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Believe it or not, Mick isn't the most likable guy either. He has classic 'little man syndrome.' All of his excuses for losing are just dumb. X fans deserve to dunk on him for all of the stupid crap he's said. Listening to his post game pressers are like train wrecks. That's the only reason I listen anymore.

"Here at Cincinnati, we. . . . ."

When we were in the Big East, it was "Here in the Big East, we . . . . "

Dude, just shut up. You blew a 22 point lead while staring a 5,9, and 11 seed left in the bracket because you couldn't keep your composure. Unforgivable.

I said this in another thread but Mick thinks winning the AAC is a big deal or nice thing. It's not. Nationally, nobody cares. It means nothing. Winning the ACC or Big 10 means something nationally. It also gives a bit of cover if you flame out early in March. Winning our conference and flaming out early in March only reinforces to people that you really aren't 'all that'. The goal here shouldn't be conference championships because we play in a mid major conference (perception and probably reality). As long as we are in the AAC, the goal needs to be March wins. Winning the conference should be a by product of that and a nice 'golf clap' to the year.

i too lost sight of the realistic expectations for this team. i was left wanting more but i ain't owed a damn thing. i'm surprised at how fond i am of nysier brooks. he was an excellent find, even though he was sorta a minor recruiting coup. i'm pretty sure seton hall offered him. that's where we're at as a program so f*ck it. still solid fun teams, endearing personalities with award winning smiles and manners. we had a good year didn't we fellas? the future ain't really ever bright, which is a good thing. considering i'm an overcast kinda guy. i hate march

(03-23-2019 07:07 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  I said this in another thread but Mick thinks winning the AAC is a big deal or nice thing. It's not. Nationally, nobody cares. It means nothing. Winning the ACC or Big 10 means something nationally. It also gives a bit of cover if you flame out early in March. Winning our conference and flaming out early in March only reinforces to people that you really aren't 'all that'. The goal here shouldn't be conference championships because we play in a mid major conference (perception and probably reality). As long as we are in the AAC, the goal needs to be March wins. Winning the conference should be a by product of that and a nice 'golf clap' to the year.

Meh... Conference Championships are for the fans.

(03-22-2019 06:35 PM)Ragpicker Wrote:  

(03-22-2019 01:25 PM)CincyBro Wrote:  Just so painfully obvious that everything about him reeks mid major. His recruiting, his offense, his defense, his in game coaching, nothing is gonna change. His gaudy record would be half of what it is if we consistently played in a major conference. If mid major season or conf. titles are your cup of tea, then he is your guy, I WANT MUCH MORE. WE DESERVE MORE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its more fun to reply to the first statement in a new thread.

HEY - WAKE UP - UC IS IN A MID-MAJOR LEAGUE!!!!!!!!

UConn won a national championship with the old Big East players. UC last went to the Sweet 16 with old Big East players.
Since then not much, and if a team did have a good year, they graduated their strength and missed the tourney, ie Wichita and SMU.

Fire Mick and you will get a Brian Gregory type of coach and become the Dayton Flyers. Well attended by the fans, but not enough money to really compete with the elite.

Its actually quite amazing what UC has done the last couple season with the one blemish of Nevada.

In the last 23 seasons, UC has only made it to the Sweet 16 twice. Our expectations playing in the mid-major AAC is way out of whack. Not only is 70% of our games in the AAC meaningless to Bearcatmark and the rest of the basketball computers and Quadrant-philes, it also damages are our seeding. If we could play Abilene Christian and then Wofford we might get to the 2nd weekend more often.

Read fourth line in my opening statement about the league (reading comprehension not a strong suit ), most people if not everybody on this board feels UC is an elite or high major program. My point was he runs it like a mid major. Not hard to understand.

(03-23-2019 08:16 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(03-23-2019 07:07 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  I said this in another thread but Mick thinks winning the AAC is a big deal or nice thing. It's not. Nationally, nobody cares. It means nothing. Winning the ACC or Big 10 means something nationally. It also gives a bit of cover if you flame out early in March. Winning our conference and flaming out early in March only reinforces to people that you really aren't 'all that'. The goal here shouldn't be conference championships because we play in a mid major conference (perception and probably reality). As long as we are in the AAC, the goal needs to be March wins. Winning the conference should be a by product of that and a nice 'golf clap' to the year.

Meh... Conference Championships are for the fans.

Completely disagree. Conference championship matter to me, conference tournament as well. You don’t get trophies for winning one or two games
in the NCAA tournament.

