UC/ND Preview

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The biggest concern for Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin is figuring out how to get his team to prevent big scoring runs like the 18-3 and 16-0 bursts that allowed Syracuse to take control of the action at the start of each half on Saturday. While it is easy to point to the offense as the culprit Cronin was not upset with the shot selection nearly as much as he was the showing on the defensive end.

“Syracuse is a great team, obviously, but we started off both halves as cold as ice,” Cronin said. “As a coach what you've got to look at is the shots you're getting. Villanova game we did not get good shots, Syracuse game we got good shots. Conversely it goes then to defense. We've struggled defensively the last three games, we've given up 67 or 68 points a game. You're going to have points where you do not score, thing is you've got to play some defense.”

Senior guard Larry Davis has been a productive spark off the bench for the Cats this season, but he knows they need more than just a jump start here and there if they are going to continue on the path to making the NCAA Tournament.

“Those kinds of teams you can't come out sluggish against,” said Davis. “You have to be on everything, your defense and your offense. I just think we can come out a little bit more aggressive than we've been coming out on defense.”

As he gets his team ready for another tough road test at Notre Dame Cronin is just looking to improve on the staples of Bearcat basketball.

“My concern is our defense and our rebounding,” Cronin said. “Our inability to get loose balls at times is a concern. Those are things you can control.”

MORE.....

http://cincinnati.247sports.com/Article/Basketball-notebook-Scouting-the-Irish-11899

 

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Nice work Chad.

 

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When I had some trouble sleeping last night, I started to think a little bit more about this Notre Dame game tonight.

First off, yes, I am aware of how depressing it is my thoughts turn to college basketball when I can't sleep, but hey, at least it wasn't to the Bengals (that causes severe nightmares).

Second, the more I thought about it, the bigger the game became. No, not from a record standpoint, rather from a confidence and momentum standpoint.

Mick Cronin knew confidence and momentum would be such a significant factor in the success of this year's team he took it easier than in the past with the non-conference schedule. This team's confidence has been a major factor in its success.

I still believe the confidence exists, but certainly doubt begins to creep in with back to back double-digit road losses at Villanova and Syracuse. Notre Dame, though an incredibly difficult team to beat at home, is more beatable than Cuse and Nova right now.

Cronin said in an earlier press conference it will probably just take winning one of these bigtime types of games to really make this team believe and play with incredible confidence. I'd concur with that thought. This team knows it can do it. And there's no reason to beleive it can't. But for this group of 19,20,21-year olds, nothing quite inspires like the unity of pulling off the win.

The symptomatic confidence would be invaluable with so many hostile enviornments the rest of the way.

This team has not reached the breaking point. Not in the least. Win or loss, we will still be discussing a bright future on Thursday. In the grand scheme, this represents just another game in the Big East grind.

But in a sport where momentum can carry you to win streaks, conference championships, improbable tournament runs and factor in more than any other major sport, flipping Uncle Mo in the Bearcats direction tonight could be worth much more than one mark in the win column

http://www.gobearcats.com/blog/2011/01/bearcats-breakfast-11911-1.html

 

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"Winning has made us soft," Mick Cronin told his players at the start of their first practice following Sunday's loss at Syracuse. "So I'm warning you: We are going to work hard or we are going to run. I'm not going to yell one time. But work hard or run."

That gives you an idea of Cincinnati's mindset going into Wednesday night's game at #16 Notre Dame. After being outrebounded in three straight games, including by an embarrassing 41-28 margin at Syracuse - the Bearcats are determined to get back to what made them successful during their 16-0 start including quality wins over Dayton and Xavier.

"My message to the guys was, 'You have to get back to being who you were and hungry,' Coach Cronin said. "Our defense and rebounding have not been what they needed to be. Most of my disappointment from the Syracuse loss was the fact that they shot 56% and outrebounded us. We were not able to make it hard enough for them to score."

But defending Notre Dame is difficult -- especially in South Bend where the Irish are 11-0 with wins over Gonzaga, Georgetown, UConn, and St. John's. Ben Hansbrough and Tim Abromaitis both rank among the Top 10 in the Big East in 3-pointers made, and Notre Dame takes care of the ball by only averaging 11.5 turnovers per game.

"They are a totally different basketball team at home," Coach Cronin said. "If we give Abromaitis and Hansbrough open looks, they are going to make it. We have to do a tremendous job with our defensive pressure. There will be no change in our style of play. We are who we are, and we try to get after teams defensively. Hopefully, if we can get after Notre Dame without giving up wide-open three point shots, then our pressure will be effective."

The Irish are looking to bounce back from a rough week as they got blown out on the road by Marquette (22 points) and St. John's (18 points). Notre Dame is missing a key player as 6'8" Carleton Scott, who averages 11.9 points and 6.4 rebounds, who will miss his 5th straight game with a hamstring injury.

"Oh, it's a loss, no doubt because they don't have the depth that we have," Cronin said. "He's their longest guy. Their biggest problem with their starting lineup is that they lack size. The problem that they pose for us is at the power forward position with Scott Martin, the transfer from Purdue. He's a face-up player who shoots the three and can put the ball on the floor and he's a match-up problem for Ibrahima Thomas. They really spread you out and can shoot the ball at different positions."

MORE...

http://www.gobearcats.com/blog/2011/01/a-tough-night.html

 

[ralph1950]

ND is favored by 4 1/2 points.