UConn Game Thread

[cincyguy13]

Why are teams having their best performance of all conference play against us though?

It’s not just 1 team getting hot. It’s 3 out of the 6 teams having their best offensive performance in conference play.

But I’m reassured that isn’t an issue, that this isn’t a trend and this is just a coincidence.

So yea. We should just keep doing what we are doing and eventually someone will just shoot bad. Or we will short incredibly well.


I’ll never bring it up again.


All roses and sunshine from me from here on out.


Best defense in America
Best offense in America
#1 seed in the NIT
#1 seed in my heart.

Won’t bring it up again. You guys convinced me. John Brannen is a great defensive coach. And I am ashamed I’ve ever questioned him.

So dramatic man. No one said it's the best defense in America. That's you making things up again and being dramatic. No one even said our defense was good. I was saying there are other ways to win basketball games. It's not just the Cronin way. More than likely teams aren't going to be shut down at home. Play good defense but don't sell out to the extent where you can't score. It's a balancing act. But keep being dramatic and playing the victim.

 

[justinhub2003]

Y’all act like I was waiting on a loss so I could pounce.

Nope. I posted before the UConn game that I was concerned with the road defense.

And everybody bashed him. But one player this team could really really use right now Is Eliel Nsesome. If he would have stayed, he gets 10 rebounds against UConn and defends, which gets us the win.

Every one acts like you need 2 way players for all 13 scholarships but Will be the softest team in America if Brannen doesn’t go out get a shot blocking athlete who can rebound. Guys like eliel let your cos h demand defense and rebounding, other wide an offensive dud was going to steal your minutes because he knows how to battle in the trenches

Next year Is likely the worst rebounding team in the past 35 years of UC if we don’t add someone.

 

[cincyguy13]

1-3-1 is a gimick. It works for a possession or two then gets figured out quickly.

But you can win a lot of games in this league but just throwing in multiple possessions of 2-3 zone because generally the shooting is poor.

Houston and temple are both awful against the zone.

WSU probably is as well.

But we insist on a press that doesn’t generate a lot turnovers. And literally has us fouling 50ft from the basket.

Why the hell did we press against UCon, I have no idea. We hadn’t been home to recover, we had just played a tough game on thurs but we insisted on doing the same things . We didn’t have the legs for it or the depth. And yet, we did it. And we looked gassed.


Defensively I think Brannen is as hard headed as the other guy we used to have.

I don't know why he doesn't play 2-3 zone but against Houston coaches are probably scared to death to play zone in fear that they would crush us on rebounding. That would be my guess for Houston.

 

[justinhub2003]

So dramatic man. No one said it's the best defense in America. That's you making things up again and being dramatic. No one even said our defense was good. I was saying there are other ways to win basketball games. It's not just the Cronin way. More than likely teams aren't going to be shut down at home. Play good defense but don't sell out to the extent where you can't score. It's a balancing act. But keep being dramatic and playing the victim.

Dramatic? ... my opinion must either matter it or I must live in people’s heads because I can post a 100% basketball related on topic comment about our teams defense and it will twist and turn peoples leopard print thongs into a serious knot .

 

[justinhub2003]

So dramatic man. No one said it's the best defense in America. That's you making things up again and being dramatic. No one even said our defense was good. I was saying there are other ways to win basketball games. It's not just the Cronin way. More than likely teams aren't going to be shut down at home. Play good defense but don't sell out to the extent where you can't score. It's a balancing act. But keep being dramatic and playing the victim.

Lol and who says you have to not play offense to play defense.

Why can’t we do both?

If we ever want to be elite, we will need to be elite on both sides of the ball.


I mean serious question: do you think John Brannen ever has a top 15 defense at UC ?

 

[cincyguy13]

Y’all act like I was waiting on a loss so I could pounce.

Nope. I posted before the UConn game that I was concerned with the road defense.

And everybody bashed him. But one player this team could really really use right now Is Eliel Nsesome. If he would have stayed, he gets 10 rebounds against UConn and defends, which gets us the win.

