CSNbbs

Mick Cronin's focus: Guard to run Bearcats' offense
With point guard Wright leaving, UC will need new faces to contribute immediately
Mar 26, 2013


Mick Cronin saw his team struggle after Cashmere Wright was injured in January. / The Enquirer/Jeff Swinger

Written by
Bill Koch

Assuming that junior guard Sean Kilpatrick returns for his senior year, the most pressing needs for the University of Cincinnati Bearcats next season are front-line scorers and a point guard to replace Cashmere Wright, who has manned the position for the last four years.

Sophomore Ge’Lawn Guyn appears to be next in line at point guard, but he averaged only 2.4 points and 1.3 assists when he spelled Wright this season and was prone to foul trouble. Look for Guyn to be pushed by newcomers Kevin Johnson from Cincinnati’s Summit Country Day and Troy Caupain from Midlothian, Va.

Kilpatrick is expected to return after averaging 17 points in 2012-13. A second-team all-Big East selection, he shot 39.8 percent from the field and 30.7 from the 3-point range after shooting 42.8 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from long range as a sophomore.

“He’s got to get himself to the foul line more and he’s got to get himself more baskets from 10 feet and in,” said UC coach Mick Cronin said. “That’s when he’s at his best. You can’t be overly reliant upon the perimeter shot.”

Cronin and his staff will hope for an immediate impact from incoming power forward Jermaine Lawrence, ranked 21st nationally in his recruiting class by Rivals.com. The 6-foot-9, 200-pound Lawrence, from Pope John XXIII High School in Sparta, N.J., has verbally committed to UC but cannot sign a national letter of intent before the April 17-May 15 signing period. NCAA rules prohibit Cronin from publicly commenting about a recruit until he signs a letter of intent or enrolls at the school.

Another newcomer, Jamaree Strickland – a 6-foot-10 center from Oakland, Calif. – is also known for his ability to score inside.

Among the returning players, much will be expected from 6-foot-7 redshirt freshman forward Shaquille Thomas, who flashed occasional glimpses of his potential during the season, most notably in UC’s loss to Creighton last Friday in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Thomas scored a career-high 12 points with four rebounds in 23 minutes in that game and produced a monster dunk off an offensive rebound that had the crowd buzzing at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center.

“I’ve got to continue to challenge him,” Cronin said. “He’s got some raw tools. For him it’s just a matter of maturing and being able to do it every day.”

As the season wore on, UC assistant coach Darren Savino said, Thomas began to figure out how to succeed on the collegiate level.

“I always feel whether you’re a freshman or a junior college player the transition is so difficult until you find what you’re really good at and try to exploit that in the game,” Savino said. “Then you’ve really got something. He is athletic and he can slash and he can really make that pull-up jump shot in the lane. He’s started to realize, ‘That’s my game.’”

The Bearcats will hope for increased production next season from 6-5 sophomore forward Jermaine Sanders, junior forward Justin Jackson and junior forward Titus Rubles. Sanders averaged 3.1 points and 2.1 rebounds in a reserve role in 2012-13. Rubles, who led the Bearcats in rebounding with 5.9 per game, averaged 5.9 points. Jackson, who has been foul prone in his career, averaged 3.8 points and 5.1 rebounds.

UC will also have the services of sophomore guard Jeremiah Davis III, who sat out most of this season with a wrist injury.

After eight years in the Big East Conference, the Bearcats next year will play in a yet-to-be-named league that will include Connecticut, South Florida, Louisville, Rutgers, Memphis, Temple, Houston, SMU and Central Florida. In 2014, Louisville is expected to leave for the ACC and Rutgers for the Big Ten, with Tulane joining the new league the same year.

Presumably the new league will be less of meat grinder than the old Big East. The flip side is that the Bearcats won’t have as many high-profile league games to boost their RPI, making it imperative that they strengthen their non-conference schedule.

I cover University of Cincinnati athletics – the news, games and personalities who attract fans to Fifth Third Arena and Nippert Stadium year after year. Reach me at bkoch@enquirer.com.

2013-14 returnees

Player - Yr. - Ht. - Pos. - 2012-13 avgs.

Sean Kilpatrick Sr. 6-4 G 17.0 pts., 5.2 reb.

Titus Rubles Sr. 6-7 F 5.9, 5.9

Jeremiah Davis III So. 6-3 G Redshirted

Shaquille Thomas So. 6-7 F 3.0, 2.2

Justin Jackson Sr. 6-8 F 3.8, 5.1

Jermaine Sanders Jr. 6-5 F 3.1, 2.1

Kelvin Gaines Jr. 6-10 C 0.5, 1.4

David Nyarsuk Sr. 7-1 C 2.6, 2.5

Ge’Lawn Guyn So. 6-2 G 2.4, 1.3 assists

Newcomers

Player - Ht. - Pos. - Hometown

Troy Caupain 6-3 G Midlothian, Va.

Kevin Johnson 6-3 G Cincinnati

Jamaree Strickland 6-10 C Oakland, Calif.

Deshaun Moorman 6-3 G Richmond, Va.

Jermaine Lawrence* 6-9 F Springfield Gardens, N.Y.

*Lawrence has made verbal commitment but has not yet signed a letter of intent. When he signs, one player will have to go to get UC at the NCAA limit of 13 scholarship players.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130...ts-offense

i just love how bill has to point out that we'll have to run somebody off.

Whether we like it or not, it is a fact of life. I am sure that whoever leaves will be taken care of.

(03-27-2013 06:48 PM)ctipton Wrote: [ -> ]Whether we like it or not, it is a fact of life. I am sure that whoever leaves will be taken care of.

i was being sarcastic. getting it out there before somebody else does in earnest.

