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

(12-09-2018 02:24 PM)franzeal Wrote:  

(12-09-2018 01:49 PM)natibeast21 Wrote:  Yeah it is a shame the students weren’t better yesterday. It would also be nice if doc would comment in years past when in Cintas how there are adults ranging from 50-90 that yell at Cronin “f you you red headed midget c***”. I stopped going to the shootout when it’s at the Cintas because it’s not even enjoyable at all.

On a side note: Travis Steele looks to be my favorite Xavier coach in my lifetime.

Watched the before/after pressers coming out of Xavier, and seems like they've got good guys at the helm and on the floor. Comes across a bit green, but he's quite personable. Can't speak for those that preceded Mack (I honestly didn't pay attention), but the culture that brewed the brawl is what I associate with him. I hope Steele finds success there if he can keep things respectable.

I was disappointed that the refs missed the elbow to Cumberlands' Chin from XUs Jones when he walked past him under the basket in the 2nd half. JC turned around to the ref and threw his hand up in dismay. Other than that, I thought the XU players all in all played with more class than the previous XU teams ever did.

Best thing that happened to UC and Crosstown Shootout was Mack leaving for Louisville. he

He is great coach but he is such a punk.

How bout that national anthem by Marlana?? Can she sing before every game?!

(12-09-2018 07:48 PM)bearcatlawjd2 Wrote:  Best thing that happened to UC and Crosstown Shootout was Mack leaving for Louisville. he

He is great coach but he is such a punk.

he landed at the perfect school

they are tailor made for one another

(12-09-2018 12:20 PM)doss2 Wrote:  Perhaps our students learned from Obama wing man AG Eric Holder who said and I quote "When they go low we kick them!"

X has been low forever. I wish we have stayed at "Travis Sucks" or similar.

It's amazing that you get away with this political BS on here. Guess the MODS agree with your crap.

(12-08-2018 09:16 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(12-08-2018 08:37 PM)cincybb51 Wrote:  You can't really replace Gary Clark but overall I think at least on defensive side we can be better than last year. Washington was a great scorer but certainly a liability at times on defense. Don't think there will be too many easy inside points against us this year. On the perimeter Jenifer, Johnson and Williams are tough and even Broome while still displaying some of his flaws on defense from last year is greatly improved and he seems to becoming adept at getting into passing lanes for steals. How this team progresses on offense will be the real key on how great a season we produce.

We were one of the best defenses of the modern era last season. We can be great on defense that good would be insane.

Serious Q

How does this defensive metric take into account our level of competition. It was a solid D, but I did not meet the eye test of top 3 D IMHO.

That said, I am enjoying the season (after the first game). We'll know more after 2 games.

(12-09-2018 08:37 PM)DownOnRohs Wrote:  How bout that national anthem by Marlana?? Can she sing before every game?!

She was absolutely amazing!

(12-09-2018 09:29 PM)rtaylor Wrote:  

(12-09-2018 12:20 PM)doss2 Wrote:  Perhaps our students learned from Obama wing man AG Eric Holder who said and I quote "When they go low we kick them!"

X has been low forever. I wish we have stayed at "Travis Sucks" or similar.

It's amazing that you get away with this political BS on here. Guess the MODS agree with your crap.

Not to mention the (barely) veiled racist crap that crops up too frequently.

(12-08-2018 09:32 PM)levydl Wrote:  I was not high on Keith Williams coming into the season. I know some were, but I didn't see it. He's a tweener with an awkward shot and not great handles. But, man, has he been good. He takes some WTF shots, but he is a monster going to and around the rim. Fantastic move by Cronin making him a starter and letting him loose.

I am guessing Cane is coming off the bench, correct?

I don't know if this is growth by the coach, or a move to improve the defense, but I never thought Mick would give him more PT this year. Kudos to Mick. This is great!! His highlights were unreal!

(12-09-2018 08:54 AM)ucbandguy Wrote:  I like to look at the box score to confirm or correct my impressions from TV.

1. We seem to essentially have a 7 man rotation, starters plus Broome and Nsoseme. Cumberland and Scott had the most minutes (36 and 34). No one else got over 10 minutes. I would like to see more depth, as someone(s) usually gets sick or hurt at some point in the season.

