Watching Mike and Mike this morning....

[Thegreatone]

They do Sportscenter updates during breaks and the two games they showed was Louisville losing and Cincinnati. They mentioned that UC is still undefeated and having the best start since 04-05. They showed two Yancy dunks and Darnell's put back dunk.

This is good to see because it puts UC on peoples minds. Even if it is a drubbing of Georgia Southern. All people see is UC demolishing a team and hearing they are still undefeated. Getting into the public spotlight is definitely a positive.

 

[cincinnati insanity]

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news;_ylt=AlpYd.K8Y5FvmkDsHQQQJOXevbYF?slug=jn-bigeast121510

someone is always going to hate... always.... GO UC...

 

[catsfan32]

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news;_ylt=AlpYd.K8Y5FvmkDsHQQQJOXevbYF?slug=jn-bigeast121510

someone is always going to hate... always.... GO UC...

I read that earlier today. My feeling is the writer who wrote that is a douchlord! For anyone who has seen most of these BEAST teams play, Cincy will play with anyone the way they have played all year. Man I have a serious lack of respect for so called "journalist/media members" today. They all seem to phone in their blogs/articles without doing the research. This guy ranks us 11th in the Big East behind the likes of Providence, Louisville, and Marquette!

 

[bearcat jeff]

I don't see where he was overly critical of Cincinnati. He stated the obvious. He also left room that Mick Cronin may have done the right thing in how the schedule is set up. I have watched Depaul, Villanova, Syracuse, Marquette, Louisville twice, Pitt twice, Georgetown twice and Notre Dame play. I honestly haven't seen a team that UC can't compete against. It amazes me the run that Notre Dame gets season in and season out. They are always fundamnetally sound but they will struggle all season against quick, athletic teams. I feel really good about the Bearcats. If they continue to improve, share the ball and play hard dfense and rebound they are going to be a top 7 conference team this season. I could make an argument they could even be a couple slots higher. Of course this is December. Championships are won in Feb. but they can be lost in January. Things are set up nicely for them. Can they do it? I have said for months I think they're going to surprise some people.

 

[JasonS]

Wow. This guy based everything on SOS numbers and what UC and Louisville lost from last year. My guess is he hasn't even watched a game yet. At least not a UC game. He obviously doesn't realize (or fails to acknowledge because it damages his argument) that Big East teams just reload year to year. So we lost our top two scorers and Louisville lost their top 4. It doesn't mean that neither team has players that can score.

He also didn't do his research when he commented on Mick being on the hot seat. He is right, in part. From many fans perspective, they put Mick on the hot seat. From the administration's point of view, Mick wasn't going anywhere after this year unless the season absolutely tanked. With the continued improvement from year to year plus the recruiting class coming in, Mick wasn't going anywhere this year. He didn't schedule easy to save his job. He scheduled easy to allow his team to develop roles and a personality. So far so good. Plus this writer is slamming UC for Oklahoma being down this year. This game wasn't scheduled 2 months ago. When this game was scheduled, OU was a good team and playing in OKC is a virtual road game. It should have been an exceptional test. As it stands, it will be a good test. Dayton has struggled but they should be a good A-10 team.

I think this kind of negative national attention is good for this team though. You can tell they are playing with a chip on their shoulder. An "oh yeah, watch this" kind of attitude. I like that they are not satisfied even with a blow out win. Dixon posted on his twitter that he was disappointed in his performance and vowed to continue to work to get better. That is the best attitude to have. I have a really good feeling about what this team can and will do in the Big East this year. Too bad this writer won't be held accountable for his article. If he is wrong, he won't touch the topic again this year. If he is right, he'll circle back and say, "see, I told you so." Unfortunately that is what journalism has turned to in the age of the internet.

 

[TheLongHaul]

I don't see anything wrong with what he wrote. UC has played a bunch of cupcakes and have looked good doing it. No way of knowing how good this team will be until they play tougher competition.

 

[JasonS]

I don't see anything wrong with what he wrote. UC has played a bunch of cupcakes and have looked good doing it. No way of knowing how good this team will be until they play tougher competition.

I don't have a problem with what he wrote (in terms of the point of the article - weak schedules). I have a problem with it being crappy journalism. There was no substance to the article. It was an article purely written to take a shot at UL and UC. He didn't do any research about UC and it's players. He just assumes that UC will suck because they lost their top 2 scorers. If you want to say that their schedule has been weak, fine, but at least have seen the team play and understand why the schedule is the way it is before getting on your soap box. Mick scheduled this way to save his job? Really? Someone should understand the situation a little better before making that claim.

