The unofficial online home for fans of the University of Cincinnati Bearcats. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

The rematch with WVU tomorrow is interesting in the sense that it's a game that absolutely should win and if UC can jump them early I suspect WVU will fold. BUT WVU is a pretty talented team that missed a bunch of guys early (with a new coach) and then I think has largely been unengaged the latter part of the season. I suspect they will be motivated by the conference tournament and will fight like hell to keep their season alive. I really hope UC can build a lead and crush their will.

WVU already packed it in for the year.

Interim head coach and the entire staff knows they are all unemployed in a couple days and are looking for a landings spot. Players already have their bags packed for the portal. It won't be a pretty game.

I would certainly hope that you don't go from beating someone by 36 to losing to them three days later.

That said...

We play Kansas in the second game. ESPN already said that they were considering shutting down McCullers for the conference tournament and Dickinson dislocated his shoulder saturday. They are already lacking depth to start and look like a team that cold be looking to get out of town early to get to the NCAA's.

If we can get them looking ahead then it's Baylor who I will stop short of saying I like the matchup but we certainly can beat them.

And one more thing...

I need someone to explain to me how Michigan St is so firmly in the field at the same 18-13 as us. And don't tell me they played a tougher schedule than us.

(03-11-2024 08:34 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  I would certainly hope that you don't go from beating someone by 36 to losing to them three days later.

That said...

We play Kansas in the second game. ESPN already said that they were considering shutting down McCullers for the conference tournament and Dickinson dislocated his shoulder saturday. They are already lacking depth to start and look like a team that cold be looking to get out of town early to get to the NCAA's.

If we can get them looking ahead then it's Baylor who I will stop short of saying I like the matchup but we certainly can beat them.

And one more thing...

I need someone to explain to me how Michigan St is so firmly in the field at the same 18-13 as us. And don't tell me they played a tougher schedule than us.

Their resume is our resume with a better nonconference schedule and no bad losses...

3-8 Q1 (we are 3-10), 5-5 Q2 (we are 3-1) and 10-0 Q3/Q4 to our 12-2.

Unsurprisingly they are 354 in kenpom luck factor (we are 349).

(03-11-2024 08:39 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(03-11-2024 08:34 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  I would certainly hope that you don't go from beating someone by 36 to losing to them three days later.

That said...

We play Kansas in the second game. ESPN already said that they were considering shutting down McCullers for the conference tournament and Dickinson dislocated his shoulder saturday. They are already lacking depth to start and look like a team that cold be looking to get out of town early to get to the NCAA's.

If we can get them looking ahead then it's Baylor who I will stop short of saying I like the matchup but we certainly can beat them.

And one more thing...

I need someone to explain to me how Michigan St is so firmly in the field at the same 18-13 as us. And don't tell me they played a tougher schedule than us.

Their resume is our resume with a better nonconference schedule and no bad losses...

3-8 Q1 (we are 3-10), 5-5 Q2 (we are 3-1) and 10-0 Q3/Q4 to our 12-2.

Unsurprisingly they are 354 in kenpom luck factor (we are 349).

James Madison is not a bad loss?

(03-11-2024 08:42 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  

(03-11-2024 08:39 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(03-11-2024 08:34 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  I would certainly hope that you don't go from beating someone by 36 to losing to them three days later.

That said...

We play Kansas in the second game. ESPN already said that they were considering shutting down McCullers for the conference tournament and Dickinson dislocated his shoulder saturday. They are already lacking depth to start and look like a team that cold be looking to get out of town early to get to the NCAA's.

If we can get them looking ahead then it's Baylor who I will stop short of saying I like the matchup but we certainly can beat them.

And one more thing...

I need someone to explain to me how Michigan St is so firmly in the field at the same 18-13 as us. And don't tell me they played a tougher schedule than us.

Their resume is our resume with a better nonconference schedule and no bad losses...

3-8 Q1 (we are 3-10), 5-5 Q2 (we are 3-1) and 10-0 Q3/Q4 to our 12-2.

Unsurprisingly they are 354 in kenpom luck factor (we are 349).

James Madison is not a bad loss?

James MAdison is 30-3, they are 68 kenpom. No, that's not a bad loss.

Michigan State gets the annual B10 bump from the NET computer based system of rewarding losses and beating the bottom of the conference due to everyone having conference based bloated SOS and bunches of Q1 and Q2 opportunities from playing each other for 2.5 months.

