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I think it’s also telling that the guys sticking around are veterans and know what it’s like to play for Brannen and be rostered on a college bball team.

And Lahkin for whatever reason. Maybe he’s got nowhere else to go.

(03-24-2021 11:47 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  So we are blaming the players for unsubstantiated BS rather than the guy in charge who could actually address if he wasn’t in hiding.

He may need a sign on his desk that says “The Buck Stops There.”

the "guy in charge" is a bearcat. The players are not. Pretty simple for me. The players dont play for the bearcats. John is the coach of the bearcats. I support the bearcats.

Like I said. until I see something that states brannen is the bad guy. Then he is the one getting my support. Im standing behind the guy who is the coach of the team I follow. I dont support other teams, or other programs. So why would I stand behind players of other teams over the coach of my own?

The biggest issue I currently have is that even if you do believe that every player leaving was just being soft/lazy/whatever it still doesn't change the fact that Brannen recruited these guys and now is left with a roster of 3 solid players, 1 scholarship player coming off an injury, 1 2021 recruit without high major offers, and Rob Banks. Taking all that together, it's extremely likely that year 3 will be another rebuild. And It would be surprising if we make the tournament next year too, IMO. Year 3 should never be the time for a rebuild. This is when Brannen should be making an AAC championship run and aiming to land a high seed.

Maybe he uses the transfer portal well and does turn the ship around. I'll be rooting for him to do so if he is coach next year. Right now, however, it's looking bleak.

(03-24-2021 11:52 AM)coachpipe Wrote:  

(03-24-2021 11:47 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  So we are blaming the players for unsubstantiated BS rather than the guy in charge who could actually address if he wasn’t in hiding.

He may need a sign on his desk that says “The Buck Stops There.”

the "guy in charge" is a bearcat. The players are not. Pretty simple for me. The players dont play for the bearcats. John is the coach of the bearcats. I support the bearcats.

Like I said. until I see something that states brannen is the bad guy. Then he is the one getting my support. Im standing behind the guy who is the coach of the team I follow. I dont support other teams, or other programs. So why would I stand behind players of other teams over the coach of my own?

Whoa...Mason Madsen is a Bearcat.

This is so ****** up that people think like this.

(03-24-2021 11:59 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  

(03-24-2021 11:52 AM)coachpipe Wrote:  

(03-24-2021 11:47 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  So we are blaming the players for unsubstantiated BS rather than the guy in charge who could actually address if he wasn’t in hiding.

He may need a sign on his desk that says “The Buck Stops There.”

the "guy in charge" is a bearcat. The players are not. Pretty simple for me. The players dont play for the bearcats. John is the coach of the bearcats. I support the bearcats.

Like I said. until I see something that states brannen is the bad guy. Then he is the one getting my support. Im standing behind the guy who is the coach of the team I follow. I dont support other teams, or other programs. So why would I stand behind players of other teams over the coach of my own?

Whoa...Mason Madsen is a Bearcat.

This is so ****** up that people think like this.

Mason isnt a bearcat though. Is he a member of the team and university? No, then not a bearcat

Its so ****** up that people think like this? Like what? supporting actual people that are representing the university? Yes, sounds very ****** up.

And AGAIN. Until something comes out that says John is a bad guy. He is my coach, he is the guy im standing behind. There hasnt been anything that has come out that I have taken a step back and said, you know what. John Brannen is a bad representative for this university. Until there is, my mind wont change and he gets my support.

Why wouldnt he get your support? Pretty sure John has been getting it worse than anyone. People started transferring and everyone wanted his head on a stake and wanted him fired. And for what? Hes still here and is facing the music. The players get to leave and start fresh and dont have to hear or worry about anything left in Cincinnati.

I mean, I'm more in the camp that when someone leaves I don't care about them one way or another. As far as supporting John, I'll be cheering for him when he steps on the court for sure. But if we have another crappy start I simply don't think there's anymore I can give.

I’m in the camp that a kid leaving home to come here to work his ass off and doing things right off the court makes them a Bearcat more than a guy who accepts 9 million dollars to come here with no other connection to the school. You get paid to come here and you didn’t attend here, you have to earn the right to be considered a Bearcat more than any kid who puts the jersey on. Bob earned that as a coach. Mick earned that as an alum and a coach. CLF bleeds red and black in this community. Bearcat forever.

Hell, I didn’t even want us to sign the Madsens because I predicted it wouldn’t likely end well but the kid earned mad props for what he did this year. He’s a Bearcat no matter where he plays next season.

“ Year 3 should never be the time for a rebuild. This is when Brannen should be making an AAC championship run and aiming to land a high seed. “

You mean like years 1 and 2?

You don’t call this a rebuilding year in year 3? Bless your soul.

Hope springs eternal.

(03-24-2021 12:22 PM)Cataclysmo Wrote:  I mean, I'm more in the camp that when someone leaves I don't