bearcat jeff
Hoops Moderator
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2010
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Looking at the future of this team in terms of returnees and incoming talent, you have to like what you see. They will return about as solid a core of players as any team in the Big East. Cash has had his knee cleaned out and there's nothing seriously wrong with him so that's great news. He along with Gates and Dixon gives you three guys in their fourth year in the program and all have played significant parts in the Cats improving every year. Add in Sean Kilpatrick entering his third year and Justin Jackson, who played good minutes as a freshman, and you have an experienced top five players.
Cincinnati needs to add a solid JUCO big man that can play fifteen minutes a game, play defense and rebound. God's Gift would be a perfect fit for this role and he could win the starting spot next to Yancy Gates in the low post. His energy would fit the Bearcat's style of play perfectly. Physically and athletically he will be fine in the Big East and if signed will have the added benefit of lifting in Cincinnati over the summer. There are other options, but in my opinion GG is the perfect fit for the needs of this team. His visit this weekend is something we should all watch very close. Of the players currently signed, there is nobody physically capable of stepping in and playing. Signing somebody to do so is priority number one.
Whoever Mick signs to fill the low post hole, the Bearcats are going to need Kelvin Gaines to be able to play. KG is the acknowledged most athletic big man on the roster this season. He has had special attention and teaching over the past year and is a hard worker. His rebounding and shot blocking off the bench could really help this team. UConn has been very good over a number of years in part because they make it difficult to score in the paint. With Gates, Jackson, and Gaines all able to block shots I look for the Bearcats low post defense to be tough to score on as well.
It seems like a long time since UC has had a legitimate deep threat. what would have a Darnell Burton type player have meant to this team? We've seen far to many wide open three pointers missed. To be an elite team you have to be able to hit open shots.
Dion Dixon, Sean Kilpatrick and Cashmere Wright are all able to hit from outside, but neither have shown the ability to do it with consistency. Jaquon Parker shot under 20% in a limited role this past season from beyond the arc. I expect to see Sean Kilpatrick be a much more consistent outside shooter next season. He'll put the work in to get better, but he's not a pure shooter. Hopefully Dixon can at least duplicate his junior season, and Cash has the tools to be very good if he can stay healthy for a full season. The fact is, Cash, Dixon, and SK all have games that are more suited to attacking and shooting selective 3 point shots. Having a guy on the wing that defenses can't leave alone will make all of them better by helping to open driving lanes.
I do believe that the additions of Jeremiah Davis, and especially Jermaine Sanders can be a help in this area. Sanders shot 45% from three point range and has a natural silky smooth shot. In high school he played a lot in the post, but will be on the wing once he arrives on campus. I think he'll flourish by being exclusively on the wing. 'Maine needs to slim up and add lean muscle over the spring and summer. He has good physical size and just needs to refine it. The added quickness will help him on both sides of the ball.
Jeremiah Davis can shoot the ball as well. He is more of a stand still shooter but can knock down an open look. If he can shoot consistenly it could give him the edge earning back up minutes at the point.
Offensively the Bearcats could be very good if they can adequately fill these two needs next season. I know they say defense wins championships, but you have to be able to score as well. That's the areas I will watch very closely next season and believe they will go a long way determining how good this team will be.
Cincinnati needs to add a solid JUCO big man that can play fifteen minutes a game, play defense and rebound. God's Gift would be a perfect fit for this role and he could win the starting spot next to Yancy Gates in the low post. His energy would fit the Bearcat's style of play perfectly. Physically and athletically he will be fine in the Big East and if signed will have the added benefit of lifting in Cincinnati over the summer. There are other options, but in my opinion GG is the perfect fit for the needs of this team. His visit this weekend is something we should all watch very close. Of the players currently signed, there is nobody physically capable of stepping in and playing. Signing somebody to do so is priority number one.
Whoever Mick signs to fill the low post hole, the Bearcats are going to need Kelvin Gaines to be able to play. KG is the acknowledged most athletic big man on the roster this season. He has had special attention and teaching over the past year and is a hard worker. His rebounding and shot blocking off the bench could really help this team. UConn has been very good over a number of years in part because they make it difficult to score in the paint. With Gates, Jackson, and Gaines all able to block shots I look for the Bearcats low post defense to be tough to score on as well.
It seems like a long time since UC has had a legitimate deep threat. what would have a Darnell Burton type player have meant to this team? We've seen far to many wide open three pointers missed. To be an elite team you have to be able to hit open shots.
Dion Dixon, Sean Kilpatrick and Cashmere Wright are all able to hit from outside, but neither have shown the ability to do it with consistency. Jaquon Parker shot under 20% in a limited role this past season from beyond the arc. I expect to see Sean Kilpatrick be a much more consistent outside shooter next season. He'll put the work in to get better, but he's not a pure shooter. Hopefully Dixon can at least duplicate his junior season, and Cash has the tools to be very good if he can stay healthy for a full season. The fact is, Cash, Dixon, and SK all have games that are more suited to attacking and shooting selective 3 point shots. Having a guy on the wing that defenses can't leave alone will make all of them better by helping to open driving lanes.
I do believe that the additions of Jeremiah Davis, and especially Jermaine Sanders can be a help in this area. Sanders shot 45% from three point range and has a natural silky smooth shot. In high school he played a lot in the post, but will be on the wing once he arrives on campus. I think he'll flourish by being exclusively on the wing. 'Maine needs to slim up and add lean muscle over the spring and summer. He has good physical size and just needs to refine it. The added quickness will help him on both sides of the ball.
Jeremiah Davis can shoot the ball as well. He is more of a stand still shooter but can knock down an open look. If he can shoot consistenly it could give him the edge earning back up minutes at the point.
Offensively the Bearcats could be very good if they can adequately fill these two needs next season. I know they say defense wins championships, but you have to be able to score as well. That's the areas I will watch very closely next season and believe they will go a long way determining how good this team will be.
