The next 4 games

[Thegreatone]

USF @ Cincy

Cincy @ Syracuse

Cincy @ ND

Cincy @ St. Johns

How many wins can we get?

I will predict 2 wins. Most of us will predict wins over USF @ home. I think this is one we have to have.

This will bring our record to 17-3 and 4-3 against the top 100 RPI.

I think we will give either Syracuse or ND a run for their money. I think we probably drop both of those games though. Top 15 teams @ home are very tough. Those two teams seem to play very very well at home.

The St. Johns game could be a season changer. If my prediction of losing 2 straight and 3 out of 4 total happens going into that game we are going to be hearing the same old bullshit again about collapsing. If they beat St Johns then we will carry that momentum and bear Rutgers and WVU (both at home) and carry our over all record to.

19-3.

 

[adrock]

I expect 2-2. To position ourselves for an NCAA berth we need at least a couple road wins. The most winnable games are @ DePaul, @ Providence, and @ St. John's, in that order. If we can beat 2 of those teams on the road and hold steady at home, we'll be golden.

That being said, I think 3-1 is possible. Yes, it was a road game for Notre Dame, but they got pasted last night. They're beatable.

 

[bearcat jeff]

I think we're going to win 3-4. Don't know why I just do. Notre Dame has a hard time with quick, athletic teams. I believe that game is winnable and I think we'll get St. Johns as well. We'll beat USF, lose to the Cuse but play much better than we did against Nova, and win the next two. That's my prediction.

 

[MDW79]

Winning @ ND may be tougher than winning @ Cuse. I think ND is very beatable, if the game is played here. Since it's at their place, I think it's easily one of the toughest games of the season.

I got to watch that St. Johns-ND game last week, and for those that may not have, once again ND was getting loads of help. That was only a 6-7 pt game but b/c of fouls St. Johns had their ENTIRE starting 5 out the last 5 or so minutes of the 1st half, and that lead stretched to 20. So, game over, before they even got to the 2nd half. Against GT, ND shot I think close to 30 FT's, GT shot 8. IMO, definitely one of the worst gyms to play in. I'd love to say we get a win there, but I just don't see it, unless the refs actually do us some favors.

I think we beat SFla, and agree with Greatone. Will most likely be coming off two losses and HAVE to get that win against St. Johns. We could beat Cuse this weeked, I'd say we have a decent chance, but I think that's too tough for me to chalk up as win just yet.

Easiest way for me to view it, just go 1-0, and hope that winning 1 of 3 isn't that difficult, cuz that's a tough stretch.

 

[ervins84]

its gonna come off as stating the obvious, but sometimes it needs to be said.

games difficulty level

@SYR>>>@ND>>@STJohns

syr is a lot better than both of those teams and im not just basing it on the overreaction taht others will ahve to the ND beatdown @ Marq.

Pt spread wise they'll prob be an:

8-10 pt dog @ Syr

4-5 pt dog @ ND

and a virtual Pickem @ ST johns

 

[catsfan32]

Syracuse is a team I think we match-up with physically very well. However, as we all know our shooting hasn't been on the last couple of games, so that zone is going to be very tricky. We have to shoot 30% or better from 3 to have a chance against Cuse IMO. Can we do that...definetly, but I don't know if we will.

ND is going to be tougher IMO because of the home-court advantage. They just get so many favorable calls in their Gym. If this was a neutral site game or at home I think we win, but being at ND I feel this will be the hardest of the 3 games on the road.

St. John's is the easiest of the 3, but thats not saying much. This will be an extremely tough game because of their senior leadership. This game is at Carnesecca so it makes it THAT much more challenging to get a W.

I will be happy with 2-2 out of these next 4. We must beat USF and steal one on the road. If we win any more than 2 I would be extremely pleased, if somehow we take all 4 I will need a change of pants after the 4th game!

 

[adrock]

The zone is exactly why I think we don't have a chance against Syracuse. I don't recall a time when we've played Syracuse and not looked completely flummoxed on offense. We don't have pure shooters to beat that zone, IMO, and with their discipline that's the only thing that can beat it.

 

[Ryno99]

I have to agree with Ervins, I think Cuse will be the toughest, but not by much. It's kind of like saying which is worse hooking up with a 250 lb girl or a 249 pounder. Neither is desirable, and heck then you got a 225 lb one to back those two up. She may be a bit cuter, but she's stil 225.

I think we have to take care of business at home against USF and then take these one game at a time. Yes very cliche, but those 3 are going to be one of if not the toughest stretch of the season for the Cats, if they can compete in all 3 of them, pull out at least one of them, I think they will be ok. My prediction is W-L-L-W for the 4 game stretch. But it's not hard to see 1-3.

 

[Ryno99]

The zone is exactly why I think we don't have a chance against Syracuse. I don't recall a time when we've played Syracuse and not looked completely flummoxed on offense. We don't have pure shooters to beat that zone, IMO, and with their discipline that's the only thing that can beat it.

Ding ding ding, we have a winner!

 

[JasonS]

The zone is exactly why I think we don't have a chance against Syracuse. I don't recall a time when we've played Syracuse and not looked completely flummoxed on offense. We don't have pure shooters to beat that zone, IMO, and with their discipline that's the only thing that can beat it.

