"I'm trying to convey to our fans that they should be excited," Cronin said. "We've got a great group of guys. We may not have a lot of experience together yet, but this team has great potential and we've got great guys on this team. They play together and they believe in each other. I believe in them. I'm really excited about what this team can become."

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/c.../16866763/

He's obviously in sales mode as it's somewhat his job to hype the team and sell tickets.

With that said, I don't disagree that there's potential with this team. Some fans will pull their hair out early this year, but, assuming health, I'm excited for what the spring could bear.

(10-07-2014 03:06 PM)JPBearcat3 Wrote:  He's obviously in sales mode as it's somewhat his job to hype the team and sell tickets.

With that said, I don't disagree that there's potential with this team. Some fans will pull their hair out early this year, but, assuming health, I'm excited for what the spring could bear.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Once this team gels and learns to play some Bearcat defense, the sky is the limit. I don't think anybody will want to face the Cats in February and beyond. Just hope we can do enough in the non-conference schedule to build a tournament resume.

For real success, several of our players are going to have to break through the reality of the first year juco & newcomers who typically don't make big progress until their second year.

Here is our roster.

COREONTAE DeBERRY C 6 9 260 JR

QUADRI MOORE C 6 9 230 FR

JAMAREE STRICKLAND C 6 10 270 FR

GARY CLARK PF 6 7 215 FR

OCTAVIUS ELLIS PF 6 10 225 JR

SHAQUILLE THOMAS SF 6 7 205 JR

JERMAINE SANDERS SF 6 5 210 SR

TROY CAUPAIN PG 6 3 200 SO

GE'LAWN GUYN SG 6 2 185 SR

KEVIN JOHNSON SG 6 2 180 SO

DESHAUN MORMAN SG 6 3 190 FR

FARAD COBB PG 6 0 170 JR

I left out Ellis as he has been down the pike & knows the routine.

Biggest team I have seen at UC in a long time. Size won't be an issue for once.

(10-07-2014 05:17 PM)Bearcatbdub Wrote:  Biggest team I have seen at UC in a long time. Size won't be an issue for once.

I walked past them outside of the football game against Toledo. They certainly look the part.

Terry Nelson had joked about DeBerry's hands at the Bearcat at the Banks thing. Standing around at the end, he was palming a basketball and it looked like his hands were over half way around the ball. Biggest hands I have ever seen. They definitely look the part. Excited to watch this team.

(10-07-2014 05:17 PM)Bearcatbdub Wrote:  Biggest team I have seen at UC in a long time. Size won't be an issue for once.

We are talking about the team's size but it wouldn't shock me that their best combination includes Ellis at center coupled with Sanders, Thomas, and two other guards. It very rare to see two true big men on the floor at the same time in college basketball today. I am sure there will game where the Cats will go big but I am not confident that will be UC best lineup. Right now I like UC's combination of guards and forwards more than I like their big men.

I find it ironic that some are ripping TT for making excuses about his teams performance when Cronin has been known to dole out an excuse or two.

Cronin at the beginning of the year: "I'm really excited about what this team can become."

Cronin at the end of the year: "This team never really became the team I thought they would."

But I guess all coaches do that to a certain extent.

(10-07-2014 07:20 PM)Cat-Man Wrote:  I find it ironic that some are ripping TT for making excuses about his teams performance when Cronin has been known to dole out an excuse or two.

Cronin at the beginning of the year: "I'm really excited about what this team can become."

Cronin at the end of the year: "This team never really became the team I thought they would."

But I guess all coaches do that to a certain extent.

Totally different situations that the two coaches came into. Also, there is no questioning Mick's desire.

That and Mick thinks its just as crazy as we do to ever say that you can coach em up on defense too much.

I'm excited about hoops....earliest I've been excited about hoops in years.


Thanks Tubbs....

(10-07-2014 08:56 PM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  I'm excited about hoops....earliest I've been excited about hoops in years.


Thanks Tubbs....

And June

We'd BETTER have something to be excited about. I won't be able to handle two sh!tty teams in the same year.