Every one acts like you need 2 way players for all 13 scholarships but Will be the softest team in America if Brannen doesn’t go out get a shot blocking athlete who can rebound. Guys like eliel let your cos h demand defense and rebounding, other wide an offensive dud was going to steal your minutes because he knows how to battle in the trenches

Next year Is likely the worst rebounding team in the past 35 years of UC if we don’t add someone.

We have an athlete but he's literally unplayable at times. Diarra. Athletes that rebound and play defense are great as long as you don't have a whole team of them. Eason also looks like a shot blocking athlete that can rebound. Not much offense. So suggesting that he just wants all offensive guys doesn't seem to be true.

 

[cincyguy13]

Lol and who says you have to not play offense to play defense.

Why can’t we do both?

If we ever want to be elite, we will need to be elite on both sides of the ball.


I mean serious question: do you think John Brannen ever has a top 15 defense at UC ?

Honestly, after half a season, I have no idea. I don't know how you would know that but you seem to know everything already. You also thought Houston was unbeatable. We will have to see what kind of guys he can bring in. I honestly don't care if he ever has a top 15 defense. You seem to be really concerned about it. I just want to win. I think there are other ways to do it beside having an elite defense. Yes the goal would be to have both but we need the talent to do that.

 

[cincyguy13]

Dramatic? ... my opinion must either matter it or I must live in people’s heads because I can post a 100% basketball related on topic comment about our teams defense and it will twist and turn peoples leopard print thongs into a serious knot .

Yes dramatic. You wanted to sell your tickets and said you were done on multiple occasions. That's dramatic. We lost a game by 1 point that where were underdogs. It's not the end of the world. Should we have won, yes. It happens. Is there things to clean up. Yes. We have also improved a lot since the beginning of the year. Other teams are trying to win also.

 

[Alum2013]

1-3-1 is a gimick. It works for a possession or two then gets figured out quickly.

But you can win a lot of games in this league but just throwing in multiple possessions of 2-3 zone because generally the shooting is poor.

Houston and temple are both awful against the zone.

WSU probably is as well.

But we insist on a press that doesn’t generate a lot turnovers. And literally has us fouling 50ft from the basket.

Why the hell did we press against UCon, I have no idea. We hadn’t been home to recover, we had just played a tough game on thurs but we insisted on doing the same things . We didn’t have the legs for it or the depth. And yet, we did it. And we looked gassed.


Defensively I think Brannen is as hard headed as the other guy we used to have.

I can fully agree with this. The press has got to go at times. It has not been effective most games and like you said, anyone could see we were gassed. Plus lack of bench. If we're going to run it why not use it when McNeal and Harvey are getting their minutes? Cumberland, William's, and Tre should not be doing the press in games like that.

 

[cincyguy13]

the 1-3-1 with diarra is crazy. we use it so infrequently i dont know what to think about it, but something tells me its not good.

Huggins used to run a 1-2-2 half court defense with Kenyon at the top. It was very similar. I don't hate the 1-3-1 for a couple possessions but like Justin said, teams figure it out quickly and get open shots. Diarra at the top might be the spot where he has to think the least.

 

[Goldpanner]

I think if everyone slows down a bit and look at it this way. 6 weeks ago do you think we would be talking about being on the bubble?

6 weeks ago do you think we would be talking about leading the conference?

6 weeks ago do would you of thought we would be 15-8?

6 weeks ago the consensus was playing 500 ball, middle or bottom of the conference and not a chance in hell of making the tournament.

I think it has been a better than expected year.

But that’s just me. I am an optimistic fan. And as I said 6 weeks ago. Give the man a chance. A patched together team is doing pretty good in my opinion so far. And yes. The season is not over yet

Go bearcats

 

[justinhub2003]

I think if everyone slows down a bit and look at it this way. 6 weeks ago do you think we would be talking about being on the bubble?

6 weeks ago do you think we would be talking about leading the conference?

