Where this team is recruiting wise and the future

[Ryno99]

Ok so hear are my thoughts. We have a lot to look forward to as UC fans.

The history: Mick started with absolutely nothing, the team hadn't recruited in at least a year, which really hurts 3 separate classes.

So the class that graduates this year is the first 4 year class for Mick, but was the first class hurt recruiting wise, so really the next 2 classes were hurt as well. So think about what he can do now that he's had the full time to recruit classes.

I would also say they've been hurt by reputation that may just be turning around this year.

When you put all this together and think how Mick has brought this team back from the abyss it is pretty darn impressive and if he's done this much with all the cards against him think what he can do by getting back in the tournament and getting some good national exposure.

I'm very optimistic that there will be a lot of good things coming UC's way in the future. I think I may get my shades out, because it's definitely looking bright up ahead.

 

[anbuc88]

Ok so hear are my thoughts. We have a lot to look forward to as UC fans.

The history: Mick started with absolutely nothing, the team hadn't recruited in at least a year, which really hurts 3 separate classes.

So the class that graduates this year is the first 4 year class for Mick, but was the first class hurt recruiting wise, so really the next 2 classes were hurt as well. So think about what he can do now that he's had the full time to recruit classes.

I would also say they've been hurt by reputation that may just be turning around this year.

When you put all this together and think how Mick has brought this team back from the abyss it is pretty darn impressive and if he's done this much with all the cards against him think what he can do by getting back in the tournament and getting some good national exposure.

I'm very optimistic that there will be a lot of good things coming UC's way in the future. I think I may get my shades out, because it's definitely looking bright up ahead.

Completely agree. The 2012-13 class is shaping up to be a very good one, as Mick is on some very good players. If they can make some noise in the BE tourney and the NCAAs, we will see UC on CBS and ESPN Big Monday, which will only further help with recruiting.

 

[psax889906]

Hopefully they can make the transition with the success and begin landing some of these high 4 star/5 star level players on a consistent basis that they've more often than not just missed on:

Kemba Walker
Chane Behanan
Marquis Teague

Regardless of the circumstances you have to give Mick credit as he's already landed two 5 star players in his time here:

Yancy Gates
Lance Stephenson

 

[adhdfan]

I gotta agree with you. I love when Mick says things like "who we are,our way, etc." To me if you look at who he's signing and has signed it says a lot about the type of kid he really is after.. Octavious,JJ,SK,Gaines,Sanders,Thomas(shaq) are kids that are long, althletic, can run the floor, rebound, block shots, and get steals! It's a fun style to watch and it requires a lot of depth. This bodes well for recruits because they know they are going to get miutes early and often. I can't wait to see who the next MCDonald's All-american he is going to get because when recruits start seeing UC on all hte major networks they will come in bunches!! It bodes well for the future of this program. I only hope Savino stays a while because they are soooo much better than last year and I think he makes the team better.. He also has a nice pipeline to the east coast..

 

[BearcatAlum1]

^ Agree re: the Savino comment. He is very valuable for this team, both recruiting and coaching.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

I put this in response on another forum that is small, not Bearcat-centric and has alot of Mick-haters on it. Thought it was worthy of being on this site as it sums up my opinions on why I supported Cronin through this rebuilding project. Figured this was as good a thread as any to put it in:


I can agree with that, jp. And thanks for the shout-out, fran-man. I have always supported Mick and given him the benefit of the doubt because every deficiency I saw out of this team is something I didn't see as being Cronin's fault or something he could really control. Sure he's made some mistakes along the way, but I don't think some people realize truly how bad the players on this team were his first two years. Ronald Allen saw significant minutes for God's sake. He was an NAIA player who through a loop-hole was able to come in without transferring. Mick took him sight unseen because he had to field a team. That roster was full of guys that weren't anywhere close to Big East-caliber. Most people's issues with Mick were player development. As the Woodman once said, "you can't polish a turd." I think he was getting the most out of his players for the most part. This year's senior class was recruited in less than a year's time from when Cronin was hired to when the signing period was. That's what he's still dealing with. No one wanted to come here, he had to get guys that not only the bigger programs, but the similar programs were passing over. He had to take chances on players who were very raw and only had potential. Most players don't live up to their potential. He had to field a program with unproven guys. There is a reason everybody in the know said it would be minimum a five-year project to get this program where it needed to be and back to competing for a tourney spot. Cronin accomplished that. He's got better recruits coming in each year. We now see that he has developed players through the years. No they're not superstars, but they are playing to the best of their abilities and that's all you can ask. (Not gonna bring up Gates here, Cronin has done all he can with him, trust that.)

My point is Cronin has done what I expected him to do. The team showed improvement on the court and off the court as each year progressed. He's getting the better recruits each year. To say I would be happy with an appearance every five years (and I know that's not your implication, Franny I did understand what you were saying) wouldn't be fair to what Cronin has done. If you decimate this team after this year and come June have him start over, then maybe I'll say yes, but that's not the case. The next five years will be nothing like the previous five. I expect a drop-off in defense next year, but I expect them to compete for a tourney berth. I expect that every year from here on out. The question from this point forward is can we still elevate past competing for a berth to expecting a berth. As good as next year's recruiting class is, it's not what it could have been. We missed on Teague, we missed on Behanon. Guess why? We weren't a tournament team, yet. We are now. Cronin has to and most assuredly will utilize this to get the next tier of recruits. That's what you have to do to sustain a high-level of success. Being in the Big East will make it tough. It's easy to dominate a weak conference, like X or Gonzaga or Memphis and to a degree us in our Conf USA days. Do I want to dominate and be the Duke or Kentucky of the Big East? Sure. Do I think Cronin can get us there? Possibly, don't know yet. Cronin wasn't hired because he was the next Coach K, he was hired because he was the right man to rebuild the team. He's done that, now it's time to see what he's worth. Next year begins our next rebuilding project. Rebuilding back to dominance. I'll continue to support Cronin through this one until I'm given a reason to feel he can't do it.