(10-07-2014 08:56 PM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  I'm excited about hoops....earliest I've been excited about hoops in years.


Thanks Tubbs....

The T-Shirt is fuming.

(10-07-2014 09:37 PM)BJUnklFkr Wrote:  We'd BETTER have something to be excited about. I won't be able to handle two sh!tty teams in the same year.

I hope people are not expecting the basketball team to win 25 games+ and win the conference. This team is comprised of a combination of young guys and guys we have been waiting for the light to come on (Shaq, Sanders and Guyn). Our OOC conference is actually pretty tough this year and I expect this team to take some lumps out of the gate. That being said I expect come February and March that they will be much improved. To enjoy this season I think people are going to have to enjoy the process of watching the team get better. Some people aren't wired that way.

My expectations for this team is NIT, with a possible shot at sneaking in the dance as the #4 AAC team (behind UConn, Memphis and SMU) thanks to a strong finish.

(10-08-2014 08:51 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:   I hope people are not expecting the basketball team to win 25 games+ and win the conference. This team is comprised of a combination of young guys and guys we have been waiting for the light to come on (Shaq, Sanders and Guyn). Our OOC conference is actually pretty tough this year and I expect this team to take some lumps out of the gate. That being said I expect come February and March that they will be much improved. To enjoy this season I think people are going to have to enjoy the process of watching the team get better. Some people aren't wired that way.

My expectations for this team is NIT, with a possible shot at sneaking in the dance as the #4 AAC team (behind UConn, Memphis and SMU) thanks to a strong finish.

Completely agree on the first bolded statement; disagree on the second. Might just be a gut feeling, but Mick Cronin doesn't rebuild anymore; he just reloads [read in your best Chuck Norris voice, of course].

(10-08-2014 08:51 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(10-07-2014 09:37 PM)BJUnklFkr Wrote:  We'd BETTER have something to be excited about. I won't be able to handle two sh!tty teams in the same year.

I hope people are not expecting the basketball team to win 25 games+ and win the conference. This team is comprised of a combination of young guys and guys we have been waiting for the light to come on (Shaq, Sanders and Guyn). Our OOC conference is actually pretty tough this year and I expect this team to take some lumps out of the gate. That being said I expect come February and March that they will be much improved. To enjoy this season I think people are going to have to enjoy the process of watching the team get better. Some people aren't wired that way.

My expectations for this team is NIT, with a possible shot at sneaking in the dance as the #4 AAC team (behind UConn, Memphis and SMU) thanks to a strong finish.

Both Athlon and Sporting News pick UC to finish ahead of Memphis. I expect UC to be in the running the league championship. NIT would be a big step back, it might be where they land but I am expecting an NCAA tournament team that wins at least one game. It might take some time but there is more talent on the roster this season. It was just a few years ago when UC lost Lance Stephenson and Deonta Vaughn. What followed a much better team. Jackson and Rubles gave the team defense and rebounding but were offensively challenged. SK was an All-American last year and UC go to player but I also believe that hurt the growth of some of the other guards and forwards. I am ready to see what Caupain and Johnson can do this season. My biggest concern going forward is finding someone to shoot FT's at the end of the game. Every place else I see an offensive upgrade.

I think there will be definite up and downs for this team, but ultimately I think it's an NCAA tournament team (probably in the 7-10 seed range).

(10-08-2014 08:51 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(10-07-2014 09:37 PM)BJUnklFkr Wrote:  We'd BETTER have something to be excited about. I won't be able to handle two sh!tty teams in the same year.

I hope people are not expecting the basketball team to win 25 games+ and win the conference. This team is comprised of a combination of young guys and guys we have been waiting for the light to come on (Shaq, Sanders and Guyn). Our OOC conference is actually pretty tough this year and I expect this team to take some lumps out of the gate. That being said I expect come February and March that they will be much improved. To enjoy this season I think people are going to have to enjoy the process of watching the team get better. Some people aren't wired that way.

Well said.

I fully expect this team to make the tourney and surprise this year.

The following year could be a special team.