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Lance McAlister: Why Can't UC do what XU is doing?
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Lance McAlister: Why Can't UC do what XU is doing?
Lance covers a lot of ground here. I find the comments but coaches to be quite interesting.



Why can't UC do what XU is doing? I asked around:





posted by Lance McAlister - 18 hours ago

UC vs XU

UC losing to UCLA to bring an end to a 30-win season was been tough for the Bearcat faithful.

Knowing Xavier is still alive and going back to the Sweet 16 has rubbed salt in the wound.

It has led to these questions being the most asked of me this week:

1. Why can't UC do what XU is doing?

2. How can XU make six Sweet 16 appearances in the last 10 years, while UC has made just one Sweet 16 ('12) in the last 16 years?

Yea.......I know......can of worms....but it sounds like a topic for Sports Talk.

Where to begin? I talked with various college basketball people, from analysts to recruiting experts to current and former coaches.

Let's take a look at the last decade: 2007-2008 to present

Record: Xavier: 242-95 (.718) Cincinnati: 226-116 (.658)

NCAA tournament appearances: XU 9, UC 7

NCAA tournament record: Xavier 14-8, UC 6-7

Sweet 16 appearances: XU 6, UC 1

Elite 8 appearances: XU 1, UC 0

XU is making its sixth Sweet 16 appearance in 10 years. Only nine teams had made at least six Sweet 16's since 2008: Kansas (7),North Carolina (7), Michigan State (7),Wisconsin (7), Xavier (6), Louisville (6), Duke (6), Arizona (6) and Kentucky (6).

UC is one of only eight schools to appear in each of the last seven NCAA Tournaments: Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, MichiganState, North Carolina, VCU and Wisconsin.

---------------

Answering the questions posed to me:

Areas to consider:

Stability:

Xavier has turned over coaches, from Skip Prosser to Thad Matta to Sean Miller and Chris Mack, and not only not skipped a beat, but continued to get better as a program. Mack has three more NCAA Tournament wins (9) than any Xavier head coach in program history. He is the first XU head coach to lead XU to four Sweet 16's (2010,2012, 2015 and 2017), twice as many as any other XU coach.

The UC program was burned to the ground by the actions of Bob Huggins and Nancy Zimpher. The Huggins DUI was a large nail in the coffin, Zimpher's delay in firing him sealed the coffin shut and allowed the basketball program to decay. Mick had to rebuild from the ashes. He had to make UC relevant again, re-entering UC into the "lunchroom conversation" for recruits.

Facilities:

Cintas Center vs 5th/3rd Arena is an NC.....No Contest. The Bearcats are finally taking a step in the arms race of college basketball, investing $80M+ to renovate 5th/3rd.

Conference:

Big East vs the American. Again, no contest. While this new edition of the Big East might not match the 80's version, it still carries star power and name recognition. Playing the conference tournament at historic Madison Square Garden only adds to that. The American is the conference UC can't wait to get out of, offering opponents like Tulane, South Florida and East Carolina.

A former coach posed this to me: "Let's me ask you a simple question: If you were a recruit, which conference would you rather play in? Which arena would you play in? This isn't that hard."

Scheduling:

The Big East offers nightly challenges to prepare Xavier for the tournament. Six other teams in the conference made the tournament. The Big East was ranked 3rd in the RPI, while the American finished 7th. Which school was more prepared for the tournament, as a result?

Whether in the Atlantic 10 or Big East, XU has always backed up conference play with a challenging non-conference schedule.

Xavier 2017 SOS: 13th overall, 19th non-conference

Xavier played at Baylor this year and faced Missouri and Clemson in the Tire Pros Invitational.

2016: @Michigan and @Wake Forest last year and hosted Missouri and Auburn.

2015: Alabama, @Missouri, @Auburn.

2014: Tennessee(2), Iowa, @Alabama, Wake Forest, USC.