It’s why I can’t figure why the arena doesn’t acknowledge our 28 conference championship and now 12 tournament championship. All those things are very important. Heck the arena should also have our total wins, total tournament appearances, and total tournament wins. All those accomplishments are important.

UC has struggled in the NCAA tournament since 1997 foe various reasons. Doesn’t take away our other accomplishments. The goal should be to the same every year. Win the conference, conference tournament, and make the final four and win the national championship.

(03-22-2019 11:16 PM)doss2 Wrote:  

(03-22-2019 11:07 PM)UCbball21 Wrote:  I would be less disappointed if Mick Cronin wouldn't be so nonchalant about these tournament losses in these post-game interviews. Mick needs to show the fans that he isn't satisfied with 9 straight NCAA appearances. He needs to show that he is committed to making changes in order to advance in March. Let's start with shaking up the coaching staff and a change in philosophy of recruiting.

- Antwon Jackson: Has that guy recruited a single player of note since he got here? Replace him. I'd like to see a hire with NBA playing experience, a former player would be great too (paging Nick Van Exel). Otherwise, let's inject some more youth into the staff and find an up-and-comer with good recruiting ties.

- Graduate Transfers: Change your tune Mick. Cincy desperately needs shooting next year. I don't care how well Moore shoots it in practice, it doesn't translate to games. Jaevin Cumberland is intriguing, sign him unless there is something better out there.

If Mick were to do both of those things in the off-season, I think it would instill a lot of confidence from the Bearcat faithful. It certainly would for me.

What was Moore doing in the game? The guy looks totally lost.

There are guys who are practice players and it never translates. Perhaps a sport psychologist?

UC played 4 on 5 when Moore was in the game. I'm sure he is a nice kid but at this point he's either a headcase or just can't play at the level needed.

"When somebody presses you, you’re supposed to attack," said Justin Jenifer.

And UC did that twice during the game. Just listened to Cronin's post game comments. He comes off delusional. I still can't believe that even though UC wants to slow the tempo of the game, that the opposing coach took UC out of their game by slowing it down more with that token 1-2-2 press.

Count me with those who think an amicable separation might be best.

I like conference championships and conference tournament wins. They matter to me and to fans of the program.

However those accomplishments really don't matter to the general basketball public.
The NCAAs validate your program beyond your conference.
Additionally because UC isn't in a P6 program for recruiting the UC program needs validation in the NCAAs in order to stay in the running for better talent.

Based on UC's NCAA performance in the past 5-6 years...
if your the coach, team, fans of the team placed across from UC in the NCAA bracket...
how scared are you of the Bearcats? Really?

(03-23-2019 09:03 AM)Romell Shorter Wrote:  "When somebody presses you, you’re supposed to attack," said Justin Jenifer.

And UC did that twice during the game. Just listened to Cronin's post game comments. He comes off delusional. I still can't believe that even though UC wants to slow the tempo of the game, that the opposing coach took UC out of their game by slowing it down more with that token 1-2-2 press.

Count me with those who think an amicable separation might be best.

We were screaming from the nosebleeds to attack the press once they crossed the timeline...the two times they did, they scored. It's essentially like a basket in transition because the defenders are disorganized after pressing.

Most of the time once UC got the ball across the timeline, they played stall ball and let Iowa set up their halfcourt D. It was baffling because it looked like the kids were executing what Mick wanted. Just stupid basketball.

(03-22-2019 06:35 PM)Ragpicker Wrote:  Its more fun to reply to the first statement in a new thread.

HEY - WAKE UP - UC IS IN A MID-MAJOR LEAGUE!!!!!!!!

UConn won a national championship with the old Big East players. UC last went to the Sweet 16 with old Big East players.
Since then not much, and if a team did have a good year, they graduated their strength and missed the tourney, ie Wichita and SMU.

Fire Mick and you will get a Brian Gregory type of coach and become the Dayton Flyers. Well attended by the fans, but not enough money to really compete with the elite.

Its actually quite amazing what UC has done the last couple season with the one blemish of Nevada.

In the last 23 seasons, UC has only made it to the Sweet 16 twice. Our expectations playing in the mid-major AAC is way out of whack. Not only is 70% of our games in the AAC meaningless to Bearcatmark and the rest of the basketball computers and Quadrant-philes, it also damages are our seeding. If we could play Abilene Christian and then Wofford we might get to the 2nd weekend more often.

You might want to pause and ask....WHY are we in a mid-major league? One simple reason...Football.