2. I would have liked to see Johnson get more time in a potentially stressful game like this. (1 minute) He plays with intensity, and he needs to get used to this.

3. It was nice seeing Moore hit that 3. If my memory is correct, Field Williams also came to UC with a reputation as a 3 point guy, but it took him a couple of years to develop into the shooter that we love to remember.

Post game Mick said Johnson was nervous.

(12-09-2018 10:06 AM)cincybb51 Wrote:  

(12-09-2018 09:00 AM)ucbandguy Wrote:  

(12-08-2018 10:04 PM)dsquare Wrote:  There is not a better finisher around the rim on that team than Williams. I'd take my chance with him at the rim over the 3 big kids. Not only does he get up, but he finishes with authority. Still to much finesse with the big guys, but they're getting better. Kid can play a lot bigger than his height inside, and he's tough to deal with defensively on the perimeter. He does enough things really well that you can put up with his so/so outside shot. If he can get to where he's a little more consistent with the perimeter shot he'll be dangerous as once he gets by a defender he's money.

In some ways, Williams reminds me of Herb Jones. Jones was listed as 6'4", but was actually a couple of inches shorter than that. Played over his height. Great constant motor. Played smart. Hit a lot of clutch baskets. Big part of that final 4 team.

The comparison is not exact, but the point is that you don't have to fit a classic position profile to be a great player.

Herb Jones definitely was one the smartest at using his talents ever to don a Bearcat uniform. I go back to watching us in the early sixties and I am not rating this based on most valuable or talent were Oscar, Kenyon and others rule the list but Herb might be my favorite all time player. Maybe because he was a big part in the turn around of the program but also he was just fun to watch. Some others on that list for me that got the most out of their talents were certainly Gary Clark, John Howard and Gary Voder.

Thanks for the post! Herb Jones is my favorite Bearcat of all time! Just youtube him, and enjoy a 6'4" right hander (real height may be 6'2.5") left hand dunk in traffic over big dudes on the break. So mentally tough. Rebounding machine, leader, complete professional. I'd watch him come to summer league at Purcell Marian with such a professional approach. He was a quiet leader, but he stood up at the start of the '92 season and gave a motivational speech that "if we want to get to the Final Four, it starts here..."

Love that guy!

(12-09-2018 09:29 PM)rtaylor Wrote:  

(12-09-2018 12:20 PM)doss2 Wrote:  Perhaps our students learned from Obama wing man AG Eric Holder who said and I quote "When they go low we kick them!"

X has been low forever. I wish we have stayed at "Travis Sucks" or similar.

It's amazing that you get away with this political BS on here. Guess the MODS agree with your crap.

Especially Mark. Over on the political board, he and Doss are like two peas in a pod.

I haven't seen this mentioned, but i watched the game taped again today to see if i missed anything in person and Desmond Ridder and some of the other football players were right up front in the student section leading the group. They showed them a couple times on tv, but i do not think Dakich and his play by play guy knew who they were.

(12-09-2018 10:53 PM)dsquare Wrote:  I haven't seen this mentioned, but i watched the game taped again today to see if i missed anything in person and Desmond Ridder and some of the other football players were right up front in the student section leading the group. They showed them a couple times on tv, but i do not think Dakich and his play by play guy knew who they were.

Yeah, Bryan Wright was there too. And I think I saw Jarrell White walking around. Cool to see. Fick was up in one of the suites as well.

(12-10-2018 12:19 AM)Cataclysmo Wrote:  

(12-09-2018 10:53 PM)dsquare Wrote:  I haven't seen this mentioned, but i watched the game taped again today to see if i missed anything in person and Desmond Ridder and some of the other football players were right up front in the student section leading the group. They showed them a couple times on tv, but i do not think Dakich and his play by play guy knew who they were.

Yeah, Bryan Wright was there too. And I think I saw Jarrell White walking around. Cool to see. Fick was up in one of the suites as well.

Love these tidbits! Thanks!

(12-10-2018 12:19 AM)Cataclysmo Wrote:  

(12-09-2018 10:53 PM)dsquare Wrote:  I haven't seen this mentioned, but i watched the game taped again today to see if i missed anything in person and Desmond Ridder and some of the other football players were right up front in the student section leading the group. They showed them a couple times on tv, but i do not think Dakich and his play by play guy knew who they were.