2013: @Purdue, Vanderbilt, @Tennessee, @Wake Forest

Cincinnati 2017 SOS: 63rd overall, 31st non-conference

In UC's defense, Michigan backed out of a scheduled game this season. Duke would have been an opponent in the Hall of Fame Tipoff Classic, if you UC had not lost to Rhode Island.

I'm told by an individual versed in the scheduling game that UC has to schedule teams outside the top 200 or 250 of the RPI because they can't afford the extra $5,000-$15,000 for better buy games.

But according to a college basketball analyst I spoke with: "It's insulting to guys like Mario Mercurio
(XU Dir. Administration) and whoever used to do Bob Huggins' scheduling in the Conference USA days. Figuring out how to manipulate the RPI and SOS while playing in a terrible conference is not a new and impossible task that only UC has to figure out. UC already did it in CUSA. So did Xavier in the A10 and
plenty of other schools that have tried to make that jump from mid-major to high-major."

As an assistant coach countered: "UC won 30 games and loses two seniors, why would we want to go play at their place next year?"

"Scheduling is a lot about relationships with other coaches. Chris is a likable guy. That pays off when lining up non-conference games," said a recruiting analyst.

Recruiting:

Mack has taken XU recruiting to a new level in recent years. The Big East is a big card to play on the recruiting circuit. Xavier’s five-member 2017 recruiting class has been ranked in the Top 10 in the nation by Scout.com, 247sports.com, ESPN.com and Rivals.com. I'm told incoming point guard Paul Scruggs is the highest rated recruit ever at XU.

"If you are selling the American and 5th/3rd, who exactly is buying?" said a coach I talked with.

"Keith Williams (in-coming UC recruit) picked UC over UD because of the higher level of prestige,but if a Power 5 conference were in the mix, he would have gone there," said a recruiting analyst.

Per a recruiting analyst: " I think Mick is good at identifying the types of players he likes and then he does a good job of getting a lot out of them. But I also think he sells UC short at times with regards to his philosophy on recruiting highly ranked players. That, and he seems to take pride in proving recruiting experts/scouts wrong in their opinions and rankings. He has good coaches. I'm not sold on any of them as great recruiters."

Recruiting resources:

Resources, or lack thereof, is an issue for UC. Mack has a private jet at his disposal.It's routine for him to fly from Vegas to Augusta back to Vegas on the recruiting showcase circuit. Cronin has had 'occasional' use of a private jet in the past, but he did not have access to a private jet this season.I'm told there are times Mick will be forced to fly in to see a player, rent a car to drive two hours, see the player, drive two hours back and get on a plane. Wasted time on the recruiting trail is death for coaches.

Luck:

Every team needs luck in the NCAA tournament. There is no question Xavier has benefited from breaks on the tournament path.

2015: 6-seed XU beat 14-seed Georgia State to advance to the Sweet 16, after the Panthers upset 3-seed Baylor in the opening round.

2012: 10-seed XU faced 15-seed Lehigh in the second round, after the Mountain Hawks upset 2-seed Duke.

2009: 4-seed Musketeers faced 12-seed Wisconsin the second round after the Badgers upset 5-seed Florida State in the opening round.

Compare that to road blocks UC has run into in recent years:

2015: 8-seed UC faced 1-seed Kentucky (No. 1 and 35-0 at the time)

2012: 6-seed UC faced 2-seed Ohio State (Final Four/31-8/Jared Sullinger, Aaron Craft)

2011: 6-seed UC faced 3-seed UCONN (National champs/Kemba Walker)

"Mick's only tourney loss that raises an eyebrow is losing as a 5-seed to 12-seed Harvard in 2014," said a college basketball writer.

Style of play:

At least up until this season, which team's style of play would have been more enticing to you as a recruit? Xavier's offense has averaged 75-81-73-72 over the last four seasons. Until averaging 74 points this season, UC's offense has been more conducive to rock-fights played in the 50's and 60's. The Bearcats have averaged in the 60's in 9 of the last 11 seasons.

Several college basketball people I talked with, mentioned UC's defense first mentality. One analyst said he believes that has hurt UC in the tournament, "Great offense always beats great defense and it's easier to be skilled on offense without elite size and athletes than it is to be a lockdown defensive team without them."

