Xavier. We play them next Saturday. We have a shot to take down the #12 ranked AP team. I want this one. None of this stuff about, meh, the Xavier game means more to them, it's there super bowl, we don't need the game as much as they do, we have too much to lose and not enough to gain, etc, etc. I want the Cats to beat those guys. How about beat those guys with no doubts left about it. Take it to them on their home court for a change.

UC leads the all time series 49-33 but since 1980 the Muskets are 21-15. Over the last 20 seasons X has won 13 and over the past 10 they've won 7.

I didn't realize that after the Cats play Morgan St. on Sunday they don't play again until the game next Saturday. X plays WKY tomorrow and Wright St. next Tuesday before playing UC. Not that it will make any difference but can UC stay focused and primed with about a week off?

To beat them it can't just be from a strong defensive effort. It will take a complete game from the Cats IMO. Not the end of the world if we lose but it will still sting. If we win, if we win, that Butler loss will be a distant memory and my UC pride will beam brightly. Is X due for a game where the 50-50 ball doesn't bounce their way, or the bad shooting night takes hold, or the miracle three doesn't bank in? How realistic do you feel a win on their floor is? Time will tell and I'm not counting the days...

I wouldn' mind seeing a repeat of Logan's senior year, when they went in to their place and beat those clowns by about 25.

i just want a win...1pt in OT or 30 in regulation I don't care.

They are legit. We are going to have to play a heck of a game to beat them. This will be like a sweet 16 environment so should be great experience for this team.


I just don't want to get blown out...

I'd like a game where X doesn't start a fight, their coaches don't yell obscenities at our players, and their fans stop hurling racial slurs from the stands. But that's too much to ask.

Yep. Haven't decided if I will watch, yet. Games at Xavier do not resemble basketball very much.

(12-05-2015 03:30 PM)Dannyboy Wrote:  I'd like a game where X doesn't start a fight, their coaches don't yell obscenities at our players, and their fans stop hurling racial slurs from the stands. But that's too much to ask.

I just hope that Ellis manages to keep his head about him and not bite on the abundant bait that will be floating in front of him.

Seriously, if he goes postal...and I suspect he will...and provides a "Yancey Gates-Kenny Freaze" highlight that gets us another six years of "SportsCenter" thug highlights, I hope he will be gone from the team. The narrative is...and you know reality has nothing...NOTHING...to do with it...that Cincinnati is the "bad" program and X is the good "church kids." Another brawl is just intolerable.

I don't even care if an X kid throws the first punch. We CAN NOT retaliate. And you darn well know that the X elbows and knees are going to be well out there. Not to mention the mouths. We're just going to have to suck it in and not rise to it.

Personally, I was in favor of either having this game on the neutral court or not at all. But...

The cats may not be playing any games next week but they will also not be available for practices. It's finals week. That is always a challenge to find a time when everyone is available.

At this point the game means more for UC fans. Eggs has dominated the series of late. UC needs to be focused and play a perfect game to win. We need a huge game from Ellis. I hope he does not take the bait. Their fans will hurl profanity and insults towards him, Mack will more than likely try to get into his head, as will their players. I am not expecting much, so hopefully I will not be disappointed if UC loses.

Ellis and the UC coaches know what is in store for them next Saturday. Ellis showed in the Kentucky game that he is capable of checking his emotions. He has to duplicate that Saturday. It is past time UC reestablishes dominance in this series. There is no excuse to allow them to even entertain the notion that their program is on par with UC. UC needs to beat them.

Is pretty F****** good, unfortunately.

(12-05-2015 07:55 PM)bearcatmill Wrote:  At this point the game means more for UC fans. Eggs has dominated the series of late. UC needs to be focused and play a perfect game to win. We need a huge game from Ellis. I hope he does not take the bait. Their fans will hurl profanity and insults towards him, Mack will more than likely try to get into his head, as will their players. I am not expecting much, so hopefully I will not be disappointed if UC loses.

exactly how I see this....

XU has been the better program overall the past 10 years or whatever and right now they are ranked higher.

They are at home and will be favored.

Good news is, pressure is on them. Let's just go in there and give it all we got. You never know.

It's been so bad recently, that I have almost gotten used to the disappointment. Yeah, I am fine if we come out competitive, and will be happy with any sort of win.

If I was a local, I'm sure that I, quite often, would not be in a good mood. I admire the fortitude of the local Bearcat fans who have to put up with X bragging the rest of the year.

(12-06-2015 10:14 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  

(12-05-2015 07:55 PM)bearcatmill Wrote:  At this point the game means more for UC fans. Eggs has dominated the series of late. UC needs to be focused and play a perfect game to win. We need a huge game from Ellis. I hope he does not take the bait. Their fans will hurl profanity and insults towards him, Mack will more than likely try to get into his head, as will their players. I am not expecting much, so hopefully I will not be disappointed if UC loses.

exactly how I see this....

