State of the team

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I believe this team has over achieved this year. I thought they would not make the NCAA with all the new parts, unkowns, and no alpha dog. A couple bounces our way we have 3 more wins.

 

[Bulldog01]

I believe this team has over achieved this year. I thought they would not make the NCAA with all the new parts, unkowns, and no alpha dog. A couple bounces our way we have 3 more wins.

Team more talented as a whole than last year. We only really lost SK, I'll rather have Clark/Ellis over JJ/rubles.

 

[[email protected]]

Team more talented as a whole than last year. We only really lost SK, I'll rather have Clark/Ellis over JJ/rubles.

True. I just didn't see it coming together. We did not know Clark/Ellis would be this good.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

I'll never consider 9 losses to be overachieving in our program. Especially with 18 AAC games. But I'm glad we seem to have come out on the other side and are playing well at the right time.

 

[rogerOH]

I think the low points of this season were caused by players not knowing exactly their role. I think they have settled in now and next year I think it will be one of Cronin's best teams

 

[Patrick Bateman]

Team more talented as a whole than last year. We only really lost SK, I'll rather have Clark/Ellis over JJ/rubles.

Only lost SK? We also lost defensive player of conference and coach of conference for all of AAC play and a 5 star recruit

 

[Cin City]

Only lost SK? We also lost defensive player of conference and coach of conference for all of AAC play and a 5 star recruit

I'm with Bateman

 

[bearcat jeff]

Lost a ton of leadership on top of it all. Thought they'd make the tournament but probably be one and done. Am on record saying I believe the next two years could be special seasons. Really believe this team has a chance to be very good next season. Top 10 good if they can get steady production at the three.

 

[Robert]

Only lost SK? We also lost defensive player of conference and coach of conference for all of AAC play and a 5 star recruit

We lost a ton of leadership, but I agree with the other poster that we are more talented save for SK.

Ellis = JJ
Clark > Rubles
Cobb > Guyn
DeBerry > Lawrence

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Lost a ton of leadership on top of it all. Thought they'd make the tournament but probably be one and done. Am on record saying I believe the next two years could be special seasons. Really believe this team has a chance to be very good next season. Top 10 good if they can get steady production at the three.

I pretty much expect to go 27-4 next year.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

I pretty much expect to go 27-4 next year.

I'd like to win the regular season and conference tournament. That is something we haven't done in more than a decade.

 

[Bulldog01]

Only lost SK? We also lost defensive player of conference and coach of conference for all of AAC play and a 5 star recruit

Ellis should win defensive player of year this year. Coach still around team 24/7. I liked Lawrence but be real Clark performance is 10x better. Cobb and DeBerry have played roles NOBODY on last year team could play.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

Ellis should win defensive player of year this year. Coach still around team 24/7. I liked Lawrence but be real Clark performance is 10x better. Cobb and DeBerry have played roles NOBODY on last year team could play.

Cronin is not present at games or practices (drills), not even close to 24/7.

Clark is not 6'10". If JL embraced role, no telling how good he could have been. KJ was mini cobb in some big wins last year. Bishop also much more consistent and apparently healthier last year.

Bottom line, we lost a lot more than just SK. We lost two 4 year seniors who had leadership and played majority of career in BEast and coach of year for majority of season.

 

[#BearcatNation]

We lost a ton of leadership, but I agree with the other poster that we are more talented save for SK.

Ellis = JJ
Clark > Rubles
Cobb > Guyn
DeBerry > Lawrence

Ehhhh. I agree with everything else, but JJ was better than Ellis IMO. Really the only thing I think Ellis is better at is free throws. Scoring, rebounds, blocks, steals, fewer TOs, etc. favor JJ.

That said, Ellis has another year, so he could certainly leap him next year.

 

[CincyForLife6]

Ehhhh. I agree with everything else, but JJ was better than Ellis IMO. Really the only thing I think Ellis is better at is free throws. Scoring, rebounds, blocks, steals, fewer TOs, etc. favor JJ.

That said, Ellis has another year, so he could certainly leap him next year.

I disagree with the scoring, I think ellis has a better jump shot and can create for a shot better than JJ, how many 20 point games did JJ have? JJ was a better passer and was smarter with scoring though, knew when to pass and when to try to score. He was much stronger with the ball too. Point wise, I think ellis can get more, but that's also from free throws which for a big man, is really good at. I think JJ is a way better shot blocker too, Ellis has too many goaltends.

 

[coachpipe]

I disagree with the scoring, I think ellis has a better jump shot and can create for a shot better than JJ, how many 20 point games did JJ have? JJ was a better passer and was smarter with scoring though, knew when to pass and when to try to score. He was much stronger with the ball too. Point wise, I think ellis can get more, but that's also from free throws which for a big man, is really good at. I think JJ is a way better shot blocker too, Ellis has too many goaltends.