*The football factor:

XU athletics operates without the anchor of a football program pulling dollars from the budget.
UC basketball plays second fiddle to football. The university went all in with $86M to renovate Nippert Stadium first and put all their eggs in one basket when it came to marketing football.

What's ahead?

Xavier:

"Book it. Xavier will continue to do what Xavier does. They know who and what they are. They have an arena. They have a good conference. They have a name that is carrying more and more weight with recruits. Can they keep Mack? Well see. If he leaves, can they keep turning over coaches and still rolling on? How many hits before a swing and a miss for that school?" said a former coach.

"How different is your topic if Xavier doesn't beat Butler in the Big East tournament? We'd be talking about an 18-11 team that missed the NCAA tourney for the second time in five years, played in a First Four game and has Big East finishes that include 7th, 6th and 6th. People overlook that XU has seasons with 13, 6, 14, 13, 14 and 13 losses in the last six seasons. Not to mention losing as a 2-seed to 7-seed Wisconsin last year. Why? Because our business has been reduced to tournament results determining your season's success or failure," said a former coach.

Cincinnati:

"It really is amazing to consider what Mick has accomplished with one hand tied behind his back. He will keep winning and keep making the tourney. But how long does he want to do it while banging his head against the wall? I would have left by now." said a current coach.

"There are excuses and there are reasons. UC critics, and even UC fans, have a hard time understanding reasons. This is almost a no-win situation for Mick. Think about it. They won 30 games and still couldn't get a protected seed (Top 4). A five seed is the best they could have done. The reality is the American Conference sucks," added a college basketball analyst.

"I just wish Mick would stop with the public grandstanding against the committee and scheduling and everyone this else that seems to bother him. It's not a good look. He needs to leave that to others," said one college basketball writer.


Read more: http://700wlw.iheart.com/onair/lance-mca...z4cFICHmGb
 
03-24-2017 07:30 AM
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Not Duane Offline
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RE: Lance McAlister: Why Can't UC do what XU is doing?
According to PDoc, UC should simply accept a reduced level of performance due to their untenable situation.

Sound good?
 
03-24-2017 07:49 AM
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RE: Lance McAlister: Why Can't UC do what XU is doing?
UC got it's coach from the wrong end of North Bend Road.

Mack went to St. X and then played college ball at Evansville and XU.

Mick went to LaSalle and graduated from UC.
 
03-24-2017 07:59 AM
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RE: Lance McAlister: Why Can't UC do what XU is doing?
Xavier had an elite team last year and was knocked off the second round by Wisconsin. Xavier had a very average team this year and is in the Elite Eight and could go to the Final Four. They have been eliminated in the first four as well as the Sweet 16 in the recent past as well.

I wish UC was still playing but tournament runs seemingly are mix of luck, talent, and having an alpha dog type player carry the load. Villanova won it all last year but has been bumped early in just about every season over the last five or six years.

I still think you need to continue to make the tournament and eventually your favorite team will go on a run. For UC's sake I want to combine a regular season greatness with a deep run in march, break the school record for wins and finish in the top ten.

Outside of winning a national title and to a lesser extent the Final Four its odd how people put so much emphasis on the NCAA tournament to the point where teams a judged exclusively by this metric.
 
03-24-2017 08:13 AM
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Lance McAlister: Why Can't UC do what XU is doing?
That's it McAllister has spoken. Cancel UC football. It's footballs fault that mick can't win in march.
 
03-24-2017 08:15 AM
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RE: Lance McAlister: Why Can't UC do what XU is doing?
He forgot one factor:
XU has a much lower standard of character for their players and their player's conduct than UC does.

Seriously. I think XU gets players...and keeps them...that UC would not because there is just a more tolerant culture over there. I think Mick is a tougher disciplinarian, and some of the kids Xavier has had would not have been recruited or chosen UC because of the tighter scrutiny and standards here.
 