Yeah, Bryan Wright was there too. And I think I saw Jarrell White walking around. Cool to see. Fick was up in one of the suites as well.

They better have been there. It was a big official visit recruiting weekend for football.

(12-09-2018 10:33 PM)Cataclysmo Wrote:  

(12-09-2018 09:29 PM)rtaylor Wrote:  

(12-09-2018 12:20 PM)doss2 Wrote:  Perhaps our students learned from Obama wing man AG Eric Holder who said and I quote "When they go low we kick them!"

X has been low forever. I wish we have stayed at "Travis Sucks" or similar.

It's amazing that you get away with this political BS on here. Guess the MODS agree with your crap.

Especially Mark. Over on the political board, he and Doss are like two peas in a pod.

Bingo.

(12-09-2018 09:43 PM)ZCat Wrote:  

(12-08-2018 09:16 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(12-08-2018 08:37 PM)cincybb51 Wrote:  You can't really replace Gary Clark but overall I think at least on defensive side we can be better than last year. Washington was a great scorer but certainly a liability at times on defense. Don't think there will be too many easy inside points against us this year. On the perimeter Jenifer, Johnson and Williams are tough and even Broome while still displaying some of his flaws on defense from last year is greatly improved and he seems to becoming adept at getting into passing lanes for steals. How this team progresses on offense will be the real key on how great a season we produce.

We were one of the best defenses of the modern era last season. We can be great on defense that good would be insane.

Serious Q

How does this defensive metric take into account our level of competition. It was a solid D, but I did not meet the eye test of top 3 D IMHO.

That said, I am enjoying the season (after the first game). We'll know more after 2 games.

The metrics I look at always adjust for competition level. Uc was second behind UVA last year in adjusted defense but their actual number was one of the best in the kenpom era.

It's easy to see why when looking at other metrics. They were second in the country in 2 point percentage defense. They were 7th in 3 point percentage defense. They were 5th in block rate. They were 25th in steal percentage and 20th in forced turnover percentage. So they were aggressive at forcing turnovers and blocking shots but didn't foul and didn't leave themselves exposed for easy shots. It was a pretty incredible combination last year.

(12-10-2018 07:34 AM)JackieTreehorn Wrote:  

(12-10-2018 12:19 AM)Cataclysmo Wrote:  

(12-09-2018 10:53 PM)dsquare Wrote:  I haven't seen this mentioned, but i watched the game taped again today to see if i missed anything in person and Desmond Ridder and some of the other football players were right up front in the student section leading the group. They showed them a couple times on tv, but i do not think Dakich and his play by play guy knew who they were.

Yeah, Bryan Wright was there too. And I think I saw Jarrell White walking around. Cool to see. Fick was up in one of the suites as well.

They better have been there. It was a big official visit recruiting weekend for football.

That's what i found interesting about it. Their placement up front, and the camera shot of them on more than one occasion leading out of a commercial would suggest they may have been there to promote the bowl game, etc.. However, the lead in from the announcers never came indicating who they were. I kept waiting for them to say something, but it never came. I never picked up on who they were until the second time it came up. LOL

(12-10-2018 08:27 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  The metrics I look at always adjust for competition level. Uc was second behind UVA last year in adjusted defense but their actual number was one of the best in the kenpom era.

It's easy to see why when looking at other metrics. They were second in the country in 2 point percentage defense. They were 7th in 3 point percentage defense. They were 5th in block rate. They were 25th in steal percentage and 20th in forced turnover percentage. So they were aggressive at forcing turnovers and blocking shots but didn't foul and didn't leave themselves exposed for easy shots. It was a pretty incredible combination last year.

I honestly believe we may have had our best perimeter defender and best post defender of the recent era on the same team. There's a reason both those guys are in the NBA on guaranteed contracts.

This year's team looks like they've got a chance to be a top 10 caliber defense and could be special again next year as we only have two seniors who are both undersized guards. Replace a lot of those minutes with Logan Johnson's athleticism in addition to added development from the existing roster and you're looking at a top 5 defense.