St Joe's

[UCalum08]

We need more playmakers and influx of talent. These kids have everything they had but I'm tired of overachieving. A perimeter of Caupain, Evans and Cumberland should be a good start. He we need another a PG that can attack the rim. That Ottey kid looks impressive on film. Hope we land him too.

The coaching staff needs to step up and lock down some recruits. This upcoming year and next are going to be huge in terms of recruiting. No more raw low end 3 star guys. Unless we are just trying to fill in our 13th scholarship I don't want them.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Quad showed up tonight. From a fans prospective the kid has been as frustrating as any player in recent memory. Glad to see him contribute even if it was in a loss. Hope he builds on his performance and is able to be a contributing piece to a nice season next year.

It will be tough to say good bye to our four seniors. Shaq,Oct,Core and FC. All had good moments in their careers. Hope they got a degree and remain part of the Bearcat family. Everyone of them was part of at least 2 tourney teams that provided hours of joy and frustration to each of us posting here. Good luck guys and thank you.

 

[ZCat]

Props to the team for leaving it all out there. There is no shame in that and no shame in losing.

But the season was brutal.

We had the talent to compete, but not win.

Or win, but not the clock manager to keep time properly.

Or dunk, but not with enough time to go to OT.

Not to mention the injuries.

Or 2 half court shots.

Or teams that just always seemed to make plays down the stretch when we failed to in the final seconds.

This season hurt. I hope next is better.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go find a place to cry like a man.

Do we need to use all scholarships going forward? Redshirt less? Have couple local quality walk ins? Running out of players was a problem

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

The coaching staff needs to step up and lock down some recruits. This upcoming year and next are going to be huge in terms of recruiting. No more raw low end 3 star guys. Unless we are just trying to fill in our 13th scholarship I don't want them.

we'll be very hard to recruit high end talent with so little immediate playing time to offer. Not to mention the obvious pit falls that have existed and been discussed here for awhile.

The year after next we will need to replace TC and should have 4 very solid starters returning in Evans,Clark,Washington and Cumberland. With a few breaks the next two years should be very good seasons with legit chances to go deep in tourney. I think Mick will bring in some very nice players but not any one and doner types.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Do we need to use all scholarships going forward? Redshirt less? Have couple local quality walk ins? Running out of players was a problem

Using all your scholly's is fine but good players don't generally like coming to a program for limited playing time. This season was a anomaly with our late season injuries. Cobb,Shaq,And Clark were big time impediments down the stretch.

 

[ZCat]

It was an appropriate ending for the way the season went. They were just good enough (or bad enough depending on how you look at it) to be in spots to win or lose at the end all year. The fact that they lost 90% of those is bad luck, sure, but some of it was of their own making.

The 3 St. Joe's hit at the end came off a simple pick and pop that KJ totally got lost on. The narrative of his great defense is just that...a narrative. He's probably the best one on one guy but I've seen him get lost in that zone all year.

Ironically, we've been asking for a team capable of scoring points in the tournament...and we got one, even with half our team nursing injuries. So I'd say we got what we deserved too, in a way. The defense was very weak against quick guards and skilled players. St. Joe's scored 78 playing Philly street ball and simple pro style pick and roll.

All that said I feel for the Seniors and for all those guys, who regardless of the results, played hard. Maybe they'll make different luck for themselves next year.

Whom will guard in zone D next yr? Whom will guard the opponents quickest guard?

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Whom will guard in zone D next yr? Whom will guard the opponents quickest guard?

Stoping dribble drive penetration was a problem all year. Will probably be a issue next year that will need to be addressed from a scheme correction. Don't think our guards next year will be appreciably quicker then this years.

 

[bearcatbacker82]

It's hilarious that a ref can review the last shot to get the right call, but within the same video have to disregard the foul that occurred. Temple had the same crap happen too. When a foul is so clear why not make the correct call?

 

[TNBearcat3]

Woke up and it still feels just as bad.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Woke up and it still feels just as bad.

the beauty of sports is there is always another season right around the corner. Enjoy the rest of the tourney. Can't remember a season when so many incredible games are being played. The Cats will be back in the hunt next year.

 

[UCBearcats]

Mick had nothing to do with this loss. We were injured, and had we been at full strength we would have won. So sick of the crying and fire mick BS!!

Mick's coaching from the time we got a 3 point lead until the end of the game was miserable. Three straight possessions where our offense was to run one on one street ball with Jacob Evans. I'd say Mick had everything to do with the loss, it's his team and his players.

 

[crimedogg27]

I'm more excited about next year's team than I should be. Cats really need guys that can get to the rim. Unfortunately, Evans and Caupain are the only kids that can get there on a regular basis.

Next year's squad will likely feature two first team All-AAC players (Clark & Caupain) and I think Evans could take a Trevon Bluiett like leap next year and be a top SF.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

I'm more excited about next year's team than I should be. Cats really need guys that can get to the rim. Unfortunately, Evans and Caupain are the only kids that can get there on a regular basis.

Next year's squad will likely feature two first team All-AAC players (Clark & Caupain) and I think Evans could take a Trevon Bluiett like leap next year and be a top SF.

I to am looking forward to next year I also fully expect Mick to add a piece or two to the team over the summer

 

[UCalum08]

I to am looking forward to next year I also fully expect Mick to add a piece or two to the team over the summer

They desperately need to. I think the coaches know that too.

 

[BCM]

No shit because this city embraces mediocrity. We're content with just making the tournament.

That's quite a bender you're posting off of, plenty of green beer I assume

 

[crimedogg27]

They desperately need to. I think the coaches know that too.

The lack of depth on next year's roster is kinda scary. Mick needs to land a grad transfer or a kid coming out of junior college.

Troy
KJ/Cumberland
Evans
Clark
Washington

Bench of Tre Scott, Jenifer, Moore, Brooks. That doesn't give me much confidence if the starting five get in foul trouble.

 

[rogerOH]

Loved the Cats this year,things didn't always go their way but always competitive and classy win or lose.

 

[dbieon12]

Those bashing ellis for dunking the ball are just silly.


With that said, he played an awful game prior to that play.

He's had a pretty awful season prior to that game, too. A senior with that much experience and physical talent should be putting up 18 and 10 nightly not 10 and 8. And tonight cemented this season as a regression for him.

DeBerry has better footwork than Ellis and I was honestly expecting him to leapfrog Ellis for minutes. But we were lied to by Mick who clearly didn't get DeBerry into good enough shape.

 

[dbieon12]

Losing Ellis and DeBerry will be tough to stomach next season.

 

[Doogle]

The loss is hard to take, and frustrating, but by and large I thought they played well enough to win in each of the last 2 games. Last night Mick had to send Quadri out in the 1st half because Shaq wasn't available and Clark was nearly useless on his ankle. The Shaq injury hurt from a defensive standpoint - look at all the mismatched defenders Mick had to throw at Bembry - and the Clark injury took it's toll on both ends.

They shot over 50% from the field, hit 10 three pointers, 10-13 from the line, only 9 turnovers, outrebounded by 1...lost. Just been that kind of year.

Lost in the aftermath was the superb game our freshman played. Jacob Evans stepped up big when his team needed him. A ray of light in the darkness that was 2015-2016.

Yes, there are depth concerns heading into next year. Need a shooter. And so forth. But there are positives to build on. Once I remove my clasped hands from behind my head and get over the feeling that God hates Cincinnati, I'll be looking forward to the offseason in recruiting and watching this group play next year. I like every kid on that team and desperately want each of them to be successful. Hopefully, they want that too and are willing to work for it.