What the Future Holds For West Region Teams - UC

[JasonS]

6. Cincinnati Bearcats
What they're losing: The Bearcats lose six seniors but none of them are top scorers. Ibrahima Thomas's six rebounds per game will be missed, as well as a group of solid role players but overall the Bearcats' star power will be returning. Yancy Gates has improved each season under Mick Cronin and should stay and continue on the path.

What they're adding: Anchored by ESPNU 100 SF Shaquille Thomas (Montclair, N.J./Nia Prep), the Bearcats are bringing in a deep, talented and tough group of prospects that add value on the perimeter. Thomas has the tools to give them scoring right away off the bounce and finishing on the break. Also SG Jeremiah Davis (Muncie, Ind./Huntington Prep) has a good feel for the game and is productive at both ends of the floor.

What it equals: This class is loaded on the wing position, gives Cronin versatility and the timing could not have been better. This freshman class adds depth for competitive practices, gives the Bearcats more weapons in games and has the ability to take the pressure off the returning group.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/basketball/mens/news/story?id=6213404

 

[thebeast]

i am hearing people saying we are going to be better next year and i cant see it. we are bringing in a great shooter in sanders and hopefully a good scorer in thomas and i like guyn but we are going to have such a void in senior leadership. but hopefully yancy and dion will surprise me

 

[psax889906]

i am hearing people saying we are going to be better next year and i cant see it. we are bringing in a great shooter in sanders and hopefully a good scorer in thomas and i like guyn but we are going to have such a void in senior leadership. but hopefully yancy and dion will surprise me

What you have is an upgrade in talent and a downgrade in experience. I think it's a wash and the potential for next year's team is through the roof. There is no reason they can't finish in the top 4 in the Big East next year. I still don't think they have enough to compete for a Big East title, but they are progressing.

 

[catsfan32]

What you have is an upgrade in talent and a downgrade in experience. I think it's a wash and the potential for next year's team is through the roof. There is no reason they can't finish in the top 4 in the Big East next year. I still don't think they have enough to compete for a Big East title, but they are progressing.

Agreed, I think we lose very little and what we lose is experience. We bring in a significant talent upgrade and we will only need the freshman to give spot minutes and at most 10-15 from a few of them. We return our top 4 scorers and I think we will be picked to finish 7th or better in the BEAST by the coaches and personally think we finish in the top 6.

 

[JasonS]

Agreed, I think we lose very little and what we lose is experience. We bring in a significant talent upgrade and we will only need the freshman to give spot minutes and at most 10-15 from a few of them. We return our top 4 scorers and I think we will be picked to finish 7th or better in the BEAST by the coaches and personally think we finish in the top 6.

Losing Bishop will hurt the most. Of course, Dixon has the athleticism to be a great defender on the perimeter. Time will tell if he gets there. We don't lose much, if anything, offensively and should be an even more athletic team with the recruits we are bringing in.

Many people didn't think this year's team would be better with Lance and DV gone, but it is. Let's see how the freshmen look next year and then make our judgements.

 

[bearcat jeff]

UC will return it's top 4 scorers but they will lose 23.9 ppg and 14.5 rpg between Bishop, Wilks, Biggie, Thomas, and Davis. Plus the intangibles of Bishops defense and the experience factor. The points I believe can be made up. My concern is with the rebounding and intangibles.

With another offseason and continued weight training, I believe JJ will be a much better rebounder and defender. Gaines with his size, quickness and athleticism will be an immediate help there as well. He is gaining practice experience daily while he prepares for next season. He has the ability to be a shot blocking presence. This is why I believe it's important to bring a solid JUCO big that is physically ready to rebound and defend. Points shouldn't be the issue. Rebounding and defense will.

Cash will entering his 4th season with the program. Dion and Yancy will be entering their fourth seasons as well. JJ has played a lot of minutes as a freshman and knows what is needs to be done to win. I've already mentioned Gaines is practicing against the first team everyday and getting extra developmental work. JP will be in his third season (nothing is being said about him transferring at this point), and Killa will most likely be the go to guy next season offensively.

That gives you plenty of experience on the perimeter and inside as well. Depth and bench contributions become the issue, especially on the front line. Who will be the fourth man in the post? Ellis isn't physically ready right now and needs to be around at least 230 lbs. by the start of the season. I don't see this happening. They need another big body.

Cash's knee is going to get cleaned out after the season but with Davis and Guyn we will at least have some depth at point guard. Davis has tremendous court vision and is a terrific stand still shooter who can score with contact, and Guyn can be a defensive warrior who is best at leading the break and distributing.

Thomas is the slasher we really lack who will be able to break teams down. He has to get mentally tougher and not allow his emotions to effect his game. Sanders seems to always get overlooked and I believe he will be the one who contributes the most immediately. The way Mick went after him I have to believe he feels the same. He is simply a solid basketball player who does everything well. The question is can he defend high D1 athletes? The rest I have no question about.

The offseason is critical to this team but these guys love basketball and they will work hard. The returning players all have areas they can improve in. Ultimately the question will be "what kind of defensive team will the Bearcats be?". One analyst recently said he thought Mick Cronin was one of the best defensive planning coaches in the league. With the length and athleticism they will have, we could see more match up zone to compensate for the lack of experience on the defensive side of the ball.

I think the team will be more talented and I think it will be a very good team overall. My questions are simple. Can they play BEast defense? Can they rebound? How will the new guys fit in and accept their roles? Those three things will determine if they're talented or successful.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

Bishop is obviously our biggest loss, but I think people are downplaying what Davis brought to this team defensively as well. There are times he came in when Cash wasn't getting the job done and shut down a pg for some decent minutes. He isn't pretty out there, but he learned how to shadow a guy pretty good and disrupt the opponents offensive flow. And he and Wilks were dynamite in the press. I think JJ can replace what Wilks brought defensively and then some, but I don't think we'll have defense off the bench like Larry provided us.

 

[adhdfan]

Bishop is obviously our biggest loss, but I think people are downplaying what Davis brought to this team defensively as well. There are times he came in when Cash wasn't getting the job done and shut down a pg for some decent minutes. He isn't pretty out there, but he learned how to shadow a guy pretty good and disrupt the opponents offensive flow. And he and Wilks were dynamite in the press. I think JJ can replace what Wilks brought defensively and then some, but I don't think we'll have defense off the bench like Larry provided us.

Winning is fun so I believe cronin has recruited some gym rats like Kilpatrick and Dixon who will get better. I also believe Cash will put it all together next year and be more consistent. Add a wing who can score at 6"7 and Sanders and they will move the ball so much better. I think Gaines will impress on defense and rebounding, which will negate losing Thomas. I hpoe for and think a K-Martin (offensively, not defensively)season is possible for Gates. Plus actually having a pg off the bench should let cash play at a higher level since he won't have to conserve as much energy.. This is going to be a fun tournament with a sweet sixteen possible and an even better team next year!!

 

[nparker1]

there is a definite chance the team has a tougher time next year after losing some seniors, especially Bishop. however, a lot of the national critics said UC would not be successful this year after losing Stephenson and Vaughn. lets hope the Cats prove all the doubters wrong again.
Go Bearcats!

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

The key will be defense because I think that is the area we will see the biggest drop off.