This has officially taken a turn for the surreal.

(03-24-2012 10:15 AM)ctipton Wrote:  

Quote:You don't have to average a double double, to be a double double guy.

Huh?

As a Sophomore/Junior Kenyon had 18 double doubles. Including a streak of 4 games in a row. A bunch of his other games he was close.

I would call Jason Kidd a triple double guy, but he has never averaged a triple double. Oscar was a triple double guy, but only averaged a triple double one season (though over a 5 year span he averaged a triple double)

Can we get back on topic everyone?

I guess most of us are concerned about the paint. That concern is well-founded. Let's just hope Mbodj, JJ and Gaines have outstanding off-seasons. I'll wait and see.

Since we're doing an off-season thread, let me do the Chatter thing. Starters:

PG: Cash
SG: SK
3G: Parker
PF: JJ
C: Mbodj

Key reserves:
PG: Guyn
SG/3G: Davis, Sanders
PF: Titus (although he's technically not even here yet!)
C: Gaines (we've seen clearly what he can do, and unfortunately, what he can't)

Wild card:

SF: Shaq (Dan said he's had a good year of practice, but he said the same about Gaines too)
PF: The Octo (loved what little I saw; he's a darkhorse for the rotation IMO, depending on his gain in strength)

So, the fact that I'm counting a verbal (and not yet signee) as a key reserve underscores the concern in the blocks.

I actually like it when Chatter does this, but I like making fun of it too especially when he does it up to five years in advance

(03-23-2012 02:22 PM)Murph29 Wrote:  We've focused on what the players need to do, who needs to step up, etc. Here's one other thing that involves us as fans. The fans need to step up and put some asses in seats from Game number one forward. Nobody should be fence-sitting anymore. If you can affort it and support the Cats, we need more people filling the Shoe. Students need to realize the season doesn't start on January 1st either. Big time basketball is back so the crowds need to start being big time.

Its pretty darned clear that the team responds to and feeds off a good crowd. We had some great ones this year in tough conference games and it made an absolute difference. Those same crowds could've made a difference in the nonconf season as well.

Hopefully Whit markets the hell out of this program unlike the funeral director who held the job before him and hopefully our fans step up and start showing up. Just thought I'd throw that in there because its not only about what Mick and the players will do next season to get us further. We have a part to play as well as the fans of this program.

Excellent as usual Murph I hope the UC community have FINALLY seen what the team is capable of, and hope they show up to watch the UC BEARCATS, not the opponent. Although part of me thinks it's probably too much to ask, I'll take the optimistic road regarding Whit

(03-24-2012 12:01 PM)BJUnklFkr Wrote:  Can we get back on topic everyone?

I guess most of us are concerned about the paint. That concern is well-founded. Let's just hope Mbodj, JJ and Gaines have outstanding off-seasons. I'll wait and see.

Since we're doing an off-season thread, let me do the Chatter thing. Starters:

PG: Cash
SG: SK
3G: Parker
PF: JJ
C: Mbodj

Key reserves:
PG: Guyn
SG/3G: Davis, Sanders
PF: Titus (although he's technically not even here yet!)
C: Gaines (we've seen clearly what he can do, and unfortunately, what he can't)

Wild card:

SF: Shaq (Dan said he's had a good year of practice, but he said the same about Gaines too)

PF: The Octo (loved what little I saw; he's a darkhorse for the rotation IMO, depending on his gain in strength)

So, the fact that I'm counting a verbal (and not yet signee) as a key reserve underscores the concern in the blocks.

I actually like it when Chatter does this, but I like making fun of it too especially when he does it up to five years in advance

I don't think it's fair to compare Shaq Thomas to Kelvin Gaines. Shaq was a four star, top 100 type recruit for us- basically the gem of the class. Expected to immediately have an impact and challenge for a starting spot had he not been screwed by his prep school.

I don't think Gaines was recruited by anyone besides us, and he was pretty much seen as a raw project type of guy from the get go.

I feel like we are better off in the paint than what is the general feeling around here and a lot of people are overreacting. Sure Yancy is going to be hard to replace, but at the same time he had the propensity to put up some stinkers like he did against OSU. Lots of people questioning his motor. Guys will progress in the offseason, guys will step up- that's what they do in this system- have a little faith.

Yes Dub... I'm sure SOMEONE will emerge. Jackson and Mbodj have their faults, but both are certain to improve, even if incrementally.

I'm just saying the next two will consist of Rubles, who's not here yet, and Gaines. That's what scares me a little bit.

I feel like either Davis or Guyn really needs to step up at back-up PG. In the game against OSU Cash seemed gassed by the end of it which lead to multiple TO's. Cash is a great PG but he can't play 35+ minutes a game especially with his knees and next year he won't have Dixon to spell the pressure. It is critical that at least one of the guys has a tremendous off-season. I would much rather see those two fill Dixon's role next season rather than Parker.

