Wanted a place for some UC hoops talk. Saw it scattered in a couple loosely related threads. Not sure how close anyone follows advanced basketball stats, but I think kenpom's numbers are the best of the best. His preseason projections came out this week and he has UC at 14. He has UC 45th in projected adjusted offense and 3rd in projected adjusted defense. I've been saying for a while I think UC can be a top 50 offense this year (if they get to top 25 that's a top 5-10 caliber team) as last year they showed promise in their two point shooting and 3 point shooting....were really only held back by turnovers. Interesting that Kenpom has them projected pretty much right where I was thinking in this regard.

Also of note, he has UC 340 in adjusted tempo. No reason to think we won't play slow like we always tend to. Here's a link to the site.

http://kenpom.com/

Great stats and I very much want this to be Mick's best team yet. I came away from Saturday's scrimmage impressed with size, athleticism and defensive potential. I say potential because this wasn't really live game conditions.

I'm a glass half full guy but I have to say I'm still concerned with missed jump shots and layups. They can beat 85% of their opponents with great defense and so-so offense. To advance to the next level (conference champs, conference tourney champs, Sweet 16 or greater) a couple of guys need to start dropping mid-range jumpers and finish some layups while being fouled and cash in at the stripe with a free throw (3 points) vs. missed layups and foul shots (0 to 2 points).

(10-26-2015 12:03 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  Great stats and I very much want this to be Mick's best team yet. I came away from Saturday's scrimmage impressed with size, athleticism and defensive potential. I say potential because this wasn't really live game conditions.

I'm a glass half full guy but I have to say I'm still concerned with missed jump shots and layups. They can beat 85% of their opponents with great defense and so-so offense. To advance to the next level (conference champs, conference tourney champs, Sweet 16 or greater) a couple of guys need to start dropping mid-range jumpers and finish some layups while being fouled and cash in at the stripe with a free throw (3 points) vs. missed layups and foul shots (0 to 2 points).

Speaking of conference tournaments it's about time UC wins one of those. It's been a while.

With SMU out, it should be UC-Uconn.

Memphis and UCONN still have a ton of talent. Temple should be competetive. This is probably the best team on paper for Mick, but they are still an NBA talented player away from being a final 4 threat.

(10-26-2015 12:42 PM)jarr Wrote:  Memphis and UCONN still have a ton of talent. Temple should be competetive. This is probably the best team on paper for Mick, but they are still an NBA talented player away from being a final 4 threat.

Tulsa should be competitive as well, they return everybody. I am happy there is a preseason basketball thread and is about time. Thank you Mark

Just in case you are unaware. Basketball Mini Packs (5 games) went on sale this morning. I pulled the trigger and got some great games.

Will probably go to a game or 2 in November, grab tickets to the Butler and Iowa State games, before hitting up every conference game in January/February/March.

Great stuff Mark I'm not one who has an issue with a slow-paced offense. Any offense that is efficient, limits turnovers, and makes shots is entertaining to me. The turnover thing last year was very strange to me, on two levels. For one, double-digit turnovers playing slow pace was very poor. Second, I bet it's been MANY years since UC turned it over more than their opponent. Probably have to go back to Mick's two initial rebuilding teams with losing records.

(10-26-2015 04:27 PM)Brian_Johnson Wrote:  Great stuff Mark I'm not one who has an issue with a slow-paced offense. Any offense that is efficient, limits turnovers, and makes shots is entertaining to me. The turnover thing last year was very strange to me, on two levels. For one, double-digit turnovers playing slow pace was very poor. Second, I bet it's been MANY years since UC turned it over more than their opponent. Probably have to go back to Mick's two initial rebuilding teams with losing records.

A lot of those turnovers came from the big guys (Ellis, DeBerry, Gary Gary Clark). You have to keep in mind those guys had never played a minute of division I CBB prior to last season.

I think even if they minimally spent the off season working on their footwork and getting stronger we will see a dramatic decrease in the number of turnovers this season. By all accounts Ellis put on 15 pounds of muscle and from what I have seen DeBerry looks like he is in great condition so I think the strength category has been accomplished.

I think one of either Johnson or Cobb have to show up consistently. We can't have them go 2-16 or whatever like they did in multiple games last season. That's not going to get it done. It will also be of great help of Evans can give us as much or even more, than Jermaine Sanders did. Scoring was at a premium last season, we need to fill it up. Just playing defense isn't always going to be enough. Hopefully with Jenifer getting some minutes, there can be a bit more fluidity on offense, when we face an opponent who cuts us off from the inside. Caupain is good, he's just not so fast as to be able to really turn the corner on defenders in the half court.

(10-26-2015 03:02 PM)Flying Bearcat Wrote:  

(10-26-2015 12:42 PM)jarr Wrote:  Memphis and UCONN still have a ton of talent. Temple should be competetive. This is probably the best team on paper for Mick, but they are still an NBA talented player away from being a final 4 threat.

Tulsa should be competitive as well, they return everybody. I am happy there is a preseason basketball thread and is about time. Thank you Mark

Agree, the one thing they lack is inside presence.

The OOC slate features only 3 road games and potentially 2 neutral site games (Barclays Center Classic). We have a great chance to run the table through the EggZavier game IMO. That would mean 9-0 going into the S_it-tas Center.

Nov 13 W. Carolina
Nov 15 Robert Morris
Nov 18 @Bowling Green

Barclays Center Classic:
Nov 22 Ark.-PB
Nov 24 SE Louisiana
Nov 27 Nebraska (Brooklyn, NY)
Nov 28 Final TBD - Winner George W./Tenn (Brooklyn, NY)

Dec 2 Butler
Dec 6 Morgan St.
Dec 12 @Xavier
Dec 15 Norfolk St.
Dec 19 @VCU
Dec 22 Iowa St.