I was just mentioning this yesterday to a friend and im on the opposite side. I think JJ tried to force shots alot. Idk, I just felt when he got the ball low in the post he would try and beat his man(obviously) but when the guy guessed the right direction JJ wanted to go instead of a pump fake, post move(which he didnt really have any) or kick out, it seemed he would try and force a layup. Hence all the missed layups we had last year.

 

[BearcatSpaniard513]

Ehhhh. I agree with everything else, but JJ was better than Ellis IMO. Really the only thing I think Ellis is better at is free throws. Scoring, rebounds, blocks, steals, fewer TOs, etc. favor JJ.

That said, Ellis has another year, so he could certainly leap him next year.

A good drinking game is to do a shot every time Ellis travels or goal tends...

 

[CincyForLife6]

And if we are talking about expectations for next season, they shouldn't lose more than 3-5 games. I expect Top 10 most of the season. And I think if we don't get to at least the Elite Eight then it would be a dissapointment. This team has all the tools and experience. Three point shooting (Cobb, Troy, Kj, maybe Evans depending on how good he is)
Defense (Whole team)
Good clutch free throw shooters (Same as 3 point shooters)
Shot blockers (Ellis, Clark, Deberry, Shaq sometimes, and maybe trey Scott if he doesn't red shirt)
True point guard(s) who can handle the ball and handle full court pressure and can run the offense (Troy, Cobb, maybe Justing Jennifer depending in how well he can be as a freshman)
Rebounding (Ellis, Clark, Shaq, Deberry, and all the guards can get rebounds)
Very talented and gifted athletes (for highlight plays of course) (Shaq, Clark, Ellis, Jacob Evans)
And Leadership (Troy, Kj, Shaq) I say those three because they all have been in the program the longest and played in a ton of big games and even are leaders this year.
Overall, I just think next years team will be all filled with players who can contribute something, no dead weights. And we would have so much talent at each position, that if one person is having an off game we could just bring in another guy who can contribute. I think our offense will be great, and we will cut down big time on the TO's. We have guys who can post up and shoot threes and drive to create their own shot. We have multiple guys who are able to have a big break out game and get 20-26 points (Cobb, Troy,Shaq, Ellis, and I even think Clark may have 1 or 2) ... I just think from every level, we are solid. I don't see any spot or area to the game where we would lack to have it or it would be considered bad (Example; our offense the past seasons) ... I have really high hopes for next season, and I expect to be one of the best teams in the country next season. That is of course if we stay away from injuries.

 

[CincyForLife6]

I was just mentioning this yesterday to a friend and im on the opposite side. I think JJ tried to force shots alot. Idk, I just felt when he got the ball low in the post he would try and beat his man(obviously) but when the guy guessed the right direction JJ wanted to go instead of a pump fake, post move(which he didnt really have any) or kick out, it seemed he would try and force a layup. Hence all the missed layups we had last year.

Yeah, I can agree with this in a way,but I don't think he was like that all the time and in every game, but he did have quite a few over average moments when he was a little too aggressive

 

[BearcatSpaniard513]

And if we are talking about expectations for next season, they shouldn't lose more than 3-5 games. I expect Top 10 most of the season. And I think if we don't get to at least the Elite Eight then it would be a dissapointment. This team has all the tools and experience. Three point shooting (Cobb, Troy, Kj, maybe Evans depending on how good he is)
Defense (Whole team)
Good clutch free throw shooters (Same as 3 point shooters)
Shot blockers (Ellis, Clark, Deberry, Shaq sometimes, and maybe trey Scott if he doesn't red shirt)
True point guard(s) who can handle the ball and handle full court pressure and can run the offense (Troy, Cobb, maybe Justing Jennifer depending in how well he can be as a freshman)
Rebounding (Ellis, Clark, Shaq, Deberry, and all the guards can get rebounds)
Very talented and gifted athletes (for highlight plays of course) (Shaq, Clark, Ellis, Jacob Evans)
And Leadership (Troy, Kj, Shaq) I say those three because they all have been in the program the longest and played in a ton of big games and even are leaders this year.
Overall, I just think next years team will be all filled with players who can contribute something, no dead weights. And we would have so much talent at each position, that if one person is having an off game we could just bring in another guy who can contribute. I think our offense will be great, and we will cut down big time on the TO's. We have guys who can post up and shoot threes and drive to create their own shot. We have multiple guys who are able to have a big break out game and get 20-26 points (Cobb, Troy,Shaq, Ellis, and I even think Clark may have 1 or 2) ... I just think from every level, we are solid. I don't see any spot or area to the game where we would lack to have it or it would be considered bad (Example; our offense the past seasons) ... I have really high hopes for next season, and I expect to be one of the best teams in the country next season. That is of course if we stay away from injuries.

I agree and we should have these high expectations. We only lose Sanders and bring in some solid talent to fill in. Anything less than Sweet 16 would be a disappointment IMO.