Tourney - wise, what's is reasonable to expect?

[NKY Bearcat]

Nah, I'm good.

Kinda figured. You seemed stuck in your ways.

 

[GarradJ21]

All valid points, I just don't think I'll be willing to "let go of it" until I see a sustained pattern of higher levels of success. Let's see what happens next season and the season after. A few years in a row of the type of success we saw this season can be the catalyst to push this program back into an elite status. I think Mick is just starting to turn the corner and while I'm happy that things are improving I still remain skeptical whether or not Mick can get us where we need to be and maintain that level of success. I'm solidly in "believe it when I see it" mode with this coach and I think the skepticism I hold has been well earned by this coach.

Well then lets just see what happens and not talk about it daily.

 

[UCBearcats]

Well then lets just see what happens and not talk about it daily.

I'll post about whatever I want, you can either read them, not read them, reply to them or not reply to them. I literally couldn't give less shits.

My posts yesterday were about the fact that 95% of the time when Huggins gets brought up it's not by someone who you guys term as "Mick hater". Then I was accused once again of being a Mick hater. What followed after that was a back and forth banter where I clearly and logically defended my point of view.

Here's an idea for all you guys who love to stir the pot and then get butt hurt when someone stands up for their point of view. Don't respond to my posts, it's really pretty simple.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

All valid points, I just don't think I'll be willing to "let go of it" until I see a sustained pattern of higher levels of success. Let's see what happens next season and the season after. A few years in a row of the type of success we saw this season can be the catalyst to push this program back into an elite status. I think Mick is just starting to turn the corner and while I'm happy that things are improving I still remain skeptical whether or not Mick can get us where we need to be and maintain that level of success. I'm solidly in "believe it when I see it" mode with this coach and I think the skepticism I hold has been well earned by this coach.

I share your desire for success. Really don't want you to think I am into settling. I would be surprised if there was a more competitive person posting then me. The issue I have is the cards are stacked against us. P5 alignment has really changed the way college athletics are administered and played. The blue bloods always had a edge but the gap has grown. Competing yearly for our conference title and tourney and making the dance may just be our realistic ceiling. While like you I hate the thought of that it may in fact be our fate. If I thought changing coaches would improve that I would certainly say so. My belief that Coaches who obtain the level of success Mick has under these conditions don't grow on trees. I really have no desire to relive the years between Jucker and Huggins in a effort to find out. Our big difference is your expectation. We both are fans of the program.

 

[NKY Bearcat]

I'll post about whatever I want, you can either read them, not read them, reply to them or not reply to them. I literally couldn't give less shits.

My posts yesterday were about the fact that 95% of the time when Huggins gets brought up it's not by someone who you guys term as "Mick hater". Then I was accused once again of being a Mick hater. What followed after that was a back and forth banter where I clearly and logically defended my point of view.

Here's an idea for all you guys who love to stir the pot and then get butt hurt when someone stands up for their point of view. Don't respond to my posts, it's really pretty simple.

I will respond to your garbage text walls if I want to.

 

[GarradJ21]

I'll post about whatever I want, you can either read them, not read them, reply to them or not reply to them. I literally couldn't give less shits.

My posts yesterday were about the fact that 95% of the time when Huggins gets brought up it's not by someone who you guys term as "Mick hater". Then I was accused once again of being a Mick hater. What followed after that was a back and forth banter where I clearly and logically defended my point of view.

Here's an idea for all you guys who love to stir the pot and then get butt hurt when someone stands up for their point of view. Don't respond to my posts, it's really pretty simple.

hahahahahahhahahaa...love when someone gets heated behind his blogger name. Ill back off and stop responding youre 100% correct. Just don't beat me up.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Please keep things civil. Ignore List, Report, or be respectful should you choose to respond.

 

[indydoug]

Here's the way I evaluate Mick's tenure:
From 2006-2012: Very pleased. He increased win totals almost every year and the recruiting in the big east was good. A ton of top 150 guys and a couple 5 stars. Defensive schemes were great and offense was average. He got us back to the tourney and into the sweet sixteen

2013-2016: These teams were not enjoyable to watch at all. We had a good team in 2014, but mainly because of SK, JJ's development, and the teams toughness. The recruiting classes from 2011, 2012, and 2013 were average in terms of affecting our program. That is what bothered me with Mick was I was losing hope in some of the players coming in.

