RE: Give me one reason to be optimistic about next year,
(04-04-2018 03:02 PM)Former Lurker Wrote: I'm optimistic that we will play tough D and make the tournament. Not optimistic about favorable seeding or Sweet 16.
If this year proves anything it's that the tournament is an absolute crapshoot. None of Kansas State, Nevada, Kentucky, Loyola, Florida state, Texas a&m, Clemson, West Virginia, Or Syracuse were top 16 teams according to the committee.. Yet they were all in the Sweet Sixteen.
RE: Give me one reason to be optimistic about next year,
(04-04-2018 05:04 PM)colohank Wrote: Everyone wrung their hands, tore their clothes, and put on sackcloth and ashes when Oscar graduated because his was an individual presence far greater than any UC has ever seen since. Right after he left, though, we responded by garnering two consecutive national championships and almost a third. One or two special players is no substitute for sound coaching and a handful of hungry guys adept at both offense and defense who have killer instincts and who mesh as a team. It's amazing how readily a bunch of no-names can gain name recognition when they win game after game after game.
Claiming that games against rivals, marquee opponents, and in tournaments are just like any other games (yawn) isn't exactly motivating. Mick and his Bearcats should strive to kick ass and take names every time the ball is in play.
Following Oscar were teams with Wiesenhan, Hogue, Thacker, Yates, Bonham. JJ, Broome, Moore, Williams, etc. are not even close to that level. The JC would have been a sixth man in that group.
RE: Give me one reason to be optimistic about next year,
(04-04-2018 10:57 PM)doss2 Wrote:
(04-04-2018 05:04 PM)colohank Wrote: Everyone wrung their hands, tore their clothes, and put on sackcloth and ashes when Oscar graduated because his was an individual presence far greater than any UC has ever seen since. Right after he left, though, we responded by garnering two consecutive national championships and almost a third. One or two special players is no substitute for sound coaching and a handful of hungry guys adept at both offense and defense who have killer instincts and who mesh as a team. It's amazing how readily a bunch of no-names can gain name recognition when they win game after game after game.
Claiming that games against rivals, marquee opponents, and in tournaments are just like any other games (yawn) isn't exactly motivating. Mick and his Bearcats should strive to kick ass and take names every time the ball is in play.
Following Oscar were teams with Wiesenhan, Hogue, Thacker, Yates, Bonham. JJ, Broome, Moore, Williams, etc. are not even close to that level. The JC would have been a sixth man in that group.
Methinks you missed the point of his post. Those guys weren't those guys until they were given the opportunity to become those guys when they stepped out from behind Oscar's shadow.
RE: Give me one reason to be optimistic about next year,
(04-04-2018 11:19 PM)crex043 Wrote:
(04-04-2018 10:57 PM)doss2 Wrote:
(04-04-2018 05:04 PM)colohank Wrote: Everyone wrung their hands, tore their clothes, and put on sackcloth and ashes when Oscar graduated because his was an individual presence far greater than any UC has ever seen since. Right after he left, though, we responded by garnering two consecutive national championships and almost a third. One or two special players is no substitute for sound coaching and a handful of hungry guys adept at both offense and defense who have killer instincts and who mesh as a team. It's amazing how readily a bunch of no-names can gain name recognition when they win game after game after game.
Claiming that games against rivals, marquee opponents, and in tournaments are just like any other games (yawn) isn't exactly motivating. Mick and his Bearcats should strive to kick ass and take names every time the ball is in play.
Following Oscar were teams with Wiesenhan, Hogue, Thacker, Yates, Bonham. JJ, Broome, Moore, Williams, etc. are not even close to that level. The JC would have been a sixth man in that group.
Methinks you missed the point of his post. Those guys weren't those guys until they were given the opportunity to become those guys when they stepped out from behind Oscar's shadow.
I got your point but me thinks a year from now your point will be exposed as a delusion. Time reveals truth.
RE: Give me one reason to be optimistic about next year,
(04-04-2018 05:04 PM)colohank Wrote: Everyone wrung their hands, tore their clothes, and put on sackcloth and ashes when Oscar graduated because his was an individual presence far greater than any UC has ever seen since. Right after he left, though, we responded by garnering two consecutive national championships and almost a third. One or two special players is no substitute for sound coaching and a handful of hungry guys adept at both offense and defense who have killer instincts and who mesh as a team. It's amazing how readily a bunch of no-names can gain name recognition when they win game after game after game.
