Not sure who you're directing that recruiting comment toward. I agree with you, we've proven that you can recruit very well in a mid-major conference. Just ask Gonzaga, VCU, Xavier, Butler, Wichita, SDSU, Dayton, etc.
State of the team
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Not sure who you're directing that recruiting comment toward. I agree with you, we've proven that you can recruit very well in a mid-major conference. Just ask Gonzaga, VCU, Xavier, Butler, Wichita, SDSU, Dayton, etc.
BearcatFanatic
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I think recruiting is on the rise, Ellis Deberry Cobb some of our best jucos in recent years and Clark one of our best frosh in years. Moore is a ? but I see potential. Next years class so far probably has 3 first team all state players( I know some are lower state divisions). Success plus going after some players in less populated areas (Caupain, Clark, Scott) has this teams talent level much higher than in previous Cronin years.
JackBauer151
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Conference affiliation doesnt typically effect recruiting directly. Im sure some kids dreamed of playing in the Big East back when it was actually the Big East but I dont think UC has lost on recruits because they are in the American. When I spoke about the conference I was talking about the amount of money we get from the conference. I think the American will pay us 2.5 million this year if I remember correctly. I saw an article where the new TV deal for the Big 10 might possibly pay each team 45 million. HOW THE HELL CAN WE KEEP UP WITH SHIT LIKE THAT GOING ON? I maintain our recruiting is not elite because so many other schools around us have drastically improved while we stayed in neutral. We need a basketball players lounge and new locker room. We need a new fan friendly arena. We need to get Mick a plane. We need to invest big time in our program if we expect to keep up with the big boys. When we are getting 2.5 million and other programs are getting 45 then we have a real problem going forward.
WAITE HOYT 2
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Is this really still a debate. We have won 20 games 5 straight seasons and been to the Dance 5 straight years. It's laughable to debate what represents a great program because that is different for each person apparently. What is the criteria? For many it would be different. If winning is the ultimate we haven't been shit since the early 60's. Is it OK to lose as long as you didn't do it early? If winning is the goal how can getting close be good?
Let's enjoy the season. It has exceeded most people's expectation to this point while over coming many obstacles. Attendance has risen again and program improvements are being implemented.
Let's enjoy the season. It has exceeded most people's expectation to this point while over coming many obstacles. Attendance has risen again and program improvements are being implemented.
[email protected]
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Great post!. Some expectations I've been hearing are little ridiculous to say the least. We are moving ahead. Also 4 losses for next year is very lofty as well.
jacobkdoyle
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You're damn right it's lofty. But I wouldn't put that on this team next year if I didn't think they had it in them. Shoot, a team like Villanova was 29-2 this year in a much harder conference. I think it is more than fair to hope for twice as many losses as that with 18 AAC games (I think our conference should improve next year). If we don't go 27-4 next year with Mick back, the entire team back besides Sanders, and our incoming recruits...then when are we ever going to accomplish something like that? If we're anything like we've been the last 5 games next year, we aren't dropping the Nebraska, ECU, Tulane, Xavier type games. I refuse to celebrate 20 wins. That's peanuts in a 30 something game season. I'm ready for a 30 win year with conference and NCAA tourney games included.
Bearcat_NTS
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We only lost 5 regular season games last year.
bearcat jeff
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Is it advancing like the Final 4 and Ellie 8 teams up to 96 or is it OK to lose the first weekend as long as your highly ranked throughout the year?
I am not satisfied with where the program is but I absolutely am proud to be one of a handful of schools on the verge of a fifth straight trip to the National Championship Tournament. The program is heading in the right direction.
This thread is about the state of the program. Today, we don't have either senario mentioned above Generally speaking, we're not highly ranked anymore, and we've obviously not had tournament success either. We just had a senior day, against a long time rival, with the NCAA on the line, and we didn't even have a sellout. We've had problems with recruits getting suspended and leaving the program. We're excited that attendance averaged 9300 per game, when we once had many seasons where we never had a single game that low. We've had 5 straight years of making the tournament, but two straight years of losing in the 1st round...including last year against a much lower seed Ivy League team. This year we will probably be expected to lose in the 1st round again. We've been dropped from a great conference and landed in a crap conference. And, on top of all of that, we've decided to throw all the money at Football. To me, all this doesn't seem like we're headed in the right direction.
Next year can greatly change this outlook. On paper, we look very good. We need a huge regular season, and a big postseason. The big test will then be 2016. How will we move forward after losing a bunch of key players to graduation? If we move on without a big dropoff, then we'll be where we need to be and the state of the program will look much better.
WAITE HOYT 2
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this program was in total rebuild mode in a different era and time. While player suspensions have occurred the level of accountability may be much higher. Graduation rate has improved. Player transfers issues were father illness,playing time and academic accountability.Players transferring is a growing trend in college BB. WE left the BE when it went non football because financially it made no sense to stay. If we get in a power 5 conference it will be because of Football. Renovation to the Shoe is coming. Through all issues which have been beat to death on here we are making strides on the court. Has it been slow. Yes! Has it been steady under the circumstances, yes. There probably isn't a handful of coaches in America who we could have afforded or who would have taken the job much less delivered the results. That's not even taking into account his willingness to stay when others came calling. Mick and staff are delivering in a time as you pointed out are very difficult financially. If the University and fan base do their part he will continue to grow the program. If you want to be upset that we aren't what we used to be that certainly is your right but keep in mind the coach is far from the problem. Fact is he is a bright light in what could of been a far worse situation. He has made the best out of a huge shit sandwich he inherited and I for one would have hated to see where we would have been without him. Like you I want more and I think he is the guy to deliver it.
