UC's Cronin: Pizza coming for RallyCats
Tom Groeschen, tgroeschen@enquirer.com 3:50 p.m. EST March 4, 2015


Mick Cronin hopes to see the RallyCats on other upcoming UC trips.(Photo: The Enquirer/Meg Vogel)

Mick Cronin fully intends to buy that pizza.

University of Cincinnati head basketball coach Cronin was thrilled by the turnout of 100-plus UC student "RallyCats" boosters who bused to New Orleans for last Saturday's 63-47 Bearcats win over Tulane.

Cronin, still sidelined from games for medical reasons, watched on TV as the RallyCats essentially took over Tulane's Devlin Fieldhouse. UC fans cheered from start to finish and easily drowned out the sparse Tulane crowd (total attendance 2,430).

During the game, Cronin tweeted:

Quote:Mick CroninVerified account ‏@CoachCroninUC

Rallycats making a huge difference. Best thing I have seen as the Cincinnati coach. Pizza on me when you get home!!!

Cronin said he intends to follow through on that promise.

"I just have to find them," Cronin said. "I'll let you know how we're going to get that done. I want to look into how we can get them to some more road games."

It is not feasible for the RallyCats to make every road trip, but New Orleans was attractive as a destination city. After last Saturday's win, UC players went over and thanked the RallyCats before leaving the court. Several players spoke of how the crowd had lifted them.

"I think it was a huge boost for our guys," Cronin said. "I actually met with somebody already, making sure there's a way we can get them there on their spring break, whether it's the conference tournament or NCAA tournament. How can we get them there?"

Meanwhile, pizza awaits.

"Money well spent," Cronin said.

NCAA WATCH: UC at this juncture is projected to make the NCAA tournament by many forecasters.

Among them is Jerry Palm of CBSSports.com who, entering Wednesday, listed UC among teams that are, "In for now."

Palm said UC should be OK if it splits its last two regular season games.

"Cincinnati took care of business against Tulane (last Saturday)," Palm wrote in his latest analysis. "With their good wins, the Bearcats are close to getting off this (bubble) page."

AAC WATCH: The Bearcats (20-9, 11-5 AAC entering Wednesday) went into Wednesday night's game still hopeful of landing as high as a No. 3 seed for the AAC tournament March 12-15 in Hartford, Connecticut.

If UC wins its last two games (at Tulsa, then home against Memphis on Sunday) it will be the No. 3 seed in the tournament. If UC loses twice, there is a scenario that puts them as No. 6 seed. If UC goes 1-1, it depends on which team they beat and how other teams in their AAC standings vicinity fare.

A Tulsa win against UC on Wednesday would give the Golden Hurricane a share of the AAC title and would allow Tulsa (21-7, 14-2 AAC entering Wednesday) to claim the outright championship Sunday against SMU.

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/c.../24385779/