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In Mick's defense...

I think when Mick got here and the conference we were in + state of the program forced his hand and in response, he went the route he did to try and create toughness etc. because that was the only way he could put teams together to compete with the UCONN's and Cuse's etc. Make the games slow, defensive rock fights and anything can happen. He has it in his head that he can only get certain guys and the reputation of the program now only fuels his opinion (that he can't get top 100 guys but can get guys who will play tough, buy into defense and etc.) and so he continue to recruit that player and the program continues to hold that reputation and round and round we go in an endless loop.

What I think he is missing now is this: We aren't in the Big East any more. We are a name program in the AAC. We went from small fish in big pond to big fish in a small pond. We get the national games that we didn't get in the Big East because we were way back in the line. Now we are at the front of the line. LIke UC with Huggs in the Great Midwest/CUSA days. We have the exposure. Add to this the arena. Add to this the ncaa consecutive appearances. I think if we can keep winning at a high level, enjoy all the nationally televised game exposure and pimp the arena, Mick may need to rethink his recruiting strategy. I think he is holding himself back.

The ONE thing that can really give him a shot in the arm is to start making ncaa tourney runs....that along with everything else would do the trick for UC in terms of up-ticking our recruiting.

(02-14-2019 02:30 PM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  In Mick's defense...

I think when Mick got here and the conference we were in + state of the program forced his hand and in response, he went the route he did to try and create toughness etc. because that was the only way he could put teams together to compete with the UCONN's and Cuse's etc. Make the games slow, defensive rock fights and anything can happen. He has it in his head that he can only get certain guys and the reputation of the program now only fuels his opinion (that he can't get top 100 guys but can get guys who will play tough, buy into defense and etc.) and so he continue to recruit that player and the program continues to hold that reputation and round and round we go in an endless loop.

What I think he is missing now is this: We aren't in the Big East any more. We are a name program in the AAC. We went from small fish in big pond to big fish in a small pond. We get the national games that we didn't get in the Big East because we were way back in the line. Now we are at the front of the line. LIke UC with Huggs in the Great Midwest/CUSA days. We have the exposure. Add to this the arena. Add to this the ncaa consecutive appearances. I think if we can keep winning at a high level, enjoy all the nationally televised game exposure and pimp the arena, Mick may need to rethink his recruiting strategy. I think he is holding himself back.

The ONE thing that can really give him a shot in the arm is to start making ncaa tourney runs....that along with everything else would do the trick for UC in terms of up-ticking our recruiting.

I was curious with what you were saying as to whether Mick has always been in this mindset. The only team he has been head coach for was Murray State. The final KenPom rankings for Murray State during his time there were:

2004 - 61(overall) /65(offense) /101(defense)
2005 - 112/71/193
2006 - 89/140/51

It is such a small sample size so I'm not sure it really says anything, but it is interesting that his first tournament team was based purely around their offense.

I'll be curious next year to see Prince and Laquill hit the floor. They're both kind of under the radar kids who seem to have shown glimpses of being up and comers. They'll be an interesting test of the staff's competence. I heard a guy mention the kid over at x Hardin who was a 4 star recruit and isn't hitting the floor on the radio. I have to see them hit the court against older guys before i judge.