We've sacrificed MBB at the altar of FB and relegated it to mid-major status.

UC could bust MBB out of this by either going independent or de-coupling MBB from FB conference affiliation. It would be a bold move that I would applaud.

Your assertion that we get a Brian Gregory is flawed. If we shelled out the same amount of $$ we used to renovate 5/3rd into paying a HC, then we could score a big name and improve.

UNLV is trying to do that with Pitino.

We could do the same.

There are also plenty of quality up-and-comers who could fill the void:

Nate Oats is my pick.

You also don't have to be in a top-droor conference to be consistently good...Gonzaga and Villanova have proved that.

Flawed analysis, flawed conclusions.

(03-23-2019 07:03 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  

(03-23-2019 06:31 AM)bearcatlawjd2 Wrote:  Honestly, this discussion is somewhat crazy. We are talking about a team that 28 games and program that wins every year even though we are relegated to a second tier conference. If not winning in the tournament is our biggest issue then it means the Cats are still getting there and having good seasons.

Basically we need better talent. Hopefully the arena helps and the overall improvement in the league does too. Talent level increased until this year, Evans left early and Mick didn’t find a replacement. I am concerned that Moore and Fredricks are not high major players. The bigs are always going to more of a crapshoot but I think there is enough raw ability out of them to compete. Unless UC gets better seeds the first game is going to be up in the air, second game will always be a challenge as well.

I agree with your concerns on Moore and Fredericks and yes overall we need more talent. This team was not a good UC team. I know we won 28 games but unfortunately, we play in a perceived mid major conference so if we are ever going to get back to national respect, it will have to come from March runs. Winning 28 games and the AAC tourney and then losing in the first weekend (30 win back to back seasons two years prior and early flameouts) only reinforce that we are paper tigers, and the wins are a result of being in a weak conference.

Win 30 games and play in the old Big East or the ACC, and you get a bit of a pass nationally for early flameouts. Do it in our conference and you get nothing. Same for Gonzaga. People only give them respect because of their March prowess, not because they dominate and win 30 games a year in their crud conference.

Mick needs to put a team together than can win in March. That has to be the focus. Winning the AAC should not be the goal, it should be the byproduct enroute to March runs. It seems like Mick thinks winning the AAC means something - it doesn't. At least not in terms of national respect, recruiting, etc. Nobody cares really.

Like Gonzaga? Respect doesn't come from the company you keep; it comes from winning. If we consistently dominated the AAC and ran deep into March every year, we'd be respected and we'd be feared. It's the habitual flame-outs which damage perceptions of reputation.

(03-23-2019 09:35 AM)colohank Wrote:  

(03-23-2019 07:03 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  

(03-23-2019 06:31 AM)bearcatlawjd2 Wrote:  Honestly, this discussion is somewhat crazy. We are talking about a team that 28 games and program that wins every year even though we are relegated to a second tier conference. If not winning in the tournament is our biggest issue then it means the Cats are still getting there and having good seasons.

Basically we need better talent. Hopefully the arena helps and the overall improvement in the league does too. Talent level increased until this year, Evans left early and Mick didn’t find a replacement. I am concerned that Moore and Fredricks are not high major players. The bigs are always going to more of a crapshoot but I think there is enough raw ability out of them to compete. Unless UC gets better seeds the first game is going to be up in the air, second game will always be a challenge as well.

I agree with your concerns on Moore and Fredericks and yes overall we need more talent. This team was not a good UC team. I know we won 28 games but unfortunately, we play in a perceived mid major conference so if we are ever going to get back to national respect, it will have to come from March runs. Winning 28 games and the AAC tourney and then losing in the first weekend (30 win back to back seasons two years prior and early flameouts) only reinforce that we are paper tigers, and the wins are a result of being in a weak conference.

Win 30 games and play in the old Big East or the ACC, and you get a bit of a pass nationally for early flameouts. Do it in our conference and you get nothing. Same for Gonzaga. People only give them respect because of their March prowess, not because they dominate and win 30 games a year in their crud conference.

Mick needs to put a team together than can win in March. That has to be the focus. Winning the AAC should not be the goal, it should be the byproduct enroute to March runs. It seems like Mick thinks winning the AAC means something - it doesn't. At least not in terms of national respect, recruiting, etc. Nobody cares really.

Like Gonzaga? Respect doesn't come from the company you keep; it comes from winning. If we consistently dominated the AAC and ran deep into March every year, we'd be respected and we'd be feared. It's the habitual flame-outs which damage perceptions of reputation.

