We last played "basketball" on January 10th. On the bright side, we're not in the conference crapper anymore - UCF is now 1-5.
And in the tradition of AAC basketball, UCF had pre-conference wins against Auburn and a ranked Florida State before imploding. It's as if no team in the American, excluding Houston, wants to contend and be ranked. Without the consistent past winning of UC and to a lesser degree WSU, and with Memphis floundering yet again it's a pretty dark season for AAC roundball. Maybe it all gets cancelled in the coming weeks.
We last played "basketball" on January 10th. On the bright side, we're not in the conference crapper anymore - UCF is now 1-5.
And in the tradition of AAC basketball, UCF had pre-conference wins against Auburn and a ranked Florida State before imploding. It's as if no team in the American, excluding Houston, wants to contend and be ranked. Without the consistent past winning of UC and to a lesser degree WSU, and with Memphis floundering yet again it's a pretty dark season for AAC roundball. Maybe it all gets cancelled in the coming weeks.
The League has improved dramatically at the bottom, but instead of having 3-4 tournament caliber teams, 1 or 2 NIT caliber teams and 2-3 absolute dregs that seem like they have no business being the conference, we basically have 1 tournament team and 7-8 NIT caliber teams and even the bottom is top 100-150.
I should mention if Greg Marshall hadn't inspired a coup against him wsu would probably be a top 15-20 team this year. They have a good team now and all the guys that transferred out are good.
(This post was last modified: 01-26-2021 08:03 AM by bearcatmark.)
(01-26-2021 08:00 AM)bearcatmark Wrote: I should mention if Greg Marshall hadn't inspired a coup against him wsu would probably be a top 15-20 team this year. They have a good team now and all the guys that transferred out are good.
Yes, I agree. And Penny's best player leaving early last season may have derailed a very high profile run for Memphis. It just seems we've had too much drama in AAC basketball and too little in the way of successful results.
I firmly believe the American is one of the seven high major basketball conferences. But the last couple of years have felt more worthy of the skepticism that many of us have for Pac 12 football.
maybe the NCAA should shut down the season. Most schools keep cancelling games and it could turn into a nightmare where some school wins the ncaa men basketball championship and only played like 10 games. Similar to how close O$U came close to doing in football. IT'S almost a joke now.
(01-26-2021 05:29 PM)bearcat54 Wrote: maybe the NCAA should shut down the season. Most schools keep cancelling games and it could turn into a nightmare where some school wins the ncaa men basketball championship and only played like 10 games. Similar to how close O$U came close to doing in football. IT'S almost a joke now.
Good observation. I'm sure KY would be invited to March Madness with a losing record if basketball follows the same plan the bowl games approved this past season. March Madness may well be March Meekness this year...if it happens at all.
And maybe Steele @ X keeps a perfect record intact of not having made the NCAA tourney during his tenure.
At this point letting everyone in the tournament, cancelling conference tournaments, and letting conferences decide how many games are played might be the best option. Basically force teams to quarantine at the start of March. At the end of March play an all inclusive tournament. Seed based on results but keep everything thing regional. Finish the tournament at the end of April.
(01-27-2021 08:41 AM)UCBearcatlawjd2 Wrote: At this point letting everyone in the tournament, cancelling conference tournaments, and letting conferences decide how many games are played might be the best option. Basically force teams to quarantine at the start of March. At the end of March play an all inclusive tournament. Seed based on results but keep everything thing regional. Finish the tournament at the end of April.
Yea, i've thought that seeding all 300 plus teams based on what has happened thru the end of january and just play a one and out with a game a week. There will be inevitable delays, but trying to drag out the regular season is only going to likely lead to more top players opting out. It will drag on to long.
Not that UC deserves it but the NCAA should try to do something that includes everyone. You have the schools last year that lost out and I am sure deserving schools this year will get messed up with Covid issues.
Interesting stat in the video above -- we are the 8th-youngest team in the country. Not sure how that was calculated, but the roster turnover is the reason I'm not ready to nail the coffin on Brannen's tenure. This is literally the worst year in modern college basketball to try to develop a young roster, so in hindsight, the 3-7 record shouldn't be a shocker.
Another data point to add to the above; Brannen's first year at NKU was also their first year in the Horizon League, and they were still ineligible for postseason play, as it was the final year of their transition to Division I. The team went 9-22 that season. Brannen's 2nd season at NKU, they won 24 games and went to the NCAA tournament. Assuming guys like Eason and Harvey stick around, I think we can be pretty good next year and beyond.
(01-28-2021 04:27 PM)robertfoshizzle Wrote: Another data point to add to the above; Brannen's first year at NKU was also their first year in the Horizon League, and they were still ineligible for postseason play, as it was the final year of their transition to Division I. The team went 9-22 that season. Brannen's 2nd season at NKU, they won 24 games and went to the NCAA tournament. Assuming guys like Eason and Harvey stick around, I think we can be pretty good next year and beyond.
I agree. Bolded, is my far greater concern at this point. And I have no inside knowledge about the team morale or locker room politics. Both those guys really know how to play and score and can be foundational in a rebuild. But more players are needed next year for sure and I guess we're just not hearing anything, partly because high school visits, scouting, and recruit visits to UC are all casualties of Covid 19.
