Team Thoughts

[UCBearcats]

I see

Well hopefully we can get a big man who needs work at the defensive end for once and not have to develop them offensively (Mobdj, Gaines, David, even jump shooting Gates).... Lawrence! I want an animal in the paint. Please

From what I've seen of Lawrence on tape he's not much of a post player/banger. He seems to fit the mold of athletic slasher and is probably suited for a 3 role if he reaches the NBA.

I could be wayyyy off on that because I don't tend to pay too much attention to recruits until they get here. High School to college is a big jump.

 

[ready2go]

From what I've seen of Lawrence on tape he's not much of a post player/banger. He seems to fit the mold of athletic slasher and is probably suited for a 3 role if he reaches the NBA.

I could be wayyyy off on that because I don't tend to pay too much attention to recruits until they get here. High School to college is a big jump.

Maybe like an Anthony Davis?? or is that wishful thinking...

 

[westsidecat]

From what I've seen of Lawrence on tape he's not much of a post player/banger. He seems to fit the mold of athletic slasher and is probably suited for a 3 role if he reaches the NBA.

I could be wayyyy off on that because I don't tend to pay too much attention to recruits until they get here. High School to college is a big jump.

no, i think that's pretty spot on.

his ball handling skills is one thing that jumps out to me.

 

[Bearcat04]

[/B]
That was in regard to the just recruting athletes comment from someone else.

Those guys may not have won us games in the tourny, but they were pretty damn good. It was exciting to watch the post player actually present a post move while trying to tear the rim off the backboard! It was amaing watching our pg's dish the bball. It was relieving knowing that we had a zone buster. It was energizing watching our guys fly from the rafters. I want that excitement back in the Nati! And no, this is not about Bob Huggins. I am a Cincinnati fan, not a Huggins fan

Huge difference between the post players on those teams and now. I completely agree. We do need to get back to having skilled bigs that can post up and score. Hopefully Strickland is a start.

 

[Bearcat04]

Kind of a loaded stat don't you think? Not as many opportunities to beat a higher seeded team when you're playing in the tourney as a 1 2 or 3 seed.

Obviously that was Huggs biggest downfall here at UC, his teams were generally a let down come March.

There are opportunities if you get to the second week of the tournament.

 

[Bearcat04]

Several of those recuits were Mick recruits. He pushed Logan to Huggs who did not initially want him.

People can say all they want about this that or the other but CUSA was not the BEast and Huggins never beat a higher seed in the tournament. He did less with a lot of talent over 16 years. Huggins have a really good basketball staff with guys like Loyer and Cronin. I think Mick needs to revamp this staff and add teachers of the game and they need to reevaluate the offseason and what they have players do to improve their skill set.

I remember hearing a couple times that Mick wanted to upgrade his staff, but there wasn't enough money to do so. I guess Mick is hoping Larry Davis can find another Tim Duncan.

 

[UCalum08]

I remember hearing a couple times that Mick wanted to upgrade his staff, but there wasn't enough money to do so. I guess Mick is hoping Larry Davis can find another Tim Duncan.

I've heard Cronin say multiple times he has the best staff out of anyone in college basketball. Doesn't sound like he really wanted to add or get rid of anyone. Sometimes I beg to differ with the lack of player development.

 

[UCBearcats]

I've heard Cronin say multiple times he has the best staff out of anyone in college basketball. Doesn't sound like he really wanted to add or get rid of anyone. Sometimes I beg to differ with the lack of player development.

Can you provide us with an example of a player who has been developed under Mick on the offensive side of the ball? Outside of the natural development that a player undergoes simply by transitioning from High School to College? All players will develop on their own...they get older, stronger, play against tougher competition and spend more time focusing on their game year round.

Name one example of an instance where Mick and staff have taken a player who had a raw offensive skill set and greatly improved that player.

Maybe there is one, nothing comes to mind.......

Now I will credit Mick for teaching kids defense, he did a great job with Rashad Bishop in that regard.

 

[TheLongHaul]

Huge difference between the post players on those teams and now. I completely agree. We do need to get back to having skilled bigs that can post up and score. Hopefully Strickland is a start.

I hope Strickland is that player because Mick passed on Devin Williams. He was a skilled big man but was considered undersized and we all know that Mick does not like undersized bigs.

 

[UCalum08]

Can you provide us with an example of a player who has been developed under Mick on the offensive side of the ball? Outside of the natural development that a player undergoes simply by transitioning from High School to College? All players will develop on their own...they get older, stronger, play against tougher competition and spend more time focusing on their game year round.

Name one example of an instance where Mick and staff have taken a player who had a raw offensive skill set and greatly improved that player.

Maybe there is one, nothing comes to mind.......

Now I will credit Mick for teaching kids defense, he did a great job with Rashad Bishop in that regard.

I agree you, that's why I said what said. I can not think of one player that the coaches have worked with and made him a better offensive player. Not one. Sure its good to develop defense but you also naturally learn and get better with having experience on the college level.