 

[anbuc88]

I put this in response on another forum that is small, not Bearcat-centric and has alot of Mick-haters on it. Thought it was worthy of being on this site as it sums up my opinions on why I supported Cronin through this rebuilding project. Figured this was as good a thread as any to put it in:


I can agree with that, jp. And thanks for the shout-out, fran-man. I have always supported Mick and given him the benefit of the doubt because every deficiency I saw out of this team is something I didn't see as being Cronin's fault or something he could really control. Sure he's made some mistakes along the way, but I don't think some people realize truly how bad the players on this team were his first two years. Ronald Allen saw significant minutes for God's sake. He was an NAIA player who through a loop-hole was able to come in without transferring. Mick took him sight unseen because he had to field a team. That roster was full of guys that weren't anywhere close to Big East-caliber. Most people's issues with Mick were player development. As the Woodman once said, "you can't polish a turd." I think he was getting the most out of his players for the most part. This year's senior class was recruited in less than a year's time from when Cronin was hired to when the signing period was. That's what he's still dealing with. No one wanted to come here, he had to get guys that not only the bigger programs, but the similar programs were passing over. He had to take chances on players who were very raw and only had potential. Most players don't live up to their potential. He had to field a program with unproven guys. There is a reason everybody in the know said it would be minimum a five-year project to get this program where it needed to be and back to competing for a tourney spot. Cronin accomplished that. He's got better recruits coming in each year. We now see that he has developed players through the years. No they're not superstars, but they are playing to the best of their abilities and that's all you can ask. (Not gonna bring up Gates here, Cronin has done all he can with him, trust that.)

My point is Cronin has done what I expected him to do. The team showed improvement on the court and off the court as each year progressed. He's getting the better recruits each year. To say I would be happy with an appearance every five years (and I know that's not your implication, Franny I did understand what you were saying) wouldn't be fair to what Cronin has done. If you decimate this team after this year and come June have him start over, then maybe I'll say yes, but that's not the case. The next five years will be nothing like the previous five. I expect a drop-off in defense next year, but I expect them to compete for a tourney berth. I expect that every year from here on out. The question from this point forward is can we still elevate past competing for a berth to expecting a berth. As good as next year's recruiting class is, it's not what it could have been. We missed on Teague, we missed on Behanon. Guess why? We weren't a tournament team, yet. We are now. Cronin has to and most assuredly will utilize this to get the next tier of recruits. That's what you have to do to sustain a high-level of success. Being in the Big East will make it tough. It's easy to dominate a weak conference, like X or Gonzaga or Memphis and to a degree us in our Conf USA days. Do I want to dominate and be the Duke or Kentucky of the Big East? Sure. Do I think Cronin can get us there? Possibly, don't know yet. Cronin wasn't hired because he was the next Coach K, he was hired because he was the right man to rebuild the team. He's done that, now it's time to see what he's worth. Next year begins our next rebuilding project. Rebuilding back to dominance. I'll continue to support Cronin through this one until I'm given a reason to feel he can't do it.

Wow. What a Great, Great, Great post. Really summarizes what most of us who have supported Cronin and the team feel.

 

[dp3113]

just an fyi- mick didnt take allen. he was there kennedy's year and was a leftover.

 

[bearcat jeff]

Perhaps the smartest thing Mick Cronin has done as head coach is to fill those first year scholarships with juco players. By doing that he was able to minimize the time those scholarships were filled by players with less than Big East talent.

He also had the foresight to see that if he was going to re-establish the foundation of this program that he needed program guys and continuity. He took his swings at top shelf talent but concentrated on bringing in talented players that fit the way he wanted to play.

Mick is now to the point where he is establishing relationships with recruits 2-3 years before their signing date. When he came in as head coach there were no players that had been recruited to play for the University of Cincinnati in two years. That name wasn't even being whispered in a recruits ear.

You can't judge a recruiting class till it graduates. That's something we can definitely take friom the outgoing seniors. But the 2011 class could potentially take this program to another level when coupled with the players UC will have remaining in the program over the next 2-3 seasons.

Coach Savino and Mick are a dynamic recruiting team but Coach Davis and George Jackson do a good job in their roles as well. They also now have incoming recruits excited about being Bearcats and actively recruiting themselves. That's huge for any program because players have strong bonds and therfore influence in each other's lives. The future of Bearcat recruiting looks bright indeed.

 

[adhdfan]

I have heard that some of the newer bearcats are helping with recruiting the way SK did with Lance. I hope shaq and jermaine can come in and be close to what SK brings.. I feel for Parker, hopefully it's just a slump because he played really well last year agains USF. I have been reading up on the signed players for next year and we should be pleasantly surprised! I think if Ellis truly is a power forward that we should red-shirt him and let him get stronger and get beat up on in practice by Gates! If Gates keeps his head on straight and works hard this offseason I see no reason why he can't average 15 and 10.. Man it sure is fun to actually see progess and be more than competitive in the best basketball conference in america!

 

[david aka the TYZ]

just an fyi- mick didnt take allen. he was there kennedy's year and was a leftover.

I thought that at first but couldn't remember for sure. I thought I remembered McGowan being the only returning player, but I do remember Allen playing in the NIT now that I think about it.