Team Capsule by NBE Basketball

[bearcat jeff]

2011-2012 BIG EAST BASKETBALL TEAM CAPSULE: CINCINNATI


August 8, 2011 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment

Cincinnati Bearcats
Head Coach: Mick Cronin (6th year at Cincinnati, 86-76 record)
2010-2011: 11-7 BIG EAST, 26-9 overall, NCAA 2nd Round

Returning Players:
- Sr. C/PF Yancy Gates (11.9 ppg, 6.9 rpg)
- Sr. G Dion Dixon (11.6 ppg)
- Jr. G Cashmere Wright (8.9 ppg, 3.9 apg)
- Jr. G JaQuon Parker (1.5 ppg)
- So. G/F Sean Kilpatrick (9.7 ppg)
- So. F Justin Jackson (2.5 ppg)
- rFR C Kelvin Gaines

Incoming Players:
- Jr. C/PF Cheikh Mbodj, (Grayson County College, TX)
- Fr. F Shaquille Thomas (Montclair, NJ)
- Fr. G/F Jermaine Sanders (New York, NY)
- Fr. G Jeremiah Davis (Muncie, IN)
- Fr. G Ge’Lawn Guyn (Georgetown, KY)
- Fr. F Octavius Ellis (Memphis, TN)

Players Moved On:
- Rashad Bishop (Graduation)
- Larry Davis (Graduation)
- Anthony McClain (Graduation)
- Darnell Wilks (Graduation)
- Ibrahima Thomas (Graduation)
- Eddie Tyree (Graduation)

Stat Notes:
- Despite losing six seniors, the Bearcats return their top four scorers from last season.
- Last year’s trip to the NCAA Tournament was their first time in the big dance since 2005.

Star Watch:
- Yancy Gates drew the ire of Cronin at times last season for not always playing his hardest but there’s no denying the talent of the senior big man. Gates will have to anchor the frontcourt for the Bearcats and provide the inside scoring punch and rebounding they need.

Newcomer to Watch:
- If he qualifies academically, look for Shaquille Thomas to be one of the first off the bench to bring his athleticism to the wing position and maybe even get some time at the four.

Notes: UC will play in the Global Sports Shootout along with Marshall, Alabama State, Jacksonville State and Northwestern State. Also on the non-league schedule are contests at Georgia (12/2 – Big East/SEC Challenge), at Xavier (12/10) and against Oklahoma.

http://www.nbebasketball.com/w3/2011-0808/2011-2012-big-east-basketball-team-capsule-cincinnati/

 

[ready2go]

With,

The Bengals looking atrocious.

My Buckeyes along with the rest of College Football close to being put on the timeout chair,

I must say I'm looking forward to this Bearcat Basketball Season.

Valuable experience was provided last year. Lets hope they can build off of that

 

[bearcat jeff]

I always look forward to the season. The Basketball Bearcats are my favorite sports team hands down. I'm a huge Bengals and Reds fan. Love UC and OSU football, but LOVE the Bearcat basketball team. Did I mention I hate Xavier?

With Shaq's situation Parker's contribution becomes even more important. Depth at the 3 will take a huge hit if he can't play.

 

[ready2go]

I always look forward to the season. The Basketball Bearcats are my favorite sports team hands down. I'm a huge Bengals and Reds fan. Love UC and OSU football, but LOVE the Bearcat basketball team. Did I mention I hate Xavier?

With Shaq's situation Parker's contribution becomes even more important. Depth at the 3 will take a huge hit if he can't play.

Our hatred for X is mutual.

Even if Shaq can't play I look for others to step up even if they arent a 3. Believe Justin Jackson will be like Eric Hicks, finding ways to produce. Killa will be a consistent scorer. Gates hopefully has become more assertive. Cash gets the most out of each possession.

But you are right. If Parker can step up, I look for a very good season

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

Our hatred for X is mutual.

Even if Shaq can't play I look for others to step up even if they arent a 3. Believe Justin Jackson will be like Eric Hicks, finding ways to produce. Killa will be a consistent scorer. Gates hopefully has become more assertive. Cash gets the most out of each possession.

But you are right. If Parker can step up, I look for a very good season

In major college basketball you must have key contributing veterans off your bench. Parker producing isn't a luxury, it is a necessity. I have 2 concerns this year: 1 is lack of proven guy off the bench and other is low post depth. I think UC is definitely a top 25 team when things go right, I only fear that on the road in the Big East schedule losing some winnable games due to these deficiencies.

 

[JasonS]

In major college basketball you must have key contributing veterans off your bench. Parker producing isn't a luxury, it is a necessity. I have 2 concerns this year: 1 is lack of proven guy off the bench and other is low post depth. I think UC is definitely a top 25 team when things go right, I only fear that on the road in the Big East schedule losing some winnable games due to these deficiencies.

Your concerns are valid. There are a couple things that trump those concerns though. One is experience, which this team has. They return their top 4 scorers, who are also good solid Big East caliber players, which is a luxury Mick hasn't really had. The second is urgency. Yancy and Dixon are seniors this year and Cash is a junior. I think the light switch really turned on for Yancy last year and it was noticable during the NCAA tournament game against UCONN and his reaction after the game.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

Your concerns are valid. There are a couple things that trump those concerns though. One is experience, which this team has. They return their top 4 scorers, who are also good solid Big East caliber players, which is a luxury Mick hasn't really had. The second is urgency. Yancy and Dixon are seniors this year and Cash is a junior. I think the light switch really turned on for Yancy last year and it was noticable during the NCAA tournament game against UCONN and his reaction after the game.

Don't get me wrong, the starting 5 will be extremely good. If you think back to last year, a lot of games were wonwith a change of pace energy guy coming off the bench (like Larry Davis or Darnell Wilks). This was a very underrated part of last years team. I think think this year they will be much more of a conventional team with the first 5 playing most minutes with a much shorter rotation. While the guys will be better, it is an advantage that may be lost, unless the Freshman really step up (I don't want to expect too much out of them).

 

[JasonS]

Don't get me wrong, the starting 5 will be extremely good. If you think back to last year, a lot of games were wonwith a change of pace energy guy coming off the bench (like Larry Davis or Darnell Wilks). This was a very underrated part of last years team. I think think this year they will be much more of a conventional team with the first 5 playing most minutes with a much shorter rotation. While the guys will be better, it is an advantage that may be lost, unless the Freshman really step up (I don't want to expect too much out of them).

That's fair. I think the wild card in the post is Gaines. He has been in the program but hasn't played an actual game yet. If he can give 10 solid minutes a game, the perceived short low post rotation could be alright.

As for the freshmen, I don't think we will see one freshman be consistently good every night. That is where Mick will make his money this year. Figuring out which buttons to push and who is giving solid minutes each night.

 

[bearcat jeff]

That's fair. I think the wild card in the post is Gaines. He has been in the program but hasn't played an actual game yet. If he can give 10 solid minutes a game, the perceived short low post rotation could be alright.

As for the freshmen, I don't think we will see one freshman be consistently good every night. That is where Mick will make his money this year. Figuring out which buttons to push and who is giving solid minutes each night.

I believe you'll see two frosh play major minutes. One at the point and one on the wing at the 3 or 2. Others may play spot minutes but Mick will go with his vets and rightfully so. The BEast is not a league where young teams excel.