XU has been the better program overall the past 10 years or whatever and right now they are ranked higher.

They are at home and will be favored.

Good news is, pressure is on them. Let's just go in there and give it all we got. You never know.

Unfortunately, its been longer than 10 years.

Why does everyone act like this is a long shot? I realize X looks good, but they really haven't been tested the way we have. It wouldn't shock me in the slightest if we went in there and grinded one out. Don't let the Butler loss confuse you, this is a good team.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

(12-06-2015 10:14 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  XU has been the better program overall the past 10 years or whatever and right now they are ranked higher.

I thought this was pretty well refuted last year that UC has been ranked higher at the end of the year by Kenpom, RPI, Sagarin at least 3 of the last 5 years and maybe even 4. I'm not interested enough to research however.

(12-06-2015 11:12 AM)RealDeal Wrote:  

(12-06-2015 10:14 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  XU has been the better program overall the past 10 years or whatever and right now they are ranked higher.

I thought this was pretty well refuted last year that UC has been ranked higher at the end of the year by Kenpom, RPI, Sagarin at least 3 of the last 5 years and maybe even 4. I'm not interested enough to research however.

You are right over the last 5... If you expand to ten years obviously that changes because of the UC down days post Huggs.

(12-06-2015 11:12 AM)RealDeal Wrote:  

(12-06-2015 10:14 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  XU has been the better program overall the past 10 years or whatever and right now they are ranked higher.

I thought this was pretty well refuted last year that UC has been ranked higher at the end of the year by Kenpom, RPI, Sagarin at least 3 of the last 5 years and maybe even 4. I'm not interested enough to research however.

Woop dee do. Since 2004 they've had two Elite 8 and three Sweet 16 finishes, and a 6-4 record in the Shootout. I think I'd rather have that.

(12-06-2015 11:30 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(12-06-2015 11:12 AM)RealDeal Wrote:  

(12-06-2015 10:14 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  XU has been the better program overall the past 10 years or whatever and right now they are ranked higher.

I thought this was pretty well refuted last year that UC has been ranked higher at the end of the year by Kenpom, RPI, Sagarin at least 3 of the last 5 years and maybe even 4. I'm not interested enough to research however.

You are right over the last 5... If you expand to ten years obviously that changes because of the UC down days post Huggs.

I care only about NCAA tourney appearances. Since 1991: UC 19 appearances, X 18 appearances. Since 2001, its not even close in advancements in the tourney. Do you realize UC has lost 4 out of our last 5 tourney games. While I don't think their program is better than UC, they have certainly pulled a lot closer or even. God, I hate being the advocate for X, but what's fair is fair.

(12-06-2015 11:43 AM)CincyBro Wrote:  I care only about NCAA tourney appearances. Since 1991: UC 19 appearances, X 18 appearances. Since 2001, its not even close in advancements in the tourney. Do you realize UC has lost 4 out of our last 5 tourney games. While I don't think their program is better than UC, they have certainly pulled a lot closer or even. God, I hate being the advocate for X, but what's fair is fair.

Reducing a season to just NCAA tournament games really reduces the sample size. Smaller sample sizes produce less reliable results. Over the last 5 years X has beaten 14 and 15 seeds to advance to the sweet 16. With small sample sizes luck becomes a significant factor.

I respect X runs a good consistent program and agree I wish we'd separated more from them. As far as us losing 4 of 5 NCAA games I'd agree that's a pattern. My belief is that we didn't recruit any offensive threats between the Cash/Gates/Lance/SK classes. The last few classes with Troy/Gary/Evans/Cumberland represent a significant upgrade. Only time will tell but I'll be shocked if the next 3-4 years don't bring a couple deep tournament runs.

(12-06-2015 11:43 AM)CincyBro Wrote:  

(12-06-2015 11:30 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(12-06-2015 11:12 AM)RealDeal Wrote:  

(12-06-2015 10:14 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  XU has been the better program overall the past 10 years or whatever and right now they are ranked higher.

I thought this was pretty well refuted last year that UC has been ranked higher at the end of the year by Kenpom, RPI, Sagarin at least 3 of the last 5 years and maybe even 4. I'm not interested enough to research however.

You are right over the last 5... If you expand to ten years obviously that changes because of the UC down days post Huggs.

I care only about NCAA tourney appearances. Since 1991: UC 19 appearances, X 18 appearances. Since 2001, its not even close in advancements in the tourney. Do you realize UC has lost 4 out of our last 5 tourney games. While I don't think their program is better than UC, they have certainly pulled a lot closer or even. God, I hate being the advocate for X, but what's fair is fair.

X has run a really good program and had some great tournament luck in recent years. They haven't been as good as their tournament success, but it counts the same.

UC's last sweet 16 under Huggs was with probably one of Huggs worst teams, but they just happened to get a break in that tournament. I don't like to judge a program purely by NCAA tournament results, though we need to start making more runs, no doubt.