 

[psax889906]

I agree with Jason in the fact that, while his points were valid, it appeared clear to me that the writer had not actually seen a UC game once this season. You can't really blame him since they haven't been on national tv yet (OU will be the first) but at the same time it appears as though he didn't even attempt to go beneath the surface and look for more. It will be interesting to see the media's position once UC has played OU on ESPN... even with the Sooners being down they will be the second best team UC has faced thus far and they are a big name from a power conference. A win is important... a blowout would be a pleasant fringe benefit.

 

[JeromyM]

well, Saturday, he will get his chance to see em play. The Cats need to go to Oklahoma City and pound Oklahoma into the ground to prove a point. What point is that??? That we really can play ball this year. I truely believe this team is going to have a good season.

 

[dp3113]

i honestly find it hard to blame the guy. if teams are not ranked high in the preseason, the only thing they have to base their value on is who they have beaten. uc hasn't given him an opportunity to show their value yet. i am optimistic about the cats, but i cant blame someone who isn't going to rate us higher until we beat someone. i dont get how that correlates into him being a "hater" or a "douche". uc hasnt given him a chance to see who we can beat. we will in time.

 

[bearcat jeff]

The schedule is a legitimate point. However, if you have watched this team you can see the difference in it from a year ago. As a team you can do one thing. Prove people wrong by winning in the BEast and beating Xavier who has owned you recently. You want respect you win your city back and you win in league play.

 

[JasonS]

This is from Decourcy's article...

3. You've seen how this non-con schedule took its toll on Michigan State. If you were a coach, how would YOU schedule for your team: 1) cupcakes every meal, 2) some meat but lots of tasty snacks, 3) all meat and potatoes, 4) none of the above?


DeCourcy: I believe teams need confidence and precision in order to excel. Teams work against inferior players every day in practice in order to improve their execution, but when the lights are on and people are keeping score and confidence is at stake, they’re supposed to fight only heavyweights? That doesn’t make sense.

I’ve written over and over again teams that play strenuous non-conference schedules don’t win NCAA championships. I’ve shown the stats that prove it. When we get toward the tournament, check who has the toughest schedules among BCS conference teams and see how many don’t make the field. Last year, three of the top 10 missed, and only two -- West Virginia and Kansas State -- got beyond the second round.

The foundation of a NCAA Tournament contender’s schedule – presuming it competes in a high-caliber league -- should include three tough games: one home, one road, one neutral. That’s plenty.



Read more: http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-ba...braces-for-bruce-pearls-sec-ban#ixzz18HwcFMnY

 

[JasonS]

Based on Decourcy's article above, UC should play one tough game at home, on the road and at a neutral site.

Home: Xavier
Road: Oklahoma (I know it is technically neutral but let's be honest, it's a road game)
Neutral: Dayton

 

[BearcatAlum1]

DeCourcy is the man.

Yes, he seems to like Cincinnati, but he is generally objective.

 

[Thegreatone]

Decourcy is a big cincinnati fan. He makes valid points about college hoops all the time though.

 

[psax889906]

Based on Decourcy's article above, UC should play one tough game at home, on the road and at a neutral site.

Home: Xavier
Road: Oklahoma (I know it is technically neutral but let's be honest, it's a road game)
Neutral: Dayton

Maybe put Miami(OH) in there too for the Road game too. I'd say those two games equal a STRONG road test.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

Would really like to see a home and home series set up with another BCS team or a team like Memphis. I think 2 a year along with the Xavier game will be more than enough to get the committee's attention.

 

[Thegreatone]

Would really like to see a home and home series set up with another BCS team or a team like Memphis. I think 2 a year along with the Xavier game will be more than enough to get the committee's attention.

Agreed. I would love to get someone like Indiana on board.

 

[Kingsley Court]

Agreed. I would love to get someone like Indiana on board.

Indiana?! That's the other BCS team you want on the schedule? They are pathetic right now. Only do that if it was a 10 year deal, hoping they would eventually improve.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

Indiana?! That's the other BCS team you want on the schedule? They are pathetic right now. Only do that if it was a 10 year deal, hoping they would eventually improve.

Agreed. I know it may be far fetched but maybe a series with Kansas State? or maybe Arizona?