03-24-2017 08:20 AM
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RE: Lance McAlister: Why Can't UC do what XU is doing?
Cincinnati:

"It really is amazing to consider what Mick has accomplished with one hand tied behind his back. He will keep winning and keep making the tourney. But how long does he want to do it while banging his head against the wall? I would have left by now." said a current coach.

I don't get this one. What is he talking about here?

"There are excuses and there are reasons. UC critics, and even UC fans, have a hard time understanding reasons. This is almost a no-win situation for Mick. Think about it. They won 30 games and still couldn't get a protected seed (Top 4). A five seed is the best they could have done. The reality is the American Conference sucks," added a college basketball analyst.

This is a true statement



"I just wish Mick would stop with the public grandstanding against the committee and scheduling and everyone this else that seems to bother him. It's not a good look. He needs to leave that to others," said one college basketball writer.

I agree with this also

XU athletics operates without the anchor of a football program pulling dollars from the budget.
UC basketball plays second fiddle to football. The university went all in with $86M to renovate Nippert Stadium first and put all their eggs in one basket when it came to marketing football.

Hello - UC is renovating 5/3 also and it is going to cost as much or more than Nippert did.
 
(This post was last modified: 03-24-2017 08:37 AM by bearcatfan.)
03-24-2017 08:35 AM
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RE: Lance McAlister: Why Can't UC do what XU is doing?
(03-24-2017 08:20 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  He forgot one factor:
XU has a much lower standard of character for their players and their player's conduct than UC does.

Seriously. I think XU gets players...and keeps them...that UC would not because there is just a more tolerant culture over there. I think Mick is a tougher disciplinarian, and some of the kids Xavier has had would not have been recruited or chosen UC because of the tighter scrutiny and standards here.

This is spot on, but no one in this town dares to discuss it. The folks on Victory Parkway and many in the media took great pride in disparaging UC players for years. In some cases, their comments were justified.

The shoe is now on the other foot. Imagine what we'd be hearing if Macura or Davis had played for UC? A private university can sweep campus transgressions under the rug very successfully. When the players get sideways with the criminal justice system, as in these players' cases, not so much.

I think it's natural to look across town though and ask the question about March performance. If a coach goes around saying he can't get the top recruits, guess what? We won't get top recruits. That's one of my takeaways from the anonymous comments Lance shared. Did UC have the players to beat UCLA? Probably not. But Mack dealt with a season ending injury to what we thought was his best player (Sumner) and Davis quit. Short bench; key starter gone and they take out the two seed and get another Elite Eight. If we're brutally honest with ourselves, do we believe UC, at full strength, would have beaten AZ last night? I think not.
 
03-24-2017 08:38 AM
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RE: Lance McAlister: Why Can't UC do what XU is doing?
(03-24-2017 07:49 AM)Not Duane Wrote:  According to PDoc, UC should simply accept a reduced level of performance due to their untenable situation.

Sound good?

Good point. The expectations at UC shouldn't be as great as they are at XU according to PDoc. Of course I've also seen many who think the expectation at UC should be limited to competing for a conference title so maybe it's more pervasive.
 
03-24-2017 08:48 AM
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RE: Lance McAlister: Why Can't UC do what XU is doing?
(03-24-2017 08:38 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  
(03-24-2017 08:20 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  He forgot one factor:
XU has a much lower standard of character for their players and their player's conduct than UC does.

Seriously. I think XU gets players...and keeps them...that UC would not because there is just a more tolerant culture over there. I think Mick is a tougher disciplinarian, and some of the kids Xavier has had would not have been recruited or chosen UC because of the tighter scrutiny and standards here.

This is spot on, but no one in this town dares to discuss it. The folks on Victory Parkway and many in the media took great pride in disparaging UC players for years. In some cases, their comments were justified.

The shoe is now on the other foot. Imagine what we'd be hearing if Macura or Davis had played for UC? A private university can sweep campus transgressions under the rug very successfully. When the players get sideways with the criminal justice system, as in these players' cases, not so much.

