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I know we're in the midst of an awesome and exciting football season, but that doesnt mean you cant look ahead to a possibly awesome and exciting basketball season too!

Here's 10 reasons to be excited about UC basketball this winter!

https://mikedropsports.com/10-reasons-to...l-2018-19/

Quote:4. Jarron Cumberland’s development
A year after Jacob Evans left UC early to go to the NBA, is Cincinnati native Jarron Cumberland next? He has an NBA body at 6’6, 216 pounds. He certainly isn’t shy about shooting and is now best scorer on the team. For Cincinnati to have any success this year, they will need him to be a 20 ppg scorer, after averaging 11.5 last season.

ha. if that happens it means he's our only hope

Cumberland and Broome. If they play like all conference players UC wins the league. Everyone else will have their moments but it really is about those two.

(10-01-2018 02:50 PM)bearcatlawjd2 Wrote:  Cumberland and Broome. If they play like all conference players UC wins the league. Everyone else will have their moments but it really is about those two.

unless tre scott progresses considerably in a new role. that's what i'm most excited about. the unknown bigs. we've got some decent height and agility

Doubt that Cumberland will average 20ppg this season. I'll be thrilled if he gets to 15-16ppg. It's rather unprecedented to go from 11ppg to 20ppg, particularly in Mick's offense. Cumberland would have to get off 20 shots per game or more to average 20ppg and I don't see that happening. To be successful, UC needs three or four guys to average double figure scoring which means one guy can't be taking all the shots. Broome, Keith Williams and Rashawn Fredericks are all capable of averaging 10 points per game or more and if Tre Scott, Justin Jenifer, Trevor Moore, Logan Johnson and Nsosome all average 4-8 points per game, we will be fine. Better to spread out the scoring and the shots, so that opponents do not focus their defense against Cumberland alone. Foul difficulty or a poor shooting night can doom the team if we are too reliant on Cumberland.

(10-01-2018 04:11 PM)vabearcat Wrote:  Doubt that Cumberland will average 20ppg this season. I'll be thrilled if he gets to 15-16ppg. It's rather unprecedented to go from 11ppg to 20ppg, particularly in Mick's offense. Cumberland would have to get off 20 shots per game or more to average 20ppg and I don't see that happening. To be successful, UC needs three or four guys to average double figure scoring which means one guy can't be taking all the shots. Broome, Keith Williams and Rashawn Fredericks are all capable of averaging 10 points per game or more and if Tre Scott, Justin Jenifer, Trevor Moore, Logan Johnson and Nsosome all average 4-8 points per game, we will be fine. Better to spread out the scoring and the shots, so that opponents do not focus their defense against Cumberland alone. Foul difficulty or a poor shooting night can doom the team if we are too reliant on Cumberland.

Cumberland's availability will be a concern IMHO. Based on his size and how he drives to the basket, he seldom gets the benefit of the doubt from the balls in stripes. As a result, he sat on the bench for stretches last year to manage his foul situation. We need him on the court as much as possible this season based on the expected contribution from the rest of the pack.

While I am at it, Mick will sit a guy who creates turnovers, which could likewise result in Broome riding the pine for long stretches as well.

Last year’s roster was one to dream about. While hope springs eternal last year’s NCAA collapse with that roster makes big hope for this year very difficult for me.

Didn't look at the 10 reasons yet but in addition to the new arena (our home court advantage just ramped up a notch) this is what has me most excited...

Wed Nov 7 - Ohio State
Tues Nov 13 - NC Central
Fri Nov 16 -Milwaukee
Mon Nov 19 - Western Michigan
Fri Nov 23 - George Mason (in Niceville , FL)
Sat Nov 24- Baylor or Mississippi (in Niceville , FL)
Tues Nov 27- Arkansas Pine Bluff
Sat Dec 1- @UNLV
Tues Dec 4- NKU
Sat Dec 8- Xavier
Sat Dec 15 - @Mississippi State
Wed Dec 19- UCLA
Sat Dec 22- South Carolina St

I cannot remember an OOC schedule like this, maybe ever. The game against the Buckeyes will be absolutely crazy, rabid, frenzied, drums of war, horns of Valhalla, wrath of God type stuff. And I'm just talkin' about what will happen in my man cave...

One thing I am excited for this year is that down the stretch of last season, Jaron Cumberland was our best offensive playmaker. .

The sooner the coaching staff moves to a one post player lineup the better this season is going to be. The worst offensive players on the team play the four and five spots. Modern basketball doesn't require two post players as shooting and passing are more important than size. Outside of special situations there really isn't a good reason to always have a true center on the court.

My biggest concern is that against Ohio State we see Brooks, Scott, and Jenifer starting the game AND playing the majority of the minutes at the 1,4, an 5 spots.

UC's personality for their overachieving teams has always been one or two main guys and a supporting cast that plays their role.

Don't see why this team can't be like that.

(10-01-2018 08:46 PM)bearcatlawjd2 Wrote:  The sooner the coaching staff moves to a one post player lineup the better this season is going to be. The worst offensive players on the team play the four and five spots. Modern basketball doesn't require two post players as shooting and passing are more important than size. Outside of special situations there really isn't a good reason to always have a true center on the court.

