The unofficial online home for fans of the University of Cincinnati Bearcats. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(03-19-2018 01:34 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(03-19-2018 01:30 PM)UCinNKY Wrote:  In the sense of national perception? being 30 years old I grew up with the Bearcats being in the top 10, winning thrilling games and also dealing with heartbreaking defeats, but the general feeling was we were an elite level program amongst the big boys. Fast forward to 2018, with yet ANOTHER letdown when it matters most, it seems as though we've regressed to a 2nd tier program. K state, Texas Tech, Tennessee level. We don't get any high recruits, we don't sellout games anymore. The renovated Shoemaker will have been for nothing if we don't perform next year. I understand conference affiliation is hurting the prestige factor,but that didn't stop a team like Loyola Chicago making it to the sweet 16.

Maybe I need to lower my expectations until I see different.

We're a top 25 program that's one of like 8 schools to make the NCAA tournament the last 8 years. We should aspire to be a top 15 program that is getting protected seeds around half the time. We're not likely to be UNC, Duke, Kansas, but we can get to the next tier. This year despite the second round loss was a step in the right direction, but Mick needs to sustain it and get to that level more often.

Were we really a top 15 program? How did we do against top 25 competition? a far sight worse than the overall schedule. UC is the emperor of the kingdom of mediocrity--we are one of the best mediocre teams in the country. If that's all you want, then you should be happy.