I think it's natural to look across town though and ask the question about March performance. If a coach goes around saying he can't get the top recruits, guess what? We won't get top recruits. That's one of my takeaways from the anonymous comments Lance shared. Did UC have the players to beat UCLA? Probably not. But Mack dealt with a season ending injury to what we thought was his best player (Sumner) and Davis quit. Short bench; key starter gone and they take out the two seed and get another Elite Eight. If we're brutally honest with ourselves, do we believe UC, at full strength, would have beaten AZ last night? I think not.

If zona shot like they shot from outside last night i absolutely believe uc beats them. My x friend believes the biggest benefit x got was playing teams that don't shoot well outside. Says x is awful in perimeter defense. I think uc is better than people think in perimeter defense but it's the one spot teams can attack uc. Teams really struggle to score 2pointers against us.
 
03-24-2017 08:50 AM
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RE: Lance McAlister: Why Can't UC do what XU is doing?
I think it's a bit more complicated than my friend. X has been an all around bad defense for much of the season. Since the Big East tournament Mack has just gameplanned the **** out of teams on defense, mixed it up a lot to deny easy buckets and not expose his mediocre to poor interior defense. It still has left teams open from three, but the teams they've played have thrown up a ton of bricks.
 
03-24-2017 08:59 AM
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RE: Lance McAlister: Why Can't UC do what XU is doing?
(03-24-2017 08:48 AM)Racinejake Wrote:  
(03-24-2017 07:49 AM)Not Duane Wrote:  According to PDoc, UC should simply accept a reduced level of performance due to their untenable situation.

Sound good?

Good point. The expectations at UC shouldn't be as great as they are at XU according to PDoc. Of course I've also seen many who think the expectation at UC should be limited to competing for a conference title so maybe it's more pervasive.

People need to stop confusing NCAA tournament success with expectations. My expectation for UC is to compete for conference championship, top 25 rankings, and make the NCAA tournament with a high seed ( six or better). I hope that can take the next step and earn protected seed.

Once a team makes the tournament every season like UC does, I would expect that team to perform to their seed level most seasons and outperform it every once in a while. The key for UC is to get to the 2, 3, and 4 seed range because the path to the Sweet 16 or Elite 8 becomes a lot easier. Every once in a while a team from a 7 seed to a 12 will go on run after having a so-so season like Xavier had. I want UC to do what they did in 1992, 1993, and 1996 which is combine an elite regular season with a post season run. I would love to have a flukey get hot run in March after a rough regular season (2012 was somewhat like that) but the real key is elevating the program to where the tournament run is expected because the team is seeded at a level where everyone expects them to make it far.
 
03-24-2017 09:00 AM
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RE: Lance McAlister: Why Can't UC do what XU is doing?
Quote:That, and he seems to take pride in proving recruiting experts/scouts wrong in their opinions and rankings. He has good coaches. I'm not sold on any of them as great recruiters."

Hmmmm...

Quote:"Scheduling is a lot about relationships with other coaches. Chris is a likable guy. That pays off when lining up non-conference games," said a recruiting analyst.

Ahhhh...
 
03-24-2017 09:03 AM
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RE: Lance McAlister: Why Can't UC do what XU is doing?
Hard to disagree with a lot of the points made.

A couple take aways I have is why I think adding Wichita would be huge, as it is going to immediately improve the perception of our conference from a Basketball standpoint, even though I realize they don't move the needle a ton in the football/money aspect of things.

I think the way Mick handles Cumberland is going to be critical for how recruits perceive Mick's program. I really believe he is Mick's most gifted natural scoring threat he has had since he has been here. He is capable of being a 20 ppg scorer and 1st round pick. If Mick restrains him, and he doesn't progress like he should, coaches will use that as ammo against him.

Mick needs to get away from the underdog mentality. We need to go back to having swagger, and wanting to stomp teams in our way.
 
03-24-2017 09:03 AM
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RE: Lance McAlister: Why Can't UC do what XU is doing?
(03-24-2017 09:00 AM)bearcatlawjd2 Wrote:  
(03-24-2017 08:48 AM)Racinejake Wrote:  
(03-24-2017 07:49 AM)Not Duane Wrote:  According to PDoc, UC should simply accept a reduced level of performance due to their untenable situation.