My biggest concern is that against Ohio State we see Brooks, Scott, and Jenifer starting the game AND playing the majority of the minutes at the 1,4, an 5 spots.

Bolded, I share this concern. No one to date, on this team, has demonstrated consistent scoring ability in the 4 or 5 slot. Maybe this is the year to leverage a perceived strength by going with four guards and Scott (and the rest of the bigs in reserve) inside to defend, rebound and pass. Four great guards on the floor has served some programs pretty well in recent years with Villanova and Butler coming to mind. Not to say we have that quality of backcourt talent. But then again, if those are our best offensive players, let's get them on the court together.

In terms of our bigs, I am most interested to see the continued development and improvement of Tre Scott. I thought it was noticeable the jump he made from frosh to sophomore and now he's a junior. He seemed to be more aggressive, more consistent, and had a better basketball IQ overall. If he takes it to another level that will really help the scoring from the frontcourt.

(10-02-2018 09:48 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(10-01-2018 08:46 PM)bearcatlawjd2 Wrote:  The sooner the coaching staff moves to a one post player lineup the better this season is going to be. The worst offensive players on the team play the four and five spots. Modern basketball doesn't require two post players as shooting and passing are more important than size. Outside of special situations there really isn't a good reason to always have a true center on the court.

My biggest concern is that against Ohio State we see Brooks, Scott, and Jenifer starting the game AND playing the majority of the minutes at the 1,4, an 5 spots.

Bolded, I share this concern. No one to date, on this team, has demonstrated consistent scoring ability in the 4 or 5 slot. Maybe this is the year to leverage a perceived strength by going with four guards and Scott (and the rest of the bigs in reserve) inside to defend, rebound and pass. Four great guards on the floor has served some programs pretty well in recent years with Villanova and Butler coming to mind. Not to say we have that quality of backcourt talent. But then again, if those are our best offensive players, let's get them on the court together.

Well, Mick's recent roster moves would obviously contradict moving to "small ball" anytime soon. He's got - what? - five or six "bigs" at this point in time?

I didn't count Fredericks and counted Hardnett a "maybe". Does Diarra figure to be one of those "outside 4" types?

(10-02-2018 05:28 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  In terms of our bigs, I am most interested to see the continued development and improvement of Tre Scott. I thought it was noticeable the jump he made from frosh to sophomore and now he's a junior. He seemed to be more aggressive, more consistent, and had a better basketball IQ overall. If he takes it to another level that will really help the scoring from the frontcourt.

This is a big reason I'm doubting the implementation of "small ball". Our biggest big man BY FAR is Scott, and he's only 6-8 225. You have to have a guy Brooks' size, if you have four SF/G players in there. And Brooks is clearly, not our best big man.

(10-02-2018 07:43 PM)Ring of Black Wrote:  

(10-02-2018 05:28 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  In terms of our bigs, I am most interested to see the continued development and improvement of Tre Scott. I thought it was noticeable the jump he made from frosh to sophomore and now he's a junior. He seemed to be more aggressive, more consistent, and had a better basketball IQ overall. If he takes it to another level that will really help the scoring from the frontcourt.

This is a big reason I'm doubting the implementation of "small ball". Our biggest big man BY FAR is Scott, and he's only 6-8 225. You have to have a guy Brooks' size, if you have four SF/G players in there. And Brooks is clearly, not our best big man.

I don't agree that you need a guy bigger than Scott to play small ball. Hell NBA teams do it with smaller guys.

That said. I think Mick is a traditionalist at heart and would prefer to play with traditional big. However his second best team(and the one that made the deepest run) played small. Also i think his best coaching job was the Kilpatrick senior year team and they played a less traditional lineup. He'll adjust if the talent demands it.

Frankly if Evans was back I'd be 100% in on playing small ball but i don't really know if we have the players to do it as our regular lineup. I guess if we see big steps from moore and Williams take huge steps we could.

i really liked the makeup of nevada's starting five. everyone was 6-7. i know they were forced to play that way. i was surprised they lost to loyola. i imagine they were bummed. it'd be badanus if mick was forced to start cane, keith will, cumberland, rashawn, and tre. it wouldn't shock me if cumberland averages under fifteen if that lineup gels. the thought of him having to score sours the fate of this season. do any yall think he can be a fulltime point?

I can really see no reason to be excited for UC Bball for at least another month. Let me enjoy be excited for UC Football first.

Exactly Bruce. As foreign of a concept that it has been in recent years, UC football is absolutely a lot to be excited about.

(10-02-2018 09:56 PM)Lush Wrote:  i really liked the makeup of nevada's starting five. everyone was 6-7. i know they were forced to play that way. i was surprised they lost to loyola. i imagine they were bummed. it'd be badanus if mick was forced to start cane, keith will, cumberland, rashawn, and tre. it wouldn't shock me if cumberland averages under fifteen if that lineup gels. the thought of him having to score sours the fate of this season. do any yall think he can be a fulltime point?

Stop saying the n word. Everyone. Please.