2016-2017: Had a ball watching this team. The change in recruiting style reflected in good basketball. Landing Troy in 2013, Gary and Kyle, Jacob in 2015, and Jarron in 2016 gets me excited. The offense had flow and Mick can teach anybody defense.

All in all: Mick was late on adjusting in terms of recruiting. The classes of 2011,2012, and some of 2013 flattened the progression of the program. Mick did a good job of making the tourney those years....But now we have a good recruiting strategy and it is showing on the court. If we go the next two season without a nice run, I will be disappointed because I feel we have good players. But all in all, I like where the team is heading. New arena, skilled players, new offensive strategies. I'm excited!

Excellent and fair analysis

 

[ZCat]

You need to stop tying an entire season to a single tournament. I would set UC's goals at winning conference, and the conference tournament. What happens in the dance is just a bonus.

Even in the glorified Bob Huggins era, we only made it out of the first weekend once in the last 9 seasons. I think everyone would say we still enjoyed the basketball being played at the time though.

I was just wondering specifically about the tourney... Not tying the entire season's success to it. Trying to temper my expectations. I really was confident that we had S16 talent and borderline E-8 (after 10 games). Now I see Kyle has deficiency on D, and Jacob MUST be more aggressive. He can't wait until the last 10 games of his Sr yr. Troy had graduated. Jacob needs to play aggressive and not defer to Cane nor Kyle ( sorry off subject lol).

 

[UCalum08]

If you don't have at least a S16 ever couple years, it becomes a little like the bengals situation. Where some people lose interest.

I know I'm late to the party on this topic but this is how I feel as well. For me, I want to see us in the S16 a majority of the time. Once you get to the S16, I think the pressure is off for teams like UC and anything can happen. Prime example would be X.

I completely feel like we have turned into the Bengals of college basketball. This is the first time in Cronin's tenure I am questioning if a part of our failures are tied with coaching. Not here to bash him by any means but I think it's reasonable to question some things.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

Just need to recruit consistent scorers. Teams win in march cause they can score at will. We are a jump shooting team. So it's a 50-50 chance what kind of night we will have. Defense is great, but doesn't beat good offenses, especially the way the game is geared towards offense. His recruiting has gotten much better in regards to getting scorers, but we still have to be aggressive and attack the basket. Running an offense to set up an open jump shot only wins on nights your team is hitting those shots. Need to put up 75 a night vs. good competition. Sweet sixteen sounds so easy from the outside, but reality is you have to beat a top 25 team more than likely and this year a top 10 team to get there. It's really a crap shoot. Whoever we face in the round of 32 is going to be good, have scorers, have a game plan to beat us and talent similar or better than ours. Unless we're legitimately a top 5 team (and seeded as such) nothing is guaranteed come the second round and even then you can get upset. Basically it's bad luck more than anything. Yes Cronin needs to recruit scorers better, but other than that I don't see where he's failing. He puts together a good enough game plan based on the players we have to win. The difference is the level of offensive talent. Until we get those players, we will have the same results.

 

[cincyguy13]

I know I'm late to the party on this topic but this is how I feel as well. For me, I want to see us in the S16 a majority of the time. Once you get to the S16, I think the pressure is off for teams like UC and anything can happen. Prime example would be X.

I completely feel like we have turned into the Bengals of college basketball. This is the first time in Cronin's tenure I am questioning if a part of our failures are tied with coaching. Not here to bash him by any means but I think it's reasonable to question some things.