6 weeks ago do would you of thought we would be 15-8?

6 weeks ago the consensus was playing 500 ball, middle or bottom of the conference and not a chance in hell of making the tournament.

I think it has been a better than expected year.

But that’s just me. I am an optimistic fan. And as I said 6 weeks ago. Give the man a chance. A patched together team is doing pretty good in my opinion so far. And yes. The season is not over yet

Go bearcats

I never saw as our resurgence in the last few weeks to be an overachievement.

For me, we were finally meeting expectations.

But we screwed up so bad in the non conference that we have such a thin margin of error.

I think if we win every game except @houston, then we need to go all the way to Conference finals to not have complete bubble guts on selection Sunday.


But make no mistake. It’s going be an absolute bummer if UC isn’t playing in March madness.

 

[justinhub2003]

Yes dramatic. You wanted to sell your tickets and said you were done on multiple occasions. That's dramatic. We lost a game by 1 point that where were underdogs. It's not the end of the world. Should we have won, yes. It happens. Is there things to clean up. Yes. We have also improved a lot since the beginning of the year. Other teams are trying to win also.

Did I say this after Tulane ? No. Did I say this after Memphis ? No. Did I say this after UConn ? Nope

Your bringing shit up that was said after the Colgate loss.

I frankly don’t give nearly the shit I used to. Last season and for the past 10 years, college basketball was my #1 hobby. I’d literally watch at least 30-40 hours of basketball a week, studied every stat and analyzed every game multiple times over.

But that’s over. It’s dumb to care that much. Y’all are trying to bait me into saying something silly again and I won’t, because I don’t give a shit like I used,

So yes, next season, I’ll potentially give up my season tickets. But mostly because I’d rather take an vacation than spend money on basketball. Nothing to do with the result Sunday.

Y’all won’t hear that shot outta me any more. Bc I don’t get nearly as mad as I used to after a loss.

So when I make a take about the defense. It’s literally about the defense, nothing veiled.

Because I personally believe this Luke Fickell thing could signal the end of UC being a basketball first school. They are going to spend so much renewing Fick that UC basketball is no longer a destination job or a long term job. If Brannen is successful, he will never get the contract that mick had. Because football stole it. This is just a miny tirade and I’m probably being a conspiracy theorist, but to me micks big contract was the reason bohn didn’t try to get him to stay, he wanted more money for football. Maybe I’m wrong tho

 

[Goldpanner]

I never saw as our resurgence in the last few weeks to be an overachievement.

For me, we were finally meeting expectations.

But we screwed up so bad in the non conference that we have such a thin margin of error.

I think if we win every game except @houston, then we need to go all the way to Conference finals to not have complete bubble guts on selection Sunday.


But make no mistake. It’s going be an absolute bummer if UC isn’t playing in March madness.

You honestly thought we would be here?

You honestly thought brannen was a good enough coach to get us in a possible position to make the tournament?


Sure seems like you thought brannen was a bush league coach that was going to be the demise of bearcat basketball.

Maybe I just read your earlier posts wrong.

 

[cincrulz11]

You honestly thought we would be here?

You honestly thought brannen was a good enough coach to get us in a possible position to make the tournament?


Sure seems like you thought brannen was a bush league coach that was going to be the demise of bearcat basketball.

Maybe I just read your earlier posts wrong.

you didn't, he tweeted at brannen to resign

 

[justinhub2003]

you didn't, he tweeted at brannen to resign

Go read my last meat tweet to Brannen.

If you’re gonna bring up old stuff you better call it even.

 

[justinhub2003]

You honestly thought we would be here?

You honestly thought brannen was a good enough coach to get us in a possible position to make the tournament?


Sure seems like you thought brannen was a bush league coach that was going to be the demise of bearcat basketball.

Maybe I just read your earlier posts wrong.

I literally HAVE zero idea what John Brannen is going to do at cincinnati. And either do you.