If Mormon doesn't qualify then I'd think Gaines or Big Dave will be gone. Those two really give us nothing.

(03-27-2013 09:50 PM)BearcatShane09 Wrote: [ -> ]If Mormon doesn't qualify then I'd think Gaines or Big Dave will be gone. Those two really give us nothing.

You mean if Morman DOES QUALIFY. If he doesn't, there's no need for anyone else to leave.

(03-28-2013 05:59 AM)BearChatter v2.0 Wrote: [ -> ]

(03-27-2013 09:50 PM)BearcatShane09 Wrote: [ -> ]If Mormon doesn't qualify then I'd think Gaines or Big Dave will be gone. Those two really give us nothing.

You mean if Morman DOES QUALIFY. If he doesn't, there's no need for anyone else to leave.

Has anyone heard any word on this yet? Im sure someone out there has newer info on this. Its been months since I first heard he may not qualify. Anyone know which side hes leaning towards more?

(03-27-2013 09:50 PM)BearcatShane09 Wrote: [ -> ]If Mormon doesn't qualify then I'd think Gaines or Big Dave will be gone. Those two really give us nothing.

AMEN

(03-28-2013 08:05 AM)bearcat54 Wrote: [ -> ]

(03-27-2013 09:50 PM)BearcatShane09 Wrote: [ -> ]If Mormon doesn't qualify then I'd think Gaines or Big Dave will be gone. Those two really give us nothing.

AMEN

I don't agree.

I am not saying one couldn't go but we are going to be desperate for post defenders and rebounders next year.

We have a whole team of guards and "3's". Even JJ is really not a 4.

We are going to be thin enough in the post as it is. You run off Gaines and Big Dave and you face having exactly ONE true post player - Strickland, a Freshman.

Koch is wrong - Lawrence may be the size of a 4, but the guy is a natural 3. He is a face up player who can handle the ball, kind of like Rubles. The guy does almost all his work from the perimeter in and I absolutely guarantee he wouldn't have agreed to come here if Mick had told him he were going to stick him in the post.

Quote:"My natural position is small forward, but I can also operate on the block and play the 4. [In other words] I think I’m most effective on the wing, but I’ll play whatever position coach tells me to. I’ve played every position on both my school and travel teams, so I’m honestly comfortable wherever they play me. I’m like the Swiss Army knife—I’m used differently almost every game, but I can adjust on the fly and contribute from any position."

One player has to go.

We are currently at 14 with with 13 scholarships.

(03-27-2013 06:07 PM)Lush Wrote: [ -> ]i just love how bill has to point out that we'll have to run somebody off.

There's a difference between running someone off, and helping him find a spot at a program where he can play.

I doubt we'll see anyone "run off" next season. More likely something creative like having someone pay their own way for a year until a scholarship opens up( like UConn did recently).

(03-28-2013 12:02 PM)Bearcat Otto Wrote: [ -> ]One player has to go.

We are currently at 14 with with 13 scholarships.

Or one isn't coming or one will stay on roster but go off scholarship. Or one is a Junior or Senior and qualifies for Academic Scholarhips.

Way more options here than meets the eye.

(03-28-2013 02:33 PM)Eastside_J Wrote: [ -> ]

(03-28-2013 12:02 PM)Bearcat Otto Wrote: [ -> ]One player has to go.

We are currently at 14 with with 13 scholarships.

Or one isn't coming or one will stay on roster but go off scholarship. Or one is a Junior or Senior and qualifies for Academic Scholarhips.

Way more options here than meets the eye.

wouldn't bother me if he cut Gaines and/or Nyarsuk loose and hunt for a point guard that can also make a basket and not turn a ball over a lot. Also, to not hack and foul. That kinda doesn't look like Guyn would be the heir to the PG job to me.

(03-28-2013 12:24 PM)JackieTreehorn Wrote: [ -> ]I doubt we'll see anyone "run off" next season. More likely something creative like having someone pay their own way for a year until a scholarship opens up( like UConn did recently).

That's not realistic. If they end up over the limit, someone will leave.

Either Moorman doesn't qualify or someone transfers...My WAG is that it would either be Guyn or Davis. Would explain why they took the 3rd guard in this class.

(03-28-2013 08:40 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote: [ -> ]Either Moorman doesn't qualify or someone transfers...My WAG is that it would either be Guyn or Davis. Would explain why they took the 3rd guard in this class.

Davis (and Gaines) don't really make sense because they have already sat out a year, so their transfer year would count against their eligibility.

Although I could see Kelvin going D2 with his lack of basketball experience/coordination.

(03-28-2013 08:40 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote: [ -> ]Either Moorman doesn't qualify or someone transfers...My WAG is that it would either be Guyn or Davis. Would explain why they took the 3rd guard in this class.

But, Rath, wouldn't you consider Mormon, kind of, the second coming of Parker (not so much in the mold of Davis/Guyn)? Watching Mormon footage, that is my first impression anyhow. But, I think you are onto something, nonetheless.

I would love to see Davis step up and take over the PG duties, with Guyn and Capuain as backup.

SK at 2.

After 2 years and a breakout tourney game, hopefully Shaq can take over the 3. Mick seems to like what Sanders brings so he'll get the bench minutes at 3.

Lawrence at the 4 with Titus and JJ as backup. Or Titus starts with JJ first off the bench.

In a perfect world Strickland can get 15-20 productive minutes, with JJ, Big Dave, Gaines blocking shots and rebounding in the meantime.

Don't see much PT for Johnson, Mormon,

I don't see Davis playing point guard. He struggled there to the point where they took him off the ball in the preseason. He is a guy that will attack off the dribble, which our offense could definitely use, but he is too turnover prone if the ball is in his hands too much.