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bearcat jeff
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I would contend that after 5 straight NCAA appearances the state of the program is fine. We can argue and debate the other things that determine success (and I will likely agree on them i.e. attendance, rankings, league championships) but 5 straight NCAA appearances say you are reloading year after year and the state of your program is fine.
Cincinnati has appeared in the NCAA Tournament 28 times and 5 of those, including this season, has been the past 5 years. There are 3 periods in UC history of 5 or more straight trips to the NCAA Tournament, '58-'63, '92-2005 and now . This is the third longest sustained run in program history and with every major contributor returning tying the second longest tournament run in program history is highly likely. (They went to the tournament 3 straight times in the mid 70's).
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#BearcatNation
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This thread is such a buzzkill when considering how great we've looked lately. Not a fan of the timing.
bearcat jeff
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One of my disappointments of this board is how some will always seek to minimize whatever happens for this team under the current Head Coach and staff. As I stated above this program is in the 3rd longest streak in program history of NCAA Tournament runs and they should be celebrated.
This team lost it's 3 best players, the 2nd leading scorer in program history. Brought on 7 newcomers, complete new starting line up, lost it's head coach for the season and 4 players from the roster for varying reasons and degrees of time, and still are poised to make a 5th straight trip to the NCAA. I think it's been a successful season already and I'm very proud of the team.
In all fairness, you really can't compare periods of consecutive NCAA appearances. Prior to 64 or 66 teams getting in is really not applicable except to point out how incredible the accomplishment was in the 50s and 60s. There are some average programs with longer streaks than us, some with the same streak, and some just one behind us. The streak is nice, but not an indicator that the state of the program is really good. The system, because we're up to 68 teams now, makes it far easier to claim you're reloading. Your definition of reloading is probably a little softer than mine.
Anyway, we all agree that the team for 2015-2016 should possibly be special and if that holds true, it will be difficult for anyone to argue that the state of the program is anything short of solid. Next year will be 6 straight years to the tourney and hopefully making some noise in the tourney. And, let's not forget this year's team is on the upswing and might still be able to add their stamp on this state of the program argument. We haven't been able to figure them out all season. They may have a few pleasant surprises still left in them.
I hear you. Take into account also that college basketball as a whole is down this year. going to tournament losing every year first weekend means nothing to recruits. Go ask the top 10 high school basketball players in city to name our starting line up.
Jeff, the truth is, there are just as many who have the same disappointment as you, but for the exact opposite reason. We're discussing the state of the program in a mature and well thought out manner. People are making great points, and nobody has gotten personal....until your post above. Most of the people who have different opinions than you are banned or run off. Since I'm the only one stating a different viewpoint here, why didn't you just use my name? What does making a statement like, "Some will always seek to minimize...." have to do with the state of the program? I've made it clear what it will take for me to be happy with the state of the program. When we get there, I'll say it. As I've said, there's a pretty good chance I'll be singing that tune by the end of the next year or two. Time will tell.
jacobkdoyle
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To be fair, the thread is called "State of the Program" in a year where we have 9 losses. Not everyone considers that overachieving, especially when you consider the teams we've lost to. I do agree that we've looked great lately. I'm going to focus on the rest of thus season, next season, and 2016 recruiting. Those are the things that are important to me in the foreseeable future.
jacobkdoyle
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It seems a little strange to me that someone like L-T has high standards for the program, but is made to feel like he needs to apologize for it (I'm not getting into a whole "agenda" thing bc this is the right thread to share how YOU feel about the program). So what's with the inferiority complex in our fan base? All these reasons why we can't, and why we don't. Always reading about how we're getting screwed for playing this team, being scared of that team, 4 losses next year is unrealistic, and on and on. That's the buzz kill to me. The attitude that the deck is always stacked against us. I am VERY hopeful for the rest of the season and beyond...but I'm also not going to dismiss anything and everything that could be construed as negative. Bc I have standards too, and I'm not afraid to admit when they aren't being met. We're playing well now. Let's hope we can keep that momentum going through next season on the floor and recruiting-wise. The future of the program depends on it.
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BearcatSpaniard513
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If UConn can do it without 1 and done players, so can we. UK already won the 2015 championship in my eyes. I hope I'm wrong and they lose round 2, but we'll see. Next year could be the year it happens. If they don't do it then, it won't be the end of Mick, the program, the world, etc. The beauty of not having a 7 game playoff system is that anyone can get hot at the right time and do it. Making it 5 years in a row is one step closer to accomplishing that goal. I'm ready for some tourney runs and we should expect them at this point. First round losses happen to the best programs out there, but those same teams make the Elite 8, Final 4, etc. I'm ready to see some higher rated recruits, tourney runs and less home losses. We should not lose at home to ANYONE. Especially Tulane