Agree. I like mick but I definetly understand people wanting more. Never doing anything in the postseason is not fun. I'm at the point with the bengals where I don't even care because they lose every playoff game. I don't think we are at that point with Uc but could be in a couple years.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Just need to recruit consistent scorers. Teams win in march cause they can score at will. We are a jump shooting team. So it's a 50-50 chance what kind of night we will have. Defense is great, but doesn't beat good offenses, especially the way the game is geared towards offense. His recruiting has gotten much better in regards to getting scorers, but we still have to be aggressive and attack the basket. Running an offense to set up an open jump shot only wins on nights your team is hitting those shots. Need to put up 75 a night vs. good competition. Sweet sixteen sounds so easy from the outside, but reality is you have to beat a top 25 team more than likely and this year a top 10 team to get there. It's really a crap shoot. Whoever we face in the round of 32 is going to be good, have scorers, have a game plan to beat us and talent similar or better than ours. Unless we're legitimately a top 5 team (and seeded as such) nothing is guaranteed come the second round and even then you can get upset. Basically it's bad luck more than anything. Yes Cronin needs to recruit scorers better, but other than that I don't see where he's failing. He puts together a good enough game plan based on the players we have to win. The difference is the level of offensive talent. Until we get those players, we will have the same results.

dave our issue this year wasn't our post players it was our lack of consistent shooting behind the arc. Teams always double our post players leaving Gary to pass the ball and Kyle to force up shots. The teams still alive in tourney knock down shots at a very good rate. As much as I like KJ and TC nothing about them screamed defend me to the opposition. Evans has a chance to be better but he really needs to work on his isolation game.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

I have decided that I am joining the Mick hasn't done enough to keep his job group. I guess it's the curiosity in me but I really want to see who we would get to come here. So tired of this debate. Let's see how other potential coaches view our job. New facilities, good team returning, not a P5 school, a wonderful supportive fan base.

 

[JasonS]

I have decided that I am joining the Mick hasn't done enough to keep his job group. I guess it's the curiosity in me but I really want to see who we would get to come here. So tired of this debate. Let's see how other potential coaches view our job. New facilities, good team returning, not a P5 school, a wonderful supportive fan base.

This is laughable. 30 wins and he hasn't done enough? Really? So now we are basing everything on a one and done tourney where you have no control over who you play, when you play them and where you play? Ok. Whatever. Anyone who thinks we could get a better, higher profile coach in our current league situation are fooling themselves. I will once again revert back to the "who are you expecting to get" question and then I'll give you 5 reasons why it's not going to happen for each one.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

This is laughable. 30 wins and he hasn't done enough? Really? So now we are basing everything on a one and done tourney where you have no control over who you play, when you play them and where you play? Ok. Whatever. Anyone who thinks we could get a better, higher profile coach in our current league situation are fooling themselves. I will once again revert back to the "who are you expecting to get" question and then I'll give you 5 reasons why it's not going to happen for each one.

Lol!!. Exactly what I want to see.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Well now that the season is over for X a few questions.

1. Is X a better program then UC?

2. Does big east affiliation give X a edge in recruiting?

3. Is Mack a better coach then Mick?

4. Can we regain our edge by competing in AAC?

5. Will firing Mick solve our dilemma?

 

[Jive]

Our coach is a very good coach. There are plenty out there who could do better. Unfortunately, there are a lot more who could do worse. It becomes more a factor of how good our coaching search committee would be. Our AD is a little questionable. We have an unknown new president. But, we would be very foolish to believe that we couldn't attract a very good coach when we are paying one of the top 20 salaries in the nation. On the other hand, our current coach is very good too. It's a crap shoot.

 

[cincyguy13]

I have decided that I am joining the Mick hasn't done enough to keep his job group. I guess it's the curiosity in me but I really want to see who we would get to come here. So tired of this debate. Let's see how other potential coaches view our job. New facilities, good team returning, not a P5 school, a wonderful supportive fan base.

I think people can like mick and also want more. I think that is possible.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Our coach is a very good coach. There are plenty out there who could do better. Unfortunately, there are a lot more who could do worse. It becomes more a factor of how good our coaching search committee would be. Our AD is a little questionable. We have an unknown new president. But, we would be very foolish to believe that we couldn't attract a very good coach when we are paying one of the top 20 salaries in the nation. On the other hand, our current coach is very good too. It's a crap shoot.

Ok but would it be a coach that considers us a stepping stone job? Our last two hires have been Huggins and Mick. Prior to that you had your Yates, Catlet and Badgers. Doing the math since Jucker our hires other then Huggins have been below average? In your view with what we could pay we could land a good Coach. Do yo really believe we will go after a established coach and offer him Micks current salary. What in our history indicates that?