Not to look past this season- which has thus far been very entertaining and has seen many check-mark boxes clicked with a "yes!" But I am very enthusiastic about the future of the bball program!

Mick seems to have stocked up on big physical guards- Caupain looks to be our starting PG for the next three years and KJ has been better than expected- a great defender and plenty of toughness and ability to score. Both guys seem capable of averaging double digit pts next year.

And we haven't even seen Morman who was by all accounts the most talented of the group- a more athletic version of SK in waiting anyone?

Add to that G'lawn and you have a very solid backcourt coming in next year.

Sanders coming into his own this year- a big strong wing that can rebound and hits the open three at a superb clip. We still have him for another year.

Shaq Thomas has been slow to develop- but he's only a soph! Give him time to grow into that rangy body and develop some strength. His upside is tremendous and no one can doubt his ability in the open court.

Jermaine Lawrence looks to be the real deal. Tons of skill just needs to get comfortable with the speed of the college game and add some strength. But I am sure we will see some great things from this kid.

And a huge influx of front court talent with Strickland, Moore, Clark, and DeBerry. Probably the deepest and most talented infusion of front court players we have seen in YEARS!

I loved the Big East, but man that was a hellacious gauntlet. Mick has to be licking his chops looking at the American. Sure there will be some challenges with Memphis, Uconn, and Temple. But it won't be the nightly meat grinder that the BEAST was.

Time to schedule a few more top 50 teams in the OOC and get used to being ranked in the top 15 consistently every year...

I'm really excited about the future of the program and the way Mick has been able to build it with a strong foundation to be consistent, but let's also remember we're losing our 2 best players after this year. That is a ton to replace and I wouldn't necessarily expect next year's team to outperform this year's team.

(01-10-2014 10:05 AM)uccheese Wrote:  I'm really excited about the future of the program and the way Mick has been able to build it with a strong foundation to be consistent, but let's also remember we're losing our 2 best players after this year. That is a ton to replace and I wouldn't necessarily expect next year's team to outperform this year's team.

That said , this team 2-3 years from now has a chance to be something special . If everyone develops , stays healthy and sticks around. A lot of "ifs" but some good years ahead.

This years team can go far as well .

(01-10-2014 10:05 AM)uccheese Wrote:  I'm really excited about the future of the program and the way Mick has been able to build it with a strong foundation to be consistent, but let's also remember we're losing our 2 best players after this year. That is a ton to replace and I wouldn't necessarily expect next year's team to outperform this year's team.

not only are we losing our two best players, but we are losing basically all of our starting experience. next year's starting five will be practically void of experience. but that's a topic for another day. just my inner chatter being exercised. we will have beef inside next year though, lots and lots of beef. this year's squad's practically vegetarian. mick didn't address that particular issue the past few classes, just loaded up on wings only to find out that while it has become a guard's game the need for an interior presence is in fact a dire need. but i'm happy with how it's worked out thus far

Looking forward to watching in coming guys like Gary Clark and Quadri Moore. They are putting up ridiculous numbers in high school.

(01-10-2014 11:10 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  Looking forward to watching in coming guys like Gary Clark and Quadri Moore. They are putting up ridiculous numbers in high school.

Just a few examples: Gary Clark dropped 40 and 17 on Wednesday and took UK Commit Devin Booker to the woodshed with a 35 point, 22 rebound, 9 block game earlier this year. Also Quadri Moore is averaging 16 ppg, 10 rpg, and 3.5bpg so far this year. Also, Coreontae Deberry is averaging 10 and 6 in JUCO, but his best stat, at 6'10" 270 he shoots 80% for the FT. Can't wait to see the high low game back in Red and Black.

(01-10-2014 10:05 AM)uccheese Wrote:  I'm really excited about the future of the program and the way Mick has been able to build it with a strong foundation to be consistent, but let's also remember we're losing our 2 best players after this year. That is a ton to replace and I wouldn't necessarily expect next year's team to outperform this year's team.

