we're a city full of losers who embrace mediocrity, but it needs to happen. I've said this for years but Mick Cronin is the absolute worst thing that could ever happen to UC sports. He's not good enough to make us elite and live up to the history of our program but he's not bad enough to get himself fired. What we wind up with is a mediocre program that is now the #3 program in our region behind XU and Dayton............and the worst part is most of you worship the ground this man walks on.

I could see after his first three years that this is what we would be in store for. You're right, the love shown this guy is just unfathomable. Ben Howland turned the Pitt program around into an annual power, left for UCLA where he went to 3 Final Fours, 7 NCAA tournaments, three 30-win seasons, 4 PAC 10 championships, and was fired! He was fired after a season where he won the PAC 10 championship. Cronin has won ZERO league championships outright here, tied for ONE AAC championship, never won a conference tournament, and has been knocked out of the NCAA either in the first or second game every year besides his one single Sweet 16......and he has job security??? This is honestly a joke in my opinion.

We had a solid core of season ticket holders, many of whom left either because of the Huggs debacle, or more recently because Mick failed to win them over. The program generates "ZERO" pizzazz or buzz these days. Most people just seem disinterested. One former season ticket holder that I work with, and who went to LaSalle (Mick's High School), recently told me he has attended more Xavier games than UC games the past 5 years. That is sad! Mick, and his legacy, is too deeply entrenched now to ever win many of the fans back who left. And, he's not building many new fans either, as evidenced by our approximately 8,300 fans a game average. So, you are correct. we have accepted and embraced mediocrity, which makes you wonder why we want to spend $87 million to upgrade the Shoe.

 

[L-T]

So, it's time for him to go. Our big boosters are clearly NOT behind getting rid of Mick. So, how do we make that happen? Do we pull our UCATS donation (which provides athletic scholarships for kids)? Do we donate and just not buy tickets at all (many people use tickets as a gathering ground for family/friends). What gives?

I'd love to fire this clown ASAP. But, if I do any of the above, what does that solve in the bigger equation unless the masses follow suit?

I beg to differ on your statement above. I am a good sized booster and have longevity in the program. I sit amongst "many" huge boosters. It's all that everybody talks about. In our area of seats, we have one single "huge" Mick supporter, and he's one of the biggest boosters, but other than him, you won't find hardly anyone who isn't unhappy with the coach and the direction of the program. I find it hard to believe that it is just a conglomerate of Mick bashers that coincidentally ended up together in one section. Because, what I hear discussed at a typical game, is the same that I hear at work, at the gym, and on the streets. But, it's obvious that he must have the backing of someone big.

 

[UCBearcats]

I beg to differ on your statement above. I am a good sized booster and have longevity in the program. I sit amongst "many" huge boosters. It's all that everybody talks about. In our area of seats, we have one single "huge" Mick supporter, and he's one of the biggest boosters, but other than him, you won't find hardly anyone who isn't unhappy with the coach and the direction of the program. I find it hard to believe that it is just a conglomerate of Mick bashers that coincidentally ended up together in one section. Because, what I hear discussed at a typical game, is the same that I hear at work, at the gym, and on the streets. But, it's obvious that he must have the backing of someone big.

I think the only thing people who aren't happy can continue to do is voice their frustrations. Eventually that group gets big enough to effect change. Outside of that I'm not sure what else you can do. When you've got spineless sports media in this city it makes it really hard to ever effect any change. Mick can continue to sit in pressers and say whatever the hell he wants because he knows that no one is ever going to call him on it.

There's a lot of other places where if Mick makes a comment like, "I know i'll be here next year" with the results he puts together he'd have multiple reporters in his ear the second those words escaped his mouth. In order for there to be a groundswell in public opinion and to get heard you need the media to be more critical. This city has the absolute worst sports media ever, it's why we have franchises like the Bengals and Reds and fan bases that are largely accepting of them.

 

[coachpipe]

I beg to differ on your statement above. I am a good sized booster and have longevity in the program. I sit amongst "many" huge boosters. It's all that everybody talks about. In our area of seats, we have one single "huge" Mick supporter, and he's one of the biggest boosters, but other than him, you won't find hardly anyone who isn't unhappy with the coach and the direction of the program. I find it hard to believe that it is just a conglomerate of Mick bashers that coincidentally ended up together in one section. Because, what I hear discussed at a typical game, is the same that I hear at work, at the gym, and on the streets. But, it's obvious that he must have the backing of someone big.

what section are you in?

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

We had a solid core of season ticket holders, many of whom left either because of the Huggs debacle, or more recently because Mick failed to win them over. The program generates "ZERO" pizzazz or buzz these days. Most people just seem disinterested. One former season ticket holder that I work with, and who went to LaSalle (Mick's High School), recently told me he has attended more Xavier games than UC games the past 5 years. That is sad! Mick, and his legacy, is too deeply entrenched now to ever win many of the fans back who left. And, he's not building many new fans either, as evidenced by our approximately 8,300 fans a game average. So, you are correct. we have accepted and embraced mediocrity, which makes you wonder why we want to spend $87 million to upgrade the Shoe.

THIS!!!

 

[L-T]

what section are you in?

Lol! I can't disclose that. I don't want a suicide bomber showing up during a game. But, I sit 5 rows from the floor in the infamous "Red Sweater" section. I may be one of the few "Red Sweater" fans that you'll see actually standing a lot. If you hear the "Sweaters" yelling "SIT DOWN!", it's usually because of me. It's the loudest they get during a typical game.