(03-11-2024 08:34 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  I would certainly hope that you don't go from beating someone by 36 to losing to them three days later.

That said...

We play Kansas in the second game. ESPN already said that they were considering shutting down McCullers for the conference tournament and Dickinson dislocated his shoulder saturday. They are already lacking depth to start and look like a team that cold be looking to get out of town early to get to the NCAA's.

If we can get them looking ahead then it's Baylor who I will stop short of saying I like the matchup but we certainly can beat them.

And one more thing...

I need someone to explain to me how Michigan St is so firmly in the field at the same 18-13 as us. And don't tell me they played a tougher schedule than us.

The irony of beating WVU by 36 on Saturday is that it creates the possibility for an outcome on Tuesday that would be really hard for the fanbase to swallow.

-_- Why am I this way???

(03-11-2024 08:49 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  Michigan State gets the annual B10 bump from the NET computer based system of rewarding losses and beating the bottom of the conference due to everyone having conference based bloated SOS and bunches of Q1 and Q2 opportunities from playing each other for 2.5 months.

They also played the number 40 non-conference SOS. They only played 4 Q4 games, hell most of their Q3 games (5 of 6) were actually in conference.

Indiana has an identical record and is 93 NET. It's not just about a conference bump. It's about who you play and how you play.

It's not a bug, it's a feature of over protecting and sometimes over-seeding large conference teams to the exclusion of smaller conferences. It's not a huge push but IMO it puts a thumb on the scale.

Teams like BYU would have needed an act of congress to drop no matter who they lost to or how many they lost. Kansas finally started to drop a bit last week but they would sit right in place no matter their cruddy performances. Texas has been bloated for some time. Michigan State is bloated and has been for a while.

.

(03-11-2024 08:51 AM)DownOnRohs Wrote:  

(03-11-2024 08:34 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  I would certainly hope that you don't go from beating someone by 36 to losing to them three days later.

That said...

We play Kansas in the second game. ESPN already said that they were considering shutting down McCullers for the conference tournament and Dickinson dislocated his shoulder saturday. They are already lacking depth to start and look like a team that cold be looking to get out of town early to get to the NCAA's.

If we can get them looking ahead then it's Baylor who I will stop short of saying I like the matchup but we certainly can beat them.

And one more thing...

I need someone to explain to me how Michigan St is so firmly in the field at the same 18-13 as us. And don't tell me they played a tougher schedule than us.

The irony of beating WVU by 36 on Saturday is that it creates the possibility for an outcome on Tuesday that would be really hard for the fanbase to swallow.

-_- Why am I this way???

Bolded, my thought as well. WVU should be a win but with this year's team I'm not counting on anything. Still, I agree that Kansas is trending down and that's an opportunity for a "quality" win in terms of prestige if nothing more.

Dickinson and McCullar both out for the Big 12 tournament.

Why do I have this feeling tomorrow is going to come down to the very end?

We will smoke Kansas.

(03-11-2024 07:21 PM)BcatMatt13 Wrote:  Dickinson and McCullar both out for the Big 12 tournament.

Why do I have this feeling tomorrow is going to come down to the very end?

One of those too good to be true routes to the third round.

Play the team you just blew out, then what should be a virtual walkover with Kansas's injury issues and lack of depth. Win both and we are firmly back in the bubble conversation.

Any good Cincinnati fan knows to expect to lose one of the two games, because nice things rarely work out in Cincinnati.

(03-11-2024 08:42 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  

(03-11-2024 08:39 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(03-11-2024 08:34 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  I would certainly hope that you don't go from beating someone by 36 to losing to them three days later.

That said...

We play Kansas in the second game. ESPN already said that they were considering shutting down McCullers for the conference tournament and Dickinson dislocated his shoulder saturday. They are already lacking depth to start and look like a team that cold be looking to get out of town early to get to the NCAA's.

If we can get them looking ahead then it's Baylor who I will stop short of saying I like the matchup but we certainly can beat them.

And one more thing...

I need someone to explain to me how Michigan St is so firmly in the field at the same 18-13 as us. And don't tell me they played a tougher schedule than us.

Their resume is our resume with a better nonconference schedule and no bad losses...

3-8 Q1 (we are 3-10), 5-5 Q2 (we are 3-1) and 10-0 Q3/Q4 to our 12-2.