It's hard to say with this year's frosh, where they'll be next year. I think Caupain could end up being really good. There should be enough players at all positions to be at least serviceable inside and out. I keep trying to imagine what a stronger Lawrence and Thomas will be like. I think the most curious development, might be Sanders. He might be a pretty consistent scorer for us next season. His last 5 games, he's averaging 9.4 points(11 if you don't count the Memphis game) and shooting .566 from the floor.

I have no concerns with regression next year. We've been playing our best during SKs slump and coming into the year no one figured JJ would be an important offensive contributor. We have have a surplus of talented options, guys are going to step up. I expect to improve next year despite losing the three seniors.

I agree with much of what's been shared here regarding how Mick is building the program with quality players but I'm concerned in the short term for next season. You can count on one hand (maybe two) the frontline players UC has ever recruited who can play immediately. Lawrence is gifted and a great addition but imagine if he had to start and play even 30 minutes this season? For whatever reason our recruiting classes are highly unbalanced right now and next season could be a major rebuild of the frontcourt before a very promising new era of Bearcat greatness in 2016 and beyond.

I'm looking to see it if we can keep up the recruiting momentum through 2015 and beyond.

(01-10-2014 01:20 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(01-10-2014 11:10 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  Looking forward to watching in coming guys like Gary Clark and Quadri Moore. They are putting up ridiculous numbers in high school.

Just a few examples: Gary Clark dropped 40 and 17 on Wednesday and took UK Commit Devin Booker to the woodshed with a 35 point, 22 rebound, 9 block game earlier this year. Also Quadri Moore is averaging 16 ppg, 10 rpg, and 3.5bpg so far this year. Also, Coreontae Deberry is averaging 10 and 6 in JUCO, but his best stat, at 6'10" 270 he shoots 80% for the FT. Can't wait to see the high low game back in Red and Black.

Speaking of Clark, he just put up a quadruple double tonight. Ridiculous numbers-- 22 pts, 21 Reb, 15 Blks and 10 assists.

D1 Circuit ‏@D1Circuit 11m
F Gary Clark (@Gary11_Clark): 22 PTS, 21 REB, 15 BLK, 10 AST for Clayton in a win over WJ. #CP3 #QUADRUPLEDOUBLE http://www.d1circuit.com/game/show/6404020 …

He's been putting up double-take statlines all season. Here's hoping it translates to the college game. I think he could be a VERY special player when it's all said and done.

(01-09-2014 11:38 PM)Bearcatbdub Wrote:  Time to schedule a few more top 50 teams in the OOC and get used to being ranked in the top 15 consistently every year...

This right here...

after Memphis we played Houston and now Rutgers, Temple, USF, UCF, Temple again.

That's a stretch that beats playing Cuse, Nova, Gtown, Marquette consecutively

We have to at least split with Uconn and Memphis every year and schedule and beat tough OOC teams. But we should be an NCAA tourney mainstay as long as we dont lose to too many teams were not supposed to in conference. Im definitely excited for our future in this conference!

(01-10-2014 11:43 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  He's been putting up double-take statlines all season. Here's hoping it translates to the college game. I think he could be a VERY special player when it's all said and done.

Since some people don't check the recruiting page.

(01-11-2014 08:28 AM)Intimidate Dominate Celebrate Wrote:  @d1circuit, gary clark had a quadruple double last night. 22pts, 21 rebs, 10 assists and 15 blocks. No joke

I don't think it will happen, but landing Torian Graham would be massive to bridging the gap to the next generation. Mick's 2 classes prior to last year's did not produce much and it will hurt next year. Looking on the bright side a lot of good young players will get experience early which will hopefully produce some special years in the future.

Also, while I am very excited about Clark, Moore and Morman it would be awesome for Mick to land his top targets more often. I think if he continues to win that will come. Recruiting seems to be on the uptick hopefully the 2015 class puts us over the top.