One thing we have done very well this year is offensive rebound. It is hard to rebound out of a zone. If we hit 35% of our threes and our bigs are actively rebounding, we will have a chance.

 

[dp3113]

notre dame doesn't miss at home. that might be the toughest game.

 

[adrock]

One thing we have done very well this year is offensive rebound. It is hard to rebound out of a zone. If we hit 35% of our threes and our bigs are actively rebounding, we will have a chance.

Good point, I hadn't thought of that. If Yancy and Ibrahima can outrebound Rick Jackson we might be in better shape than I thought.

 

[BearcatAlum1]

I expect 2-2. To position ourselves for an NCAA berth we need at least a couple road wins. The most winnable games are @ DePaul, @ Providence, and @ St. John's, in that order. If we can beat 2 of those teams on the road and hold steady at home, we'll be golden.

That being said, I think 3-1 is possible. Yes, it was a road game for Notre Dame, but they got pasted last night. They're beatable.

Marquette shot 70% from 3.

Marquette is a good team. They lost some tough games early, but they play hard and as a team.

I suspect they'll win 10-11 BE games this year.

 

[BearcatAlum1]

I think we're going to win 3-4. Don't know why I just do. Notre Dame has a hard time with quick, athletic teams. I believe that game is winnable and I think we'll get St. Johns as well. We'll beat USF, lose to the Cuse but play much better than we did against Nova, and win the next two. That's my prediction.

I hope you're right.

USF (must win)

'Cuse (loss)

ND (loss)

SJU (coin toss)

If we go 3-1 is outstanding. I mean, we're talking 15th in country type talk. 2-2 is very respectable. 1-3 is not the end of the world and will be the likely outcome.

Regardless of the outcomes, I hope fans realize that we will be fine if we protect our home court and get a few road wins.

10 BE wins should be goal, IMO.

14-0 OOC.
10-8 BE.

Overall, 24-8 with plenty of top 50 and top 100 wins. Add a BET win, and we're looking at 25-9. A very respectable record.

 

[cincinnati insanity]

I agree that Notre Dame will be there toughest game, always seems like the little whiteboys always destroy UC( not meant to be racist im a white boy.) Uc struggles with teams that are very structured, such as Villanova and even a little bit of wright state. Notre Dame shoots alot of threes and does the old school back doors, Cash will have his hand on the throttle, because he can really be the guy who causes ND fits. All in all i think these are 2 even matched teams, however the speed athleticism and power are all in favor of UC. ST johns kinda reminds me of UC, they play tough defense and are very athletic at all positions. this game will go to whoever shoots the three better and whoever has the least amount of turnover's. Syracuse is always a tough game but with there ranking being so high and UC really feeling like they belong with the big boys i give the edge to UC. That number in front of a colleges name can help or hinder a team and UC will be out to prove with Syracuse who is the better team. i think 2-1 is very respectable. They win vs Syracuse and St johns, and barely lose to ND, because of some terrible calls.

 

[catsfan32]

I agree that Notre Dame will be there toughest game, always seems like the little whiteboys always destroy UC( not meant to be racist im a white boy.) Uc struggles with teams that are very structured, such as Villanova and even a little bit of wright state. Notre Dame shoots alot of threes and does the old school back doors, Cash will have his hand on the throttle, because he can really be the guy who causes ND fits. All in all i think these are 2 even matched teams, however the speed athleticism and power are all in favor of UC. ST johns kinda reminds me of UC, they play tough defense and are very athletic at all positions. this game will go to whoever shoots the three better and whoever has the least amount of turnover's. Syracuse is always a tough game but with there ranking being so high and UC really feeling like they belong with the big boys i give the edge to UC. That number in front of a colleges name can help or hinder a team and UC will be out to prove with Syracuse who is the better team. i think 2-1 is very respectable. They win vs Syracuse and St johns, and barely lose to ND, because of some terrible calls.

2-1 out of those three games it more than very respectable. Thats telling the nation and the BEAST that you are in it to win it! I honestly see us going 1-3 in the next four, anything more than that and we are sitting in great position to finish in the top 6 IMO.

 

[thebeast]

2-1 out of those three games it more than very respectable. Thats telling the nation and the BEAST that you are in it to win it! I honestly see us going 1-3 in the next four, anything more than that and we are sitting in great position to finish in the top 6 IMO.

i agree i expect 1-3 cuz it is so hard on the road but if we go 2-2 i will very happy but i cant see 3-1

 

[ucswais]

One thing we have done very well this year is offensive rebound. It is hard to rebound out of a zone. If we hit 35% of our threes and our bigs are actively rebounding, we will have a chance.

I think this is absolutely true when normal teams try to play some zone because they aren't used to having to find someone to box out or can't get to them, but Syracuse has been playing so much zone for so long that they are used to it and are a great rebounding team anyway.

I will say that offensive rebounding is one reason why I think other teams will not implement a zone defense against UC unless that is their base defense. I can't see it helping against Syracuse though.

I think UC wins @SJ, and vs USF. Getting one of the other 2 would be gravy.

 

[bearcat jeff]

Watching College Basketball The Experts and Adrian Branch said Cincinnati is his sleeper team. Dana O'neil was complimentary as well but did say Cincinnati should have got Gates the ball more against Nova.

 

[ralph1950]

Just take them one at a time. Protect the home court and take a couple on the road, then all will be fine.