Doc: Is this the beginning of UC's run?
Paul Daugherty, pdaugherty@enquirer.com 8:47 a.m. EST January 22, 2016


This time of year, the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee starts creeping ‘round the corners of a basketball team’s mind. It’s about now that the preening for the Committee begins. After the pre-Christmas dress rehearsals (when losses, even bad ones, are often either forgotten or excused) tournament-caliber teams start getting looked at.

The UC Bearcats needed to beat Memphis Thursday for that reason. And for a few others, beginning with confidence. You can only lose so many close games before you forget how to win them. The Bearcats were approaching that point.

Then they decided to play their most complete game of the season. The 76-72 win over the Tigers restored some belief, at least for now, that these Bearcats have a chance to make the March noise predicted for them back in November.

They needed everyone’s help to beat the Tigers, who run the floor faster than Fats Domino ever boogie-woogied on Beale Street. They needed all of Troy Caupain’s 25 points and 36 minutes. They had to have 18 from Shaq Thomas, a senior and still a volcano of potential, and they needed the defense of Octavius Ellis, especially late.

They needed the breather off the bench from Kevin Johnson (nine points, 20 minutes) and they needed the understated work of Gary Clark, who one of these days is going to start being a little selfish and steal some headlines of his own.

What came of it was an effort that didn’t fade late, the way some have this year. The Bearcats took a punch and were able to counter. They stopped their season from going sideways. “It feels good to win that way, you know what I’m sayin’?’’ asked Caupain.

Yeah, we do.

Caupain had the largest hand in it. He had 15 points in the first half, and then he had UC’s final six at winning time. He is a junior and is starting at point guard for the second year. Much is expected from a point guard in his third college season. Three years is a lifetime in college basketball.

When I wondered if Caupain was starting to consider the Bearcats to be his team, he demurred and said “it’s our team.’’ That is true, but the tone-setting belongs to him.

As Caupain also said, “It starts with the (point guard), but I’m not going to say it’s all me. But I am comfortable being the guy’’ running things. He did that in a special way in the first half. Caupain scored from everywhere. In one three-minute stretch near the close of the half, Caupain drove the lane and pulled up for a jumper, drilled a three from the wing then shouldered his way through the trees for a layup.

“To whom much is given, much is expected,’’ said Mick Cronin. Cronin has tended to Caupain’s psyche lately, realizing he hasn’t shot well and understanding that most 20-year-olds don’t bear Caupain’s responsibilities.

“Having the ball in his hands with everybody expecting him to be a hero. To be in that position is tough,’’ said Cronin. “He’s just a kid.’’ But, Cronin added, “the more consistent play he delivers, the more’’ ownership the coach will expect Caupain to take.

Caupain remains an unfinished product. Which gets us to Shaq Thomas, whose potential is still out there, waiting to be tapped. He was all over the court Thursday. His talents are made for the running, jumping, zip-tempo style Memphis plays. He’s not a great shooter, but when you’re filling the lane on a break, you don’t have to be

At times, it can seem as if Thomas signed with the wrong school.

“This kind of game is more his kind of game,’’ said Cronin. “When games tend to screech to a halt is not his kind of game.’’

In his 29 minutes, Thomas made eight of 11 shots and had six rebounds and two blocks. “Down the stretch, Shaq is going to have to be a factor,’’ said Cronin.

A win over Memphis was good. A loss would have been disastrous. The Tigers are a middling team (RPI, 125) in a middling conference. Players don’t necessarily dwell on making the tournament. Cronin was most pleased after the win to hear them advocating one game at a time.

But this team has put itself on the fault line, and now must find its way to less shaky ground. Thursday night was a fine start.

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/c.../79148372/

(01-22-2016 04:05 PM)ctipton Wrote:  “This kind of game is more his kind of game,’’ said Cronin. “When games tend to screech to a halt is not his kind of game.’’

Then why do you wait until 10 seconds on the shot clock to institute any meaningful action in any of your offensive sets?

Coaching Strategy:

(01-22-2016 05:00 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(01-22-2016 04:05 PM)ctipton Wrote:  “This kind of game is more his kind of game,’’ said Cronin. “When games tend to screech to a halt is not his kind of game.’’

Then why do you wait until 10 seconds on the shot clock to institute any meaningful action in any of your offensive sets?

Coaching Strategy:

Really interesting point Mick makes there... seems most of this team is built for the same kind of game that Shaq is best in. Even the guards, especially Cobb, seem to shoot better when the flow is more upbeat. I've been critical of tempo in the past, but it seems to be significantly better the last two games. UC definitely needs it continues.