(10-26-2015 07:11 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  The OOC slate features only 3 road games and potentially 2 neutral site games (Barclays Center Classic). We have a great chance to run the table through the EggZavier game IMO. That would mean 9-0 going into the S_it-tas Center.

Nov 13 W. Carolina
Nov 15 Robert Morris
Nov 18 @Bowling Green

Barclays Center Classic:
Nov 22 Ark.-PB
Nov 24 SE Louisiana
Nov 27 Nebraska (Brooklyn, NY)
Nov 28 Final TBD - Winner George W./Tenn (Brooklyn, NY)

Dec 2 Butler
Dec 6 Morgan St.
Dec 12 @Xavier
Dec 15 Norfolk St.
Dec 19 @VCU
Dec 22 Iowa St.

Yeesh...I didn't know how crappy our non conference schedule was.

There are definitely some scrubs, but Nebraska was good last year, don't know about Tennessee this year, but Butler, VCU, X and a top 5 team in ISU make it pretty decent overall IMO. Now if you're looking at the home slate I agree it's lacking short of ISU.

(10-26-2015 08:10 PM)Teakwood Wrote:  There are definitely some scrubs, but Nebraska was good last year, don't know about Tennessee this year, but Butler, VCU, X and a top 5 team in ISU make it pretty decent overall IMO. Now if you're looking at the home slate I agree it's lacking short of ISU.

Don't forget about Butler. They are #20 in the coaches poll right now.

(10-26-2015 12:30 PM)BcatMatt13 Wrote:  

(10-26-2015 12:03 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  Great stats and I very much want this to be Mick's best team yet. I came away from Saturday's scrimmage impressed with size, athleticism and defensive potential. I say potential because this wasn't really live game conditions.

I'm a glass half full guy but I have to say I'm still concerned with missed jump shots and layups. They can beat 85% of their opponents with great defense and so-so offense. To advance to the next level (conference champs, conference tourney champs, Sweet 16 or greater) a couple of guys need to start dropping mid-range jumpers and finish some layups while being fouled and cash in at the stripe with a free throw (3 points) vs. missed layups and foul shots (0 to 2 points).

Speaking of conference tournaments it's about time UC wins one of those. It's been a while.

With SMU out, it should be UC-Uconn.

Yep - I'm cheering for Mick tourney time. Our guys are playing as if the regular season is the post season. We have great transfers in Semi from Duke and Jordan from Texas Tech (don't reply or Tech trolls appear like Beetlejuice)

It hasn't been announced that our school is doing something really cool for the seniors for them sticking around

(10-26-2015 08:00 PM)BeerCat Wrote:  

(10-26-2015 07:11 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  The OOC slate features only 3 road games and potentially 2 neutral site games (Barclays Center Classic). We have a great chance to run the table through the EggZavier game IMO. That would mean 9-0 going into the S_it-tas Center.

Nov 13 W. Carolina
Nov 15 Robert Morris
Nov 18 @Bowling Green

Barclays Center Classic:
Nov 22 Ark.-PB
Nov 24 SE Louisiana
Nov 27 Nebraska (Brooklyn, NY)
Nov 28 Final TBD - Winner George W./Tenn (Brooklyn, NY)

Dec 2 Butler
Dec 6 Morgan St.
Dec 12 @Xavier
Dec 15 Norfolk St.
Dec 19 @VCU
Dec 22 Iowa St.

Yeesh...I didn't know how crappy our non conference schedule was.

That is a very solid non conference schedule.

(10-26-2015 08:40 PM)subflea Wrote:  

(10-26-2015 08:00 PM)BeerCat Wrote:  

(10-26-2015 07:11 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  The OOC slate features only 3 road games and potentially 2 neutral site games (Barclays Center Classic). We have a great chance to run the table through the EggZavier game IMO. That would mean 9-0 going into the S_it-tas Center.

Nov 13 W. Carolina
Nov 15 Robert Morris
Nov 18 @Bowling Green

Barclays Center Classic:
Nov 22 Ark.-PB
Nov 24 SE Louisiana
Nov 27 Nebraska (Brooklyn, NY)
Nov 28 Final TBD - Winner George W./Tenn (Brooklyn, NY)

Dec 2 Butler
Dec 6 Morgan St.
Dec 12 @Xavier
Dec 15 Norfolk St.
Dec 19 @VCU
Dec 22 Iowa St.

Yeesh...I didn't know how crappy our non conference schedule was.

That is a very solid non conference schedule.

Agree, there are only 2 really bad teams, over 300 RPI, and they are the 2 scheduled for Barclay's. All the others are top 50, or top 150 I believe. Mick has done very well over the last couple of years playing the RPI game.

As far as the schedule goes most of it is a really solid nonconference slate. Iowa State, Butler, Xavier, Nebraska and either GW or Tenn gives UC five real tests. The only really poorly scheduled game that UC can control was the Morgan State game. That's likely to be a dreadful team. The first two teams UC plays in the Barclays Classic will be RPI drags as well, which is disappointing. That said, UC has clearly made an effort to play less RPI anchors in recent years, which is a good thing.

Sorry I was really talking about the home games W Carolina, Robert Morris, Ark PB, SE Louisiana, Butler, Morgan St, Norfolk St, and Iowa St.

Not much to entice season ticket sales there.