They're softer than a month old bag of apples. Reminds me of the Yates days. Not used to seeing guys with Cincinnati across their chests wilt late in games like these guys do.
(01-28-2021 04:27 PM)robertfoshizzle Wrote: Another data point to add to the above; Brannen's first year at NKU was also their first year in the Horizon League, and they were still ineligible for postseason play, as it was the final year of their transition to Division I. The team went 9-22 that season. Brannen's 2nd season at NKU, they won 24 games and went to the NCAA tournament. Assuming guys like Eason and Harvey stick around, I think we can be pretty good next year and beyond.
Every team has dealt with COVID issues to some extent but what has become incredibly clear is the team's it disproportionately affects are teams without much experience with a ton of recent roster turnover. I keep pointing to Duke and Kentucky who have experienced huge backslides. Those teams depend on getting young talent to gel together and it's just really hard when you don't have the same offseason and aren't used to playing together. Turnover over nearly the entire roster in two offseasons put UC in an already precarious position, but with the COVID issues it has been near impossible. I just can't take much from this season.
(01-28-2021 04:27 PM)robertfoshizzle Wrote: Another data point to add to the above; Brannen's first year at NKU was also their first year in the Horizon League, and they were still ineligible for postseason play, as it was the final year of their transition to Division I. The team went 9-22 that season. Brannen's 2nd season at NKU, they won 24 games and went to the NCAA tournament. Assuming guys like Eason and Harvey stick around, I think we can be pretty good next year and beyond.
Every team has dealt with COVID issues to some extent but what has become incredibly clear is the team's it disproportionately affects are teams without much experience with a ton of recent roster turnover. I keep pointing to Duke and Kentucky who have experienced huge backslides. Those teams depend on getting young talent to gel together and it's just really hard when you don't have the same offseason and aren't used to playing together. Turnover over nearly the entire roster in two offseasons put UC in an already precarious position, but with the COVID issues it has been near impossible. I just can't take much from this season.
I agree to a certain extent. But why was the coaching staff over the summer trying to build the most difficult non-conference schedule when they should have known the possible issues a covid season would bring. Why did they not host an MTE and play buy games.
My concern is the stuff they could control or reasonably forecasted they screwed up. Hopefully the learn going forward.
(01-28-2021 04:27 PM)robertfoshizzle Wrote: Another data point to add to the above; Brannen's first year at NKU was also their first year in the Horizon League, and they were still ineligible for postseason play, as it was the final year of their transition to Division I. The team went 9-22 that season. Brannen's 2nd season at NKU, they won 24 games and went to the NCAA tournament. Assuming guys like Eason and Harvey stick around, I think we can be pretty good next year and beyond.
Every team has dealt with COVID issues to some extent but what has become incredibly clear is the team's it disproportionately affects are teams without much experience with a ton of recent roster turnover. I keep pointing to Duke and Kentucky who have experienced huge backslides. Those teams depend on getting young talent to gel together and it's just really hard when you don't have the same offseason and aren't used to playing together. Turnover over nearly the entire roster in two offseasons put UC in an already precarious position, but with the COVID issues it has been near impossible. I just can't take much from this season.
I agree to a certain extent. But why was the coaching staff over the summer trying to build the most difficult non-conference schedule when they should have known the possible issues a covid season would bring. Why did they not host an MTE and play buy games.
My concern is the stuff they could control or reasonably forecasted they screwed up. Hopefully the learn going forward.
You see more value in playing bad teams than I do. Their record would certainly look better that way, but I think their struggles and learning to play together against quality competition has value even if it comes at the expense of a worse season.
(01-28-2021 04:27 PM)robertfoshizzle Wrote: Another data point to add to the above; Brannen's first year at NKU was also their first year in the Horizon League, and they were still ineligible for postseason play, as it was the final year of their transition to Division I. The team went 9-22 that season. Brannen's 2nd season at NKU, they won 24 games and went to the NCAA tournament. Assuming guys like Eason and Harvey stick around, I think we can be pretty good next year and beyond.
Every team has dealt with COVID issues to some extent but what has become incredibly clear is the team's it disproportionately affects are teams without much experience with a ton of recent roster turnover. I keep pointing to Duke and Kentucky who have experienced huge backslides. Those teams depend on getting young talent to gel together and it's just really hard when you don't have the same offseason and aren't used to playing together. Turnover over nearly the entire roster in two offseasons put UC in an already precarious position, but with the COVID issues it has been near impossible. I just can't take much from this season.
I agree to a certain extent. But why was the coaching staff over the summer trying to build the most difficult non-conference schedule when they should have known the possible issues a covid season would bring. Why did they not host an MTE and play buy games.
My concern is the stuff they could control or reasonably forecasted they screwed up. Hopefully the learn going forward.
You see more value in playing bad teams than I do. Their record would certainly look better that way, but I think their struggles and learning to play together against quality competition has value even if it comes at the expense of a worse season.
Young team and covid season, yes. Established team and a normal year no. Personally I would go soft until this staff knows for certain it has the type of team that can handle a intense non-conference schedule. In normal year you still need around five real games but 6 to 8 easy wins are necessary if your team is still learning.
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Cincy MBB Cancellations
