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

(01-16-2023 06:03 PM)Bearhawkeye Wrote:  

(01-16-2023 04:56 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  Dermarr is heading to wvu as an assistant coach. Great opportunity for him.

Doesn't seem to want to burn any bridges:

I didn't see it mentioned on this forum, but WVU fired Larry Harrison last week - hence the Dermarr hiring I presume. I'm guessing there's a story behind Harrison's departure, but I haven't seen it.

From what I've seen from WVU, things have been kept very quiet on the subject. Huggs said at a press conference that he "didn't have anything to do with it..." which then made people start wondering who was running the show. Then on his weekly radio show he said something to the effect that he, and he alone, is responsible for his coaching staff and decisions. Then he refused to take any further questions on the subject.

Officially WVU and Harrison "parted ways." I guess that could mean that Harrison himself made the choice to leave. But it's an odd timing for a departure. Huggs and Harrison's history goes back all the way to UC days; 24 years. I could see Harrison deciding, at the end of the season, that it was "time" to hang it up. And this season is not being kind to WVU: they are currently 0-5 in the B12 and in the cellar. But to step away in the middle of a campaign...unless there is something "health related" going on...it's odd.

I'm with the guy who observed that things seem to be running down for Huggs and Co. at WVU. No, I don't think they outright "fire" him, but there's a new AD in town and time has been visibly wearing on Huggins the past couple of years. I just get the feeling that we're in the final days of a HoF coaching career. If not this season, I suspect next season will be his final one at the helm. Which could be a good thing for him; his cardiac history is well known and he should be able to enjoy life a little.

That being said, guys like Huggins don't tend to live very long after retirement...voluntary or forced.

The Bearcats official page made a post about it. That seems a little odd:

(01-16-2023 08:15 PM)The Big O Wrote:  The Bearcats official page made a post about it. That seems a little odd:

Why? He's a former bearcat player who was on staff getting a great opportunity. Love the University recognizing him for it.

(01-16-2023 08:45 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(01-16-2023 08:15 PM)The Big O Wrote:  The Bearcats official page made a post about it. That seems a little odd:

Why? He's a former bearcat player who was on staff getting a great opportunity. Love the University recognizing him for it.

I don't think I've ever seen an official account congratulate someone on taking a job elsewhere.

Memphis throwback game. Awesome!

They should have put Jelly Jones on the graphic.

We beat these dudes four, FOUR, times in the 1991/92 season including the blow out win [88-57] in the Elite Eight game.

(01-19-2023 11:12 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  We beat these dudes four, FOUR, times in the 1991/92 season including the blow out win [88-57] in the Elite Eight game.

Not my first basketball memories... but 92 was even i became an all in fan (i was 7) for life.

(01-19-2023 11:12 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  We beat these dudes four, FOUR, times in the 1991/92 season including the blow out win [88-57] in the Elite Eight game.

I was at the Great Midwest Conference tournament in Memphis. That Memphis crowd was PUMPED for that game. It was so great to get the win. Great defense by Terry Nelson drawing the late foul on Penny Hardaway.

(01-19-2023 10:37 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  They should have put Jelly Jones on the graphic.

Puffy Kennedy

I left mass at Annunciation early to go to my sister's apartment to watch that 4th game with no worries in my mind. Youth, Van Exel, Herb Jones, and a great team worthy of mention led a kid to feel that way.

Van Exel was really good, and he had a better team around him, Corey Blount may have been the best player on that team, and Herb Jones was the regional MVP.

I have a soft spot for the UC vs Dejaun Wagner Memphis tigers years.

(01-20-2023 12:46 AM)glacier_dropsy Wrote:  I left mass at Annunciation early to go to my sister's apartment to watch that 4th game with no worries in my mind. Youth, Van Exel, Herb Jones, and a great team worthy of mention led a kid to feel that way.

As good as that team was, the team the following year was even better. That team could’ve won it all. Lost in OT to the eventual national champions after having a double digit lead.

(01-20-2023 07:43 AM)Billy_Bearcat Wrote:  

(01-20-2023 12:46 AM)glacier_dropsy Wrote:  I left mass at Annunciation early to go to my sister's apartment to watch that 4th game with no worries in my mind. Youth, Van Exel, Herb Jones, and a great team worthy of mention led a kid to feel that way.

As good as that team was, the team the following year was even better. That team could’ve won it all. Lost in OT to the eventual national champions after having a double digit lead.

Didn't Huggins even say the '93 team was better than '92? They came within a couple of buckets (or some unfriendly whistles) of back-to-back Final Fours. Maybe more?

High times for Bearcat basketball fans. Personally, the long decades following the national runner-up year in '63 never made me question my loyalty to the Bearcats but it did make me wonder whether they could ever climb back among the elite of college basketball. 1992 re-affirmed that it wasn't just a couple of amazing teams in the early 60's--it was a program rich in history and back in the national consciousness.

Our top five scorers [PPG] through 20 games...

15.4 Nolley
14.5 DeJulius
12.1 Lakhin
10.2 MAW
9.5 Davenport

Treyland % [Min. 30 attempts]

44.3 Nolley
39.2 MAW
38.4 DeJulius
30.5 Davenport [128 attempts]
20.5 Skillings

FT % [Min. 30 attempts]

87.5 MAW
83.7 Nolley
82.9 Davenport
81.8 DeJulius
54.2 Lakhin [83 attempts]

Rebounds per game

7.4 Lakhin
5.4 Nolley
4.5 Oguama
4.1 Davenport
3.7 Skillings

Nolley has had a good overall game going for the Cats thus far. His size compliments DeJulius' height challenged...