 

[bearcat jeff]

Recruiting has become too much about size, speed and athleticism and not enough about guy knowing how to play the game. I understand you need the size, speed and ath, to play high D1 ball but you have to know how to score and what to do on the court as well.

 

[UCalum08]

Recruiting has become too much about size, speed and athleticism and not enough about guy knowing how to play the game. I understand you need the size, speed and ath, to play high D1 ball but you have to know how to score and what to do on the court as well.

Agreed and its very true especially in our situation. How many time are we saying, let's wait til his junior year and see him turn the corner and okay better. Then you their junior year comes and we're all waiting for that to happen and it never does...its somewhat of an alarming trend.

 

[HarryBosch]

Thanks! I did forget about Max and Hicks. All the above names are more defense minded bigs except for Danny. He in my memory was the only go to big we had. Doring his years we didn't have a good pg. Yancy had all the tools but no drive. I don't know what type of offense you can rum with this team. They make so many bone head plays, I don't a motion offense can work. I hope he figures out something.

Hell, Fletch, Bobby Brannen, Art Long, and maybe even Donald Little were better than any of the big men Mick has brought in with the possible exception of Yancy.

 

[CaptDale]

Recruiting has become too much about size, speed and athleticism and not enough about guy knowing how to play the game. I understand you need the size, speed and ath, to play high D1 ball but you have to know how to score and what to do on the court as well.

Part of being a good recruiter is having the ability to foresee potential in your recruit. It's not all cut and dried. Think back to Tim Duncan. But, we need someone to school the recruit in how to play D1, especially if the recruit is 6"9'' or over. Plus, a HS recruit may not be done growing yet - something to be taken into account. While it may not be possible to turn a guard a non-turnover PG/great ball-handler over one summer, teaching a big to be in the right position and how to move with/without the ball can be taught through practice and proper tutelage (see Andrew Bynum + Kareem as his instructor). From raw HS to pro. Not an overnight phenom, but it worked. It CAN be done!
Good article:
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/cincin...-ncaab.html;_ylt=AulTiAnaQK1h7Bos9XpsftAL07YF

 

[bearcat jeff]

Part of being a good recruiter is having the ability to foresee potential in your recruit. It's not all cut and dried. Think back to Tim Duncan. But, we need someone to school the recruit in how to play D1, especially if the recruit is 6"9'' or over. Plus, a HS recruit may not be done growing yet - something to be taken into account. While it may not be possible to turn a guard a non-turnover PG/great ball-handler over one summer, teaching a big to be in the right position and how to move with/without the ball can be taught through practice and proper tutelage (see Andrew Bynum + Kareem as his instructor). From raw HS to pro. Not an overnight phenom, but it worked. It CAN be done!
Good article:
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/cincin...-ncaab.html;_ylt=AulTiAnaQK1h7Bos9XpsftAL07YF

No offense, but I love how people keep bringing Tim Duncan up. Tim Duncan is a hall of famer. He is a rare talent, but is a great example of basketball iq and fundamentals and what they can do for a player and his career.

 

[Bearcat04]

No offense, but I love how people keep bringing Tim Duncan up. Tim Duncan is a hall of famer. He is a rare talent, but is a great example of basketball iq and fundamentals and what they can do for a player and his career.

I brought up Tim Duncan because Larry Davis found him and helped bring him to Wake Forest.

http://www.gobearcats.com/blog/2013/02/the-never-ending-search-for-the-next-tim-duncan.html

 

[bearcat jeff]

Hey I'm not trying to knock this program. I love it and as earlier stated, I am still a Mick Cronin supporter. I've met and talked to Coach Davis and he's a nice guy and good recruiter. Like many of us my emotions rise up when things aen't going well because for 40 years I've been emotionally invested in the team. My points are valid, but I was wrong to single a coach out like I did. Two seasons ago this team surprised everyone by winning 26 games. Last season they were a sweet 16 unit. Obviously, there are many things right going on in the program as well.

 

[rallie25]

Hell, Fletch, Bobby Brannen, Art Long, and maybe even Donald Little were better than any of the big men Mick has brought in with the possible exception of Yancy.

LOL! You are right! All of the guys you mention will battle hard in the post.

 

[Eastside_J]

Hell, Fletch, Bobby Brannen, Art Long, and maybe even Donald Little were better than any of the big men Mick has brought in with the possible exception of Yancy.

If you think Fletch, Brannen, Long or Little would have been capable of putting up anything close to the numbers Yancy did in the BE, IMO you are completely mistaken.

Now Kenyon, Fortson, Corie, Maxiell - different story.

 

[CaptDale]

No offense, but I love how people keep bringing Tim Duncan up. Tim Duncan is a hall of famer. He is a rare talent, but is a great example of basketball iq and fundamentals and what they can do for a player and his career.

None taken. I'm just saying he was raw but somebody saw potential there and recruited him. It can be done with good coaching followup. Even Kelvin?