As much as it pains me to say it...like Gonzaga and Nova, Xavier has greater respect nationally too...because they've made runs in the last decade.
And the respect that Nova and XU get isn't from being in the BigEast (which is a shell of what it was) it's because they win in the NCAAs not just in their conference.

(03-23-2019 08:52 AM)mptnstr@44 Wrote:  

(03-22-2019 11:16 PM)doss2 Wrote:  

(03-22-2019 11:07 PM)UCbball21 Wrote:  I would be less disappointed if Mick Cronin wouldn't be so nonchalant about these tournament losses in these post-game interviews. Mick needs to show the fans that he isn't satisfied with 9 straight NCAA appearances. He needs to show that he is committed to making changes in order to advance in March. Let's start with shaking up the coaching staff and a change in philosophy of recruiting.

- Antwon Jackson: Has that guy recruited a single player of note since he got here? Replace him. I'd like to see a hire with NBA playing experience, a former player would be great too (paging Nick Van Exel). Otherwise, let's inject some more youth into the staff and find an up-and-comer with good recruiting ties.

- Graduate Transfers: Change your tune Mick. Cincy desperately needs shooting next year. I don't care how well Moore shoots it in practice, it doesn't translate to games. Jaevin Cumberland is intriguing, sign him unless there is something better out there.

If Mick were to do both of those things in the off-season, I think it would instill a lot of confidence from the Bearcat faithful. It certainly would for me.

What was Moore doing in the game? The guy looks totally lost.

There are guys who are practice players and it never translates. Perhaps a sport psychologist?

UC played 4 on 5 when Moore was in the game. I'm sure he is a nice kid but at this point he's either a headcase or just can't play at the level needed.

When he came in myself and all the UC fans nearby were saying "WHY"?

He may just be one of those "practice stars - game busts"

After watching Justin Jenifer at the press conference, and seeing the interview with Cane Broome, I no longer want to put much blame on the players, even Trevor Moore. These players put their heart and soul into the game yesterday and their careers. I was tough on Moore yesterday and a few other times this year. I'm going to try to refrain from doing that in the future.

The coach is responsible for the game management. He is responsible for putting the right players on the floor at the right time.

For whatever reason, Cronin seems to freeze up in the NCAA tournament. Maybe the pressure of not getting past the first or second round is getting to him?

His mistakes yesterday were numerous. UC showed they could break the Iowa press and score easily by attacking the basket a couple of times, yet they failed to take advantage of it. Instead they do what they always do on offense, stand around until there are 5-10 seconds on the shot clock and hope for the best. That is on the head coach. He is the one that should have recognized the advantage presented to them and get the players to respond to it.

His substitutions were again confusing. Why did he put Brooks in on defense with 4-5 minutes to go? Why did he go with some odd lineups near the end of the first half that allowed Iowa to get back in to the game?

The 3 point defense has been poor all year long, and it cost them the game yesterday. He knew that is what Iowa's strength was, yet failed to plan a defense for it.

Cronin has done very well and has been good for UC. I appreciate that UC wins a lot of games, he graduates players, and they don't get into trouble. And he got an awful lot out of the players he had this year. I did not expect them to do as well as they did. I just wish he would try to make it easier on himself and take some steps to address his weaknesses with regards to offensive strategy and personnel.

And with this, I am done with basketball season.

(03-23-2019 10:02 AM)bearcatfan Wrote:  His substitutions were again confusing. Why did he put Brooks in on defense with 4-5 minutes to go? Why did he go with some odd lineups near the end of the first half that allowed Iowa to get back in to the game?

It's easy to look back and say what he could have tried different. But remember vs Nevada last year we let them speed us up and we see how that went. This year we didn't let them speed us up and the complaint is that we should have.

He put Brooks in on D because offense didn't lose us this game. 43% is a good enough shooting percentage to win most games.

Our defense was what lost us the game, he was hoping Brooks could help us get some stops. When a team shoots 50% from three and over 50% from the field, they very rarely lose. We let Iowa do just that and it was our offense that allowed us to even keep it close.

(03-23-2019 08:23 AM)CincyBro Wrote:  

(03-22-2019 06:35 PM)Ragpicker Wrote:  

(03-22-2019 01:25 PM)CincyBro Wrote:  Just so painfully obvious that everything about him reeks mid major. His recruiting, his offense, his defense, his in game coaching, nothing is gonna change. His gaudy record would be half of what it is if we consistently played in a major conference. If mid major season or conf. titles are your cup of tea, then he is your guy, I WANT MUCH MORE. WE DESERVE MORE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its more fun to reply to the first statement in a new thread.