(01-20-2023 10:08 AM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  Our top five scorers [PPG] through 20 games...

15.4 Nolley
14.5 DeJulius
12.1 Lakhin
10.2 MAW
9.5 Davenport

Treyland % [Min. 30 attempts]

44.3 Nolley
39.2 MAW
38.4 DeJulius
30.5 Davenport [128 attempts]
20.5 Skillings

FT % [Min. 30 attempts]

87.5 MAW
83.7 Nolley
82.9 Davenport
81.8 DeJulius
54.2 Lakhin [83 attempts]

Rebounds per game

7.4 Lakhin
5.4 Nolley
4.5 Oguama
4.1 Davenport
3.7 Skillings

Nolley has had a good overall game going for the Cats thus far. His size compliments DeJulius' height challenged...

Bolded, I may be alone in this regard but at this point I'd much rather Skillings be attempting 3 point shots than Davenport. JD makes positive contributions to this team, but his offensive decision making often leaves me scratching my head in wonder. And when a defender rushes Skillings prior to a 3 point attempt, he glides into the lane and often gets 2 points or free throws.

Nolley hitting the glass has been huge for this team.

(01-20-2023 10:17 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  Bolded, I may be alone in this regard but at this point I'd much rather Skillings be attempting 3 point shots than Davenport. JD makes positive contributions to this team, but his offensive decision making often leaves me scratching my head in wonder. And when a defender rushes Skillings prior to a 3 point attempt, he glides into the lane and often gets 2 points or free throws.

Yes, I'd suspect you're alone on that one. JD is a limited player but the one thing he's always done is shoot 3's at a decent rate despite shooting at a high volume. I understand you're argument that Dan has another weapon but at this point he hasn't shown enough that defenders are going to close out hard on his open 3's especially considering his athleticism. JD's issue is taking bad 3's but if he takes the right 3's he's a career mid 30s shooter which can compliment an offense with 3 good senior options on offense and a quality interior scorer.

Dan is going to be a star and if he can further his skills has NBA size/athleticism. But he's playing the appropriate role for the team right now.

(01-20-2023 10:34 AM)RealDeal Wrote:  

(01-20-2023 10:17 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  Bolded, I may be alone in this regard but at this point I'd much rather Skillings be attempting 3 point shots than Davenport. JD makes positive contributions to this team, but his offensive decision making often leaves me scratching my head in wonder. And when a defender rushes Skillings prior to a 3 point attempt, he glides into the lane and often gets 2 points or free throws.

Yes, I'd suspect you're alone on that one. JD is a limited player but the one thing he's always done is shoot 3's at a decent rate despite shooting at a high volume. I understand you're argument that Dan has another weapon but at this point he hasn't shown enough that defenders are going to close out hard on his open 3's especially considering his athleticism. JD's issue is taking bad 3's but if he takes the right 3's he's a career mid 30s shooter which can compliment an offense with 3 good senior options on offense and a quality interior scorer.

Dan is going to be a star and if he can further his skills has NBA size/athleticism. But he's playing the appropriate role for the team right now.

Skillings's shot from 3 looks really bad. His misses are often not close. I don't know if it's nerves or what, because his FT stroke looks OK. He does most everything else really well, but it's tough these days to be an exceptional wing if you can't shoot from 3 at all.

(01-20-2023 11:02 AM)levydl Wrote:  

(01-20-2023 10:34 AM)RealDeal Wrote:  

(01-20-2023 10:17 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  Bolded, I may be alone in this regard but at this point I'd much rather Skillings be attempting 3 point shots than Davenport. JD makes positive contributions to this team, but his offensive decision making often leaves me scratching my head in wonder. And when a defender rushes Skillings prior to a 3 point attempt, he glides into the lane and often gets 2 points or free throws.

Yes, I'd suspect you're alone on that one. JD is a limited player but the one thing he's always done is shoot 3's at a decent rate despite shooting at a high volume. I understand you're argument that Dan has another weapon but at this point he hasn't shown enough that defenders are going to close out hard on his open 3's especially considering his athleticism. JD's issue is taking bad 3's but if he takes the right 3's he's a career mid 30s shooter which can compliment an offense with 3 good senior options on offense and a quality interior scorer.

Dan is going to be a star and if he can further his skills has NBA size/athleticism. But he's playing the appropriate role for the team right now.

Skillings's shot from 3 looks really bad. His misses are often not close. I don't know if it's nerves or what, because his FT stroke looks OK. He does most everything else really well, but it's tough these days to be an exceptional wing if you can't shoot from 3 at all.

The numbers don't support it right now, but those within the program seem confident he can shoot it. Sometimes it doesn't translate as a freshman, but I expect to see a leap in his 3 point shooting next year.

JD's three point shooting has still be a huge disappointment. Now below 30%. He took 220 last year (with a much higher degree of difficulty) and still shot 35%. The year before he was more selective and hit 38%. You'd think his numbers would be somewhere in that range this year. If he can find his shot, it could really take this offense to the next level down the stretch.