Jarron Cumberland getting healthy and in shape is the real reason we are a POTENTIAL tourney team

Before the season started I absolutely expected to make the tourney. So we when we started playing well, it just meant that we were maybe able to meet expectations


Jarron Cumberland playing in the NIT his senior year will be an absolute failure of a season.


As for Brannen being a great coach. I literally have zero idea still. To this day I don’t know what kinda culture John Brannen embodies. It’s not toughness and defense. And our offense isn’t great either, though it is an improvement.

Time will tell. But no one has an idea. I think we miss the tourney next year. So I want to make it this year.


But if you want to give John Brannen a gold seal approval for a 14-8 season, then be my guest. You’ve lowered your standards though. I haven’t. I expect 25+ wins every year.

 

[justinhub2003]

you didn't, he tweeted at brannen to resign

And HELL YES I wanted him to sweat after losing to Colgate & bowling green. This ain’t Nku. You Should feel immense pressure to win. Mick felt that pressure. And so should Brannen.

But literally that tweet was my frustration with him blowing a big lead to bowling green while Jarron Cumberland sat withering away on the bench. It was a reaction to atrocious coaching which everyone on this board agreed with. I

No one gets a free pass. Your expected to win here and if you win, you earn my respect. But I certainly don’t respect a team we blew there doors off of just last season who bench is best player and blew a lead. In that moment he hadn’t earned an ounce of faith from me.


Today he’s given some reason for hope and I said as much in a follow up tweet

 

[Goldpanner]

I literally HAVE zero idea what John Brannen is going to do at cincinnati. And either do you.

Jarron Cumberland getting healthy and in shape is the real reason we are a POTENTIAL tourney team

Before the season started I absolutely expected to make the tourney. So we when we started playing well, it just meant that we were maybe able to meet expectations


Jarron Cumberland playing in the NIT his senior year will be an absolute failure of a season.


As for Brannen being a great coach. I literally have zero idea still. To this day I don’t know what kinda culture John Brannen embodies. It’s not toughness and defense. And our offense isn’t great either, though it is an improvement.

Time will tell. But no one has an idea. I think we miss the tourney next year. So I want to make it this year.


But if you want to give John Brannen a gold seal approval for a 14-8 season, then be my guest. You’ve lowered your standards though. I haven’t. I expect 25+ wins every year.

My expectations for uc basketball have not dropped one bit, in fact they have been raised. I not only want to win 28 plus games a year, I want a run in the tournament from time to time.


I have been very consistent with my posts, brannen had to put a roster together late in the recruiting season. I thought he did a pretty good job filling the roster.

The reality is this is a team of mostly new players and a new system.

It takes time to get new players to flow as a team, and understanding a new system.

I assumed we would have a bad loss or two and a great win or two, but with the dtuation, I think he has done a good job


I believe the uc basketball future will be great Again.

Every team except duke Kansas and Gonzaga have a down year.

After what our team went through. A down year was expected. But that is when the fans have to pull together and root harder for the team.

The great bearcats will be back soon. !!!!!

 

[justinhub2003]

My expectations for uc basketball have not dropped one bit, in fact they have been raised. I not only want to win 28 plus games a year, I want a run in the tournament from time to time.


I have been very consistent with my posts, brannen had to put a roster together late in the recruiting season. I thought he did a pretty good job filling the roster.

The reality is this is a team of mostly new players and a new system.

It takes time to get new players to flow as a team, and understanding a new system.

I assumed we would have a bad loss or two and a great win or two, but with the dtuation, I think he has done a good job


I believe the uc basketball future will be great Again.

Every team except duke Kansas and Gonzaga have a down year.

After what our team went through. A down year was expected. But that is when the fans have to pull together and root harder for the team.

The great bearcats will be back soon. !!!!!

I make my points on message boards and rarely ever take it out on players like some do here. I focus my attention on the guys getting paid


But I’m in my season tickets every single game and screaming until I lose my voice from tip to finish.

I know how to be a good fan. I spend money and a ton of energy on this program. But I don’t have blind faith in any one.