Unsurprisingly they are 354 in kenpom luck factor (we are 349).

James Madison is not a bad loss?

James Madison just won the SBC tournament and punched their dance card... Not a "bad loss."

On the upside, Stetson just punched their card as well, so our OOC just got a little better.

McCullar and Dickinson are officially OUT for the Big 12 Tournament according to Bill Self. Win against WVU and we could make a run...

(03-11-2024 09:52 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  McCullar and Dickinson are officially OUT for the Big 12 Tournament according to Bill Self. Win against WVU and we could make a run...

One game at a time. Just win on Tuesday.

(03-11-2024 09:48 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(03-11-2024 08:42 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  

(03-11-2024 08:39 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(03-11-2024 08:34 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  I would certainly hope that you don't go from beating someone by 36 to losing to them three days later.

That said...

We play Kansas in the second game. ESPN already said that they were considering shutting down McCullers for the conference tournament and Dickinson dislocated his shoulder saturday. They are already lacking depth to start and look like a team that cold be looking to get out of town early to get to the NCAA's.

If we can get them looking ahead then it's Baylor who I will stop short of saying I like the matchup but we certainly can beat them.

And one more thing...

I need someone to explain to me how Michigan St is so firmly in the field at the same 18-13 as us. And don't tell me they played a tougher schedule than us.

Their resume is our resume with a better nonconference schedule and no bad losses...

3-8 Q1 (we are 3-10), 5-5 Q2 (we are 3-1) and 10-0 Q3/Q4 to our 12-2.

Unsurprisingly they are 354 in kenpom luck factor (we are 349).

James Madison is not a bad loss?

James Madison just won the SBC tournament and punched their dance card... Not a "bad loss."

On the upside, Stetson just punched their card as well, so our OOC just got a little better.

Yeah thanks for that info Jerry.

I must have missed all those "Gee, James Madison is really good" posts throughout the season over on the 2023-2024 college season thread.

Oh wait, there weren't any.

(03-11-2024 10:13 PM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  

(03-11-2024 09:48 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(03-11-2024 08:42 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  

(03-11-2024 08:39 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(03-11-2024 08:34 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  I would certainly hope that you don't go from beating someone by 36 to losing to them three days later.

That said...

We play Kansas in the second game. ESPN already said that they were considering shutting down McCullers for the conference tournament and Dickinson dislocated his shoulder saturday. They are already lacking depth to start and look like a team that cold be looking to get out of town early to get to the NCAA's.

If we can get them looking ahead then it's Baylor who I will stop short of saying I like the matchup but we certainly can beat them.

And one more thing...

I need someone to explain to me how Michigan St is so firmly in the field at the same 18-13 as us. And don't tell me they played a tougher schedule than us.

Their resume is our resume with a better nonconference schedule and no bad losses...

3-8 Q1 (we are 3-10), 5-5 Q2 (we are 3-1) and 10-0 Q3/Q4 to our 12-2.

Unsurprisingly they are 354 in kenpom luck factor (we are 349).

James Madison is not a bad loss?

James Madison just won the SBC tournament and punched their dance card... Not a "bad loss."

On the upside, Stetson just punched their card as well, so our OOC just got a little better.

Yeah thanks for that info Jerry.

I must have missed all those "Gee, James Madison is really good" posts throughout the season over on the 2023-2024 college season thread.

Oh wait, there weren't any.

They finished with a record of 31-3. Don't know what to tell you...

(03-11-2024 10:38 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(03-11-2024 10:13 PM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  

(03-11-2024 09:48 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(03-11-2024 08:42 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  

(03-11-2024 08:39 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  Their resume is our resume with a better nonconference schedule and no bad losses...

3-8 Q1 (we are 3-10), 5-5 Q2 (we are 3-1) and 10-0 Q3/Q4 to our 12-2.

Unsurprisingly they are 354 in kenpom luck factor (we are 349).

James Madison is not a bad loss?

James Madison just won the SBC tournament and punched their dance card... Not a "bad loss."

On the upside, Stetson just punched their card as well, so our OOC just got a little better.

Yeah thanks for that info Jerry.

I must have missed all those "Gee, James Madison is really good" posts throughout the season over on the 2023-2024 college season thread.

Oh wait, there weren't any.

They finished with a record of 31-3. Don't know what to tell you...

Super.

I guess that explains in full why Michigan State is 18-13 and is great and we are 18-13 and suck.