Sound good?

Good point. The expectations at UC shouldn't be as great as they are at XU according to PDoc. Of course I've also seen many who think the expectation at UC should be limited to competing for a conference title so maybe it's more pervasive.

People need to stop confusing NCAA tournament success with expectations. My expectation for UC is to compete for conference championship, top 25 rankings, and make the NCAA tournament with a high seed ( six or better). I hope that can take the next step and earn protected seed.

Once a team makes the tournament every season like UC does, I would expect that team to perform to their seed level most seasons and outperform it every once in a while. The key for UC is to get to the 2, 3, and 4 seed range because the path to the Sweet 16 or Elite 8 becomes a lot easier. Every once in a while a team from a 7 seed to a 12 will go on run after having a so-so season like Xavier had. I want UC to do what they did in 1992, 1993, and 1996 which is combine an elite regular season with a post season run. I would love to have a flukey get hot run in March after a rough regular season (2012 was somewhat like that) but the real key is elevating the program to where the tournament run is expected because the team is seeded at a level where everyone expects them to make it far.

04-cheers

This is exactly right. It's about getting the program back to the level where getting beat early would be an upset. Conference titles, good metrics, big wins, and a gaudy record are measures along the way to getting there. UC is going to get favorable matchups and make a run even as a lower seed eventually, but I want a team I consider a real threat. We got closer this year, but never quite got there.
 
(This post was last modified: 03-24-2017 09:04 AM by bearcatmark.)
03-24-2017 09:04 AM
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RE: Lance McAlister: Why Can't UC do what XU is doing?
Its best not to feed the stupidity.

X was a bubble team until the very end of the season that had an impressive win last night against the first really good team they played in the tournament. The previous two were lousy and mediocre.

They have still yet to make a single final four in the history of the program, let alone a NC game or NC. At some point, maybe they will. Maybe even this year.

But if the tournament is as people like Lance and X most fans would say "is all that matters". OK, fine than X is just one of the raft of teams that has never in the history of the program, gotten good enough to accomplish a final four or NC season.

If quality of season doesn't matter and making it to the last weekend of the tournament is everything, than I am pretty sure "close doesn't count".

"Final five" - Whoop de effing do.
 
03-24-2017 09:11 AM
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RE: Lance McAlister: Why Can't UC do what XU is doing?
I would take final 5 for UC.

UC had a great team with some great players. I think Mick is a good coach, but I'm not yet convinced he can get UC much further.

He preaches and emphasizes defense. But I think you need both good offense and good defense to be a great team.

UC's offense needs improvement.
 
03-24-2017 09:34 AM
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RE: Lance McAlister: Why Can't UC do what XU is doing?
I have been on hiatus due to work and family. However, I felt the need to offer some perspective to Lance "the sacred cow of sports talk" comments.

Lance, as well as other members of the local media, bring up this topic whenever Norwood U has some success beyond UC. The questions and comments are not new. My personal opinion is Lance's "sources" are either himself, Norwood U staff members, other Cincy media types or a combination of the aforementioned.

Stability: One could argue UC is more stable program. Since the 1940's only one coach has left UC for supposed greener pastures - Gale Catlett. (He left due to a rift between him and President Winkler. Also, the job at his alma mater opened up.) Norwood U has been consistently a revolving door. One should give them credit for not whiffing on hires though. Mick's success, while not at an elite level, has been consistent as well. My issue with this part of the conversation is UC Fball was getting killed by the local media as being unstable and losing coaches, even though we were hiring the right candidate, until Tubbs. How can one give a pass to Norwood U, while lambasting UC in the same scenario?

Facilities: Shoemaker was for years the better facility. I do agree the accelerated arms race in college athletics made the facility obsolete. Still the facility is not a "high school gym" as Lance characterized the facility in another related post. Lance discounts Shoemaker today, which is fine. However, he gives cursory treatment to the renovation. After the renovation Shoemaker will once again be the crown jewel for basketball in the Cincinnati area.

