What would you like to see done to each player and to the team's offense or defense before the season's done. Go ahead and question every move Cronin has made in this thread. No need to call names to young kids who are giving their heart and soul to Cincinnati fans.

They weren't supposed to win @ NM, so I'm not ready to re-write the season. They'll win a game they shouldn't, and they'll lose a game they shouldn't.

- HAVE to commit to driving the ball to the hoop on offense. The new emphasis on hand-checks, etc. should improve the Bearcats' offense. I'm looking at SK, Rubles and Caupain.

- HAVE to rebound better defensively. Nothing kills a great defensive possession more than not blocking out.

Our post players were awful in the NM game. JJ trying to do things he couldnt and Rubles being timid. They started out being aggressive but then lost their mo after missing shots and getting blocked. However it was really a tough matchup giving away several inches and 30-40 pounds at each position.

We probably were not going to win that game anyways with SK having a terrible first half, but I would have liked to see them stick to the offensive game plan better and pressed more. Not sure if the altitude had anything to do with that.

It's very early.

UC needs help inside. So for this year that is what needs work.

I'd like to see Rubles be more aggressive on rebounds and try to score inside instead of missing just about everything he tries beyond 6 feet.

As Lawrence matures I think he can be a good rebounder, but he is not there yet and he'll need to bulk up in the future.

Outside shooting is still bad - everyone needs work there.

Stop the pouting and talking to the refs. we lose focus and i have never heard of a call being reversed because of pouting.

the starting pg and the back up pg need to switch roles. the starting 4 and 5 spot need not shoot the ball unless the are 6 feet and in from the basket. the starting pg needs to stop jacking 3's, he cant make them. the starting pg needs to play smarter period. players need to realize when they are not hot to distribute the ball instead of trying to shoot out of it, you just hurt your team more.

they all need more mental toughness which i think begins with the coach setting the proper example.

JMO, no fast break.

It was pretty obvious we were going to get outscored in the paint (and we did 34-24). We won the other hustle points... points off to's (+4); second chance points (+1).

The strength of UC is going to be its guards, yet fast break points went in favor of New Mexico (7-4). I'd like to see the break more so the strength of the team (guards) can get out in space + make up for the difference in points in the paint when opponents have better bigs. NM shot 50% from the floor, so the opportunities should have been there to push the break.

Our big guys... jump hook, drop step or up and under move? Our bigs want to rush it too much when they get the ball inside, they are out of control.

There was 1 time I saw Rubles driving and had his man on his heels and he hesitated but continued to the basket, he could have had a layup and foul but since he hesitated he was fouled. I nearly jumped out of my seat saying, "that a boy!"

I would like to UC run more sets which get players shots at key areas on the floor. In addition we need kids that can make free throws. Recruiting a spot shooter would really help. It great to have kids who can shoot off the bounce but there are times when running at set for a spot shooter is needed.

(12-09-2013 03:23 PM)kyucat Wrote:  In addition we need kids that can make free throws.

Free throw shooting is one of this teams biggest strengths.

This team is what it is. When it works it will be fun. When it doesn't, see the New Mexico film.

Since our weakness is defending the post a team with a couple quality 7 footers is a horrible matchup.

Fortunately there are basically no other teams that have two quality monster players.

Need Shaq Thomas to realize his pull up jumper near the FT line is a high percentage shot that is basically unguardable. He should target 6 or 8 points a game on that shot alone. Defenders coming out to try to stop it should leave rebounders in position to clean up misses.

Need Lawrence to realize that its OK to take the ball to the rack and dunk on people. (Yes I understand that would be an extremely tall order vs. New Mexico) He isn't gettting the ball and making a quick aggressive move to the basket. He gets the ball and you can pretty much bank on him pulling up or driving wide and avoiding contact. If you have a lane, its a dunk or a foul, take it up hard with two hands and force the defense to choose.

Troy has to continue to shoot the ball when he is open. IMO he has the best 3 PT stroke on the team. We need troy taking 5 to 8 perimeter shots a game, not one or two.

I think we are going to be just fine.

This team will be fine but I suppose that depends on what your definition of fine is.

UC will be fine.

Fine= make NCAA tournament and win first round game, with competitive chance to make sweet 16

More slashing to the rim…we have a roster full of slashers

(12-10-2013 08:55 PM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  More slashing to the rim…we have a roster full of slashers

Yes. That's why it's frustrating to see them force shots outside the arc or pull up mid-range unsuccessfully. We have to face a season with no true Center; great guard play can offset that as Villanova demonstrated a few years ago. Average to poor guard play--we're finished.

(12-11-2013 07:50 AM)indycat Wrote:  

(12-10-2013 08:55 PM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  More slashing to the rim…we have a roster full of slashers

Yes. That's why it's frustrating to see them force shots outside the arc or pull up mid-range unsuccessfully. We have to face a season with no true Center; great guard play can offset that as Villanova demonstrated a few years ago. Average to poor guard play--we're finished.

Pretty much the same story every year that Cronin has been here.

(12-11-2013 08:08 AM)BeerCat Wrote:  

(12-11-2013 07:50 AM)indycat Wrote:  

(12-10-2013 08:55 PM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  More slashing to the rim…we have a roster full of slashers

Yes. That's why it's frustrating to see them force shots outside the arc or pull up mid-range unsuccessfully. We have to face a season with no true Center; great guard play can offset that as Villanova demonstrated a few years ago. Average to poor guard play--we're finished.

Pretty much the same story every year that Cronin has been here.

I do feel better knowing that Cronin was furious about the offense after the NM game. He opened his post game comments about how hard they had been working on making the offense flow and moving the ball and kept harping on the fact that we turned into one on one players. So I do believe he is quite serious about the offense being much better this season and having much more movement , passing and dribble driving to wide open shooters. We have a lot of guys that can knock down the 3 pointer when wide open, unfortunately only Caupain was hitting that game.