Here is a question, do you guys foresee any redshirts this season? I know Mick regrets not redshirting Parker last season, I don't see him making the same mistake anytime soon. I wouldn't be surprised to see either Davis, Guyn, or Sanders take a redshirt year if their development isn't quite there, especially Sanders if Shaq Thomas really is the player were hoping him to be.

Am I the only who thought Davis should have seen more action? I really liked how he played whenever he got the chance.

(03-24-2012 01:16 PM)BeerCat Wrote:  Am I the only who thought Davis should have seen more action? I really liked how he played whenever he got the chance.

I'm with you, I was always impressed with his shooting and court vision. I may be in the minority here but I think he can develop into a true PG. He may lack quickness but you can make up for that with size and body control which Davis has.

(03-24-2012 01:40 PM)UCbball21 Wrote:  

(03-24-2012 01:16 PM)BeerCat Wrote:  Am I the only who thought Davis should have seen more action? I really liked how he played whenever he got the chance.

I'm with you, I was always impressed with his shooting and court vision. I may be in the minority here but I think he can develop into a true PG. He may lack quickness but you can make up for that with size and body control which Davis has.

I've felt all year that Davis has more PG instinct than Guyn, and a nice overall feel for the game. Agree I'd like to see him (and/or Guyn) back up Cash and let Parker focus on his game.

Next years Cincinnati team is going to have a completely different style than this years without Gates manning the paint. I foresee Cincinnati to be very similar to Louisville next season. Both teams lack a consistent back to the basket scorer in the post but Louisville makes up for it with Peyton Siva's playmaking ability, this puts a ton of pressure on Cash's senior year. I feel like Cash is a great PG but his playmaking ability leaves something to be desired. Siva can drive and dish with the best of them but lacks the control and perimeter shooting that all culminate into an elite PG. I feel like Cash really has a chance to put all of those attributes together and he is going to need too, next years success hinges on Cash's ability to run this team and distribute.

Expectations for next season:

Top four finish in the Big East
Advance to the Big East Tournament Semi-final
Advance to the Sweet Sixteen
Obtain a four seed or higher in NCAA tournament and remained ranked in the top 25 all year.
Average over 10,000 fans

I love to see UC make a run at a Big East Championship or Final Four and believe if things fall into place those levels can be achieveid. Cincinnati basketball is back but I would like to see UC move into elite status.

(03-24-2012 01:48 PM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  Expectations for next season:

Top four finish in the Big East
Advance to the Big East Tournament Semi-final
Advance to the Sweet Sixteen
Obtain a four seed or higher in NCAA tournament and remained ranked in the top 25 all year.
Average over 10,000 fans

I love to see UC make a run at a Big East Championship or Final Four and believe if things fall into place those levels can be achieveid. Cincinnati basketball is back but I would like to see UC move into elite status.

That's pretty much the lower end of my expectations for UC next year. I'll be satisfied if they get those numbers, but I think they can be a top 10 team and they can win the Big East if they get competent play from their bigs.

(03-24-2012 01:48 PM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  Expectations for next season:

Top four finish in the Big East
Advance to the Big East Tournament Semi-final
Advance to the Sweet Sixteen
Obtain a four seed or higher in NCAA tournament and remained ranked in the top 25 all year.
Average over 10,000 fans

I love to see UC make a run at a Big East Championship or Final Four and believe if things fall into place those levels can be achieveid. Cincinnati basketball is back but I would like to see UC move into elite status.

I'm okay with this. We have some returning starters with a lot of experience who proved they can play well in the Big East. We have some questions about our frontcourt, but plenty of options and plenty of guys with upside.

It's gonna be hard to duplicate some of the wins this year's team had, but I expect less folding up against crap competition as we now have a clue about how we should be running our offense.

Count me in as one of the guys who wished we could have seen more of Davis III this year (particularly when Dixon was having one of his off nights shooting the ball). I love the kid's court vision, lack of fear, and just overall basketball playing ability. He seems like a baller- I saw him shoot it well, and also get into the lane and make some plays.

It's clear that Mick puts a strong emphasis on defense when distributing minutes. A lot of Dixon's exploits on the offensive end drove most of us insane, but he earned his minutes on the defensive end of the court.

Another off-season will have Sanders, Davis, Guyn and even Gaines, ready for reasonable uptick on that end of things. Although Gaines looked very far off offensively. Ellis and Shaq will have benefited from a whole season of practice/workouts. I am pretty excited to see how it will work out.

The switch to semesters this fall will help as the coaches will be able to start working with the players about month earlier than when we are on the quarter system. Hopefully this will aid in a faster start than the past year...

I just feel that out of Ellis, Gaines, Mbodj, Jackson, Rubles, and hopefully Obekpa, someone will emerge down low......and hopefully a couple of guys will. Competition is a very good thing, and I hope Mick and staff don't just hand it to Mbodj because he's a senior.