Some of you have seen me post else where on this subject but I'll give my thoughts here as well. I have been an avid Mick supporter and was estactic over the hiring. In my opinion he has done a very good job, under extreme circumstances, of rebuilding the foundation of this basketball program. The image of the institution has improved. The talent level of the players has improved with each class. Nobody was going to come to U.C. under the circumstances, replacing a local legend and the devastation left by the admin on a mission, so Mick deserves respect and credit for doing so. He has almost been in a no win situation, because it was obvious it was going to take time to win.
Having said that, I am one who does believe it is time to make a change. Mick Cronin has not shown the intangibles it takes to raise a team above it's talent level. The offensive flow is horrific, effort is inconsistent, and there have been no locker room leaders developed that carry his vision to the floor. I get the argument that theorectically it would set the program back. I disagree. There will be a better crop of coaches apply for this position because of what Mick Cronin has done. After next season there will be 5 scholly's open and a new coach would have a year to recruit. Hire the right guy and the players will stay. It is imperative for this program to make the NCAA tournament by next season to be competitive recruiting into the future. We have witnessed another end of season collapse that has this team on the outside looking in and Mick's road record is terrible.
As a program guy I will support whoever is coach and cheer the Cats with all I have. My feeling is Mick has done all he is capable of doing and it's time to hire a master carpenter to build on the foundation Mick has laid. In my opinion he is not the guy to take this program to the next level. In spite of all the good he has done it is time for him to leave, and for the program to move on.