HEY - WAKE UP - UC IS IN A MID-MAJOR LEAGUE!!!!!!!!

UConn won a national championship with the old Big East players. UC last went to the Sweet 16 with old Big East players.
Since then not much, and if a team did have a good year, they graduated their strength and missed the tourney, ie Wichita and SMU.

Fire Mick and you will get a Brian Gregory type of coach and become the Dayton Flyers. Well attended by the fans, but not enough money to really compete with the elite.

Its actually quite amazing what UC has done the last couple season with the one blemish of Nevada.

In the last 23 seasons, UC has only made it to the Sweet 16 twice. Our expectations playing in the mid-major AAC is way out of whack. Not only is 70% of our games in the AAC meaningless to Bearcatmark and the rest of the basketball computers and Quadrant-philes, it also damages are our seeding. If we could play Abilene Christian and then Wofford we might get to the 2nd weekend more often.

Read fourth line in my opening statement about the league (reading comprehension not a strong suit ), most people if not everybody on this board feels UC is an elite or high major program. My point was he runs it like a mid major. Not hard to understand.

It's an embarrassment for one of the top 20-25 basketball programs of all time to go out in the first weekend year after year after year.

(03-23-2019 10:32 AM)chatcat Wrote:  

(03-23-2019 08:23 AM)CincyBro Wrote:  

(03-22-2019 06:35 PM)Ragpicker Wrote:  

(03-22-2019 01:25 PM)CincyBro Wrote:  Just so painfully obvious that everything about him reeks mid major. His recruiting, his offense, his defense, his in game coaching, nothing is gonna change. His gaudy record would be half of what it is if we consistently played in a major conference. If mid major season or conf. titles are your cup of tea, then he is your guy, I WANT MUCH MORE. WE DESERVE MORE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its more fun to reply to the first statement in a new thread.

HEY - WAKE UP - UC IS IN A MID-MAJOR LEAGUE!!!!!!!!

UConn won a national championship with the old Big East players. UC last went to the Sweet 16 with old Big East players.
Since then not much, and if a team did have a good year, they graduated their strength and missed the tourney, ie Wichita and SMU.

Fire Mick and you will get a Brian Gregory type of coach and become the Dayton Flyers. Well attended by the fans, but not enough money to really compete with the elite.

Its actually quite amazing what UC has done the last couple season with the one blemish of Nevada.

In the last 23 seasons, UC has only made it to the Sweet 16 twice. Our expectations playing in the mid-major AAC is way out of whack. Not only is 70% of our games in the AAC meaningless to Bearcatmark and the rest of the basketball computers and Quadrant-philes, it also damages are our seeding. If we could play Abilene Christian and then Wofford we might get to the 2nd weekend more often.

Read fourth line in my opening statement about the league (reading comprehension not a strong suit ), most people if not everybody on this board feels UC is an elite or high major program. My point was he runs it like a mid major. Not hard to understand.

It's an embarrassment for one of the top 20-25 basketball programs of all time to go out in the first weekend year after year after year.

Not really only 16 make it through. Time to become a top 10 to top 15 team.

In reality Mick = Rick.
Not Pitino. Minter.

Minter brought the football program back getting to some low level bowl games but couldn't take it further.
Sounds familiar?

When UC parted with Rick Minter everybody worried who UC could possibly get to replace Minter.
Did just fine save but the hiccup that was CTT.

(03-23-2019 10:18 AM)skyblade Wrote:  

(03-23-2019 10:02 AM)bearcatfan Wrote:  His substitutions were again confusing. Why did he put Brooks in on defense with 4-5 minutes to go? Why did he go with some odd lineups near the end of the first half that allowed Iowa to get back in to the game?

It's easy to look back and say what he could have tried different. But remember vs Nevada last year we let them speed us up and we see how that went. This year we didn't let them speed us up and the complaint is that we should have.

He put Brooks in on D because offense didn't lose us this game. 43% is a good enough shooting percentage to win most games.

Our defense was what lost us the game, he was hoping Brooks could help us get some stops. When a team shoots 50% from three and over 50% from the field, they very rarely lose. We let Iowa do just that and it was our offense that allowed us to even keep it close.

once nasier fouled out i chuckled and went into the basement thinking to myself, they'll probably lose by seven