Conference: Everyone know the AAC is not strong, top to bottom in basketball. Realignment was a cruel situation for UC. My issue is the tone of this topic. When Norwood U was in the MCC, A10, and now a watered down BE, the media never ripped their conferences. At least not to the extent they go out of their way to disparage UC's situation. I remember the local media building up Richmond and now DePaul as great opponents for Norwood U.

Scheduling: "Which school was more prepared for the tournament, as a result?" This is a matter of perspective.
When UC was in the Old BE, the narrative was UC is in too tough of a conference. They are too beat up for March. I do believe UC is trying for better matchups. Issue is you cannot force a team to play you, ie Michigan.

Recruiting: Shoe on the other foot. UC was killed locally for players Norwood U has on their roster now. Maybe it's their ability, as a private institution, to cover up most transgressions. Their institution is more relaxed as far as player standards go. How about the booster with the car dealership in Indiana? An adjunct faculty member, whose contract was not renewed, when they would not play ball?

Football: The local media constantly claims football is an anchor on the institution. The only place in the country where you hear these comments. Football drive the bus at all major Universities. You have the opportunity to make more money for the entire athletic department through football. Very few Universities, with both sports, have basketball out earning football. Lance, UC did not put "all their eggs in one basket" regarding football. UC is renovating both Nippert and Shoemaker. I guess, since Nippert came first, this must mean something? I know for a fact Norwood U has recently underfunded its other sports and put all their eggs in one basket with basketball. So far, this seems to have worked out for them. You can have high level winning football and basketball.

Some circles in Cincinnati favor Norwood U. This is especially apparent in the media. When you consistently hear praise and positive pub for one institution over another, you take notice. Football is not a drain on UC. The negative comments lead me to believe football has recently been at a higher level than basketball so this is a problem. UC Football is a competitor to the Bungles, so this is a problem. When Norwood U was praised for their lesser situation over the years and now UC is being beaten over the head, one wonders. I have a feeling Lance and PDoc are friends with Mick, support Norwood U or a combination of both.
 
03-24-2017 09:34 AM
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Post: #19
RE: Lance McAlister: Why Can't UC do what XU is doing?
(03-24-2017 09:34 AM)bearcatfan Wrote:  I would take final 5 for UC.

UC had a great team with some great players. I think Mick is a good coach, but I'm not yet convinced he can get UC much further.

He preaches and emphasizes defense. But I think you need both good offense and good defense to be a great team.

UC's offense needs improvement.

UC's offense did improve significantly by almost every measure this year. Whether you are looking at traditional measures or advanced metrics. South Carolina is in the Sweet 16. They are 121 in Kenpom adjusted offense (for reference UC is 33). Wisconsin is 36 in adjusted offense (playing a slightly slower tempo than UC). Xavier's up to 27 but was right around UC when the tournament started. UC played well on both ends this year, but weren't quite good enough.

Defensively UC's one spot of vulnerability is perimeter defense (they aren't bad, but if a team has multiple guys who can hit a high percentage you can attack UC), while they are one of the best defenses in the country around the basket. UCLA has 4 guys who shoot 40+% from 3. It was a nightmare defensive matchup. Now I think it was a pretty good matchup for the UC offense, but they didn't hit enough outside shots and didn't get any foul calls when they attacked in the second half...so they didn't do enough on that end.

People need to stop pretending offense was some huge liability for UC this year. They weren't a top 16 team and either needed to get hot shooting or get a couple favorable matchups (teams that don't shoot great outside or only have a couple outside shooters would have been ideal) to make a run. They didn't.

hopefully next year they'll earn a higher seed with a better overall season.
 
03-24-2017 09:40 AM
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Post: #20
RE: Lance McAlister: Why Can't UC do what XU is doing?
On a related note, next year, if Broome walks the ball up the floor, looking over at the bench for instructions, I think I will throw up.03-puke
 
03-24-2017 09:49 AM
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