Claiming that games against rivals, marquee opponents, and in tournaments are just like any other games (yawn) isn't exactly motivating. Mick and his Bearcats should strive to kick ass and take names every time the ball is in play.
Bolded, I would agree. I think we've witnessed this effect in a number of winning programs where a superstar, or gifted group of seniors depart and the team actually performs at the same or even a higher level. It's interesting to observe and I've often attributed it to the remaining players knowing and understanding what it takes to win.
I would only add that the past two years UC has benefited from pretty highly rated freshmen each of those seasons (Evans, Cumberland) who could really contribute an immediate scoring punch off the bench, night after night. As of today, I don't see a player of their stature coming to the rescue. Hope springs eternal on the recruiting trail I suppose.
Much is being made of the '18-'19 team being able to run more with Scott on the floor. That remains to be seen. My best guess is, we'll see a good, old fashioned rock fight come November in an effort to slow down a pretty tough OSU team. Win that opener and Mick creates some working capital with the fans. After that, who knows.
RE: Give me one reason to be optimistic about next year,
Due to Mick's inability to coach an effective offense, he has to rely on an effective 1-2 punch of an inside scorer and outside scorer, to make up for his lack of teaching any type of motion or team offense. This also helps him "adjust" in game. When opposing teams shut down the outside game, he feeds it inside, and vice versa. If you look at his 4 best seasons he had:
What REALLY makes life easy on Mick is when he has that one guy (scorer) he can hand the ball to in crunch time and says "go win me a game". Instead of actually drawing up effective plays.
I just don't see those components (yet) on next year's team. JC can do a lot, and I expect Broome to get better. But as of now, I don't see the inside game Mick can turn to when the outside game isn't working or when they need an inside crunch time basket.
RE: Give me one reason to be optimistic about next year,
Another reason for optimism: our schedule might be somewhat favorable next year.
We open with OSU, who lost most of their roster and will have to play at a packed 5/3.
We get X at home, who lost Macura, Blueitt, O'Mara, Kanter, and their coach.
We get UCLA at home. Who loses their best player in Aarom Holiday and most experienced player in Thomas Welsh. For some reason Alford is still their coach too.
Of the teams in conference:
Wichita St loses everything.
Houston loses Rob Gray.
The only teams we should worry about:
UCF brings back Tacko and BJ.
UConn has talent and a coach that knows how to win.
All in all the schedule doesn't look great for getting a high seed but it does give us some chances to rack up easy wins and thereby instill some confidence in the young guys.
RE: Give me one reason to be optimistic about next year,
For years I went to the same barber as a former UC Guard and a Mr. Basketball in Indiana. I asked him if he still followed UC BB. He said "No, because I cannot stand watching Mick's offense which seems to be mostly one guy dribbling and 4 others mostly standing around."
RE: Give me one reason to be optimistic about next year,
(04-04-2018 10:57 PM)doss2 Wrote:
(04-04-2018 05:04 PM)colohank Wrote: Everyone wrung their hands, tore their clothes, and put on sackcloth and ashes when Oscar graduated because his was an individual presence far greater than any UC has ever seen since. Right after he left, though, we responded by garnering two consecutive national championships and almost a third. One or two special players is no substitute for sound coaching and a handful of hungry guys adept at both offense and defense who have killer instincts and who mesh as a team. It's amazing how readily a bunch of no-names can gain name recognition when they win game after game after game.
Claiming that games against rivals, marquee opponents, and in tournaments are just like any other games (yawn) isn't exactly motivating. Mick and his Bearcats should strive to kick ass and take names every time the ball is in play.
Following Oscar were teams with Wiesenhan, Hogue, Thacker, Yates, Bonham. JJ, Broome, Moore, Williams, etc. are not even close to that level. The JC would have been a sixth man in that group.
Not to mention George Wilson and Carl Bouldin. Great Bearcats!
RE: Give me one reason to be optimistic about next year,
(04-04-2018 07:06 PM)BcatMatt13 Wrote:
(04-04-2018 03:02 PM)Former Lurker Wrote: I'm optimistic that we will play tough D and make the tournament. Not optimistic about favorable seeding or Sweet 16.
If this year proves anything it's that the tournament is an absolute crapshoot. None of Kansas State, Nevada, Kentucky, Loyola, Florida state, Texas a&m, Clemson, West Virginia, Or Syracuse were top 16 teams according to the committee.. Yet they were all in the Sweet Sixteen.
Yeah, a Sweet 16 with Calipari, Boeheim, Huggins & Weber. A total shock that proves the randomness of it all.
RE: Give me one reason to be optimistic about next year,
(04-05-2018 03:48 PM)Former Lurker Wrote:
(04-04-2018 07:06 PM)BcatMatt13 Wrote:
(04-04-2018 03:02 PM)Former Lurker Wrote: I'm optimistic that we will play tough D and make the tournament. Not optimistic about favorable seeding or Sweet 16.
If this year proves anything it's that the tournament is an absolute crapshoot. None of Kansas State, Nevada, Kentucky, Loyola, Florida state, Texas a&m, Clemson, West Virginia, Or Syracuse were top 16 teams according to the committee.. Yet they were all in the Sweet Sixteen.
Yeah, a Sweet 16 with Calipari, Boeheim, Huggins & Weber. A total shock that proves the randomness of it all.
Weber being in it is a shock. He's been pretty ****** lately, with regard to post season success. Hadn't been to the second weekend since 2005 but of course, we can listen to people here whine about Mick not making it there since 2012...
Syracuse was **** this season as well, even had to go through a play in game. But of course, Boeheim always goes far in the tournament. Like last season, when they didn't make it in at all or two years before that when they went 18-13, the year before that when they made it to the round of 32 and got dropped by an 11 seed in Dayton.... Hey and how about whoever the hell Loyola's coach was? Man, he's just such a staple of the tournament. What, with all those final fours and that run of national titles they had during these past 34 years, you know, where they didn't even make it in?
How predictable, how dull.
(This post was last modified: 04-05-2018 04:21 PM by Recluse1.)
RE: Give me one reason to be optimistic about next year,
1. New arena= not playing home games in Kentucky.
2. Great home schedule
3. Two senior point guards
4. Jarron Cumberland=Alpha
5. Additional help on the way with the two current recruits.
6. Potential to add add an impact player in the spring period.
7. Yearly player improvement
8. Coaching staff that usually does a better job when they are counted out.
9. The American is wide open.
10. Chris Mack isn't at Xavier
RE: Give me one reason to be optimistic about next year,
(04-06-2018 09:36 AM)DownOnRohs Wrote: Why can't we get into ANY ******* early season tournaments and with other good teams?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!/ awsdklfjasldifj
Easy question to answer. The matchups are driven by TV, and the market does not find UC basketball to be an appealing entertainment product. Smallish fanbase and TV market compared to "flagship" state schools, low-profile coach with limited March success, lack of future NBA players, boring, ugly brand of basketball.
One can argue with all of this, but what matters is not the reality, but the perception among the decision makers.
(This post was last modified: 04-06-2018 10:39 AM by Former Lurker.)
RE: Give me one reason to be optimistic about next year,
(04-06-2018 10:37 AM)Former Lurker Wrote:
(04-06-2018 09:36 AM)DownOnRohs Wrote: Why can't we get into ANY ******* early season tournaments and with other good teams?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!/ awsdklfjasldifj
Easy question to answer. The matchups are driven by TV, and the market does not find UC basketball to be an appealing entertainment product. Smallish fanbase and TV market compared to "flagship" state schools, low-profile coach with limited March success, lack of future NBA players, boring, ugly brand of basketball.
One can argue with all of this, but what matters is not the reality, but the perception among the decision makers.
How does SMU get in the Battle for Atlantis then...
RE: Give me one reason to be optimistic about next year,
switching to UA has hurt us with recruiting more than anything in past 2 decades. UA needs to get with program asap in next 2-3yrs or they want be around for long. best players in country playing with nike or adidas, I know UA want Mick to come recruit at their tournaments before going to rival shoe companies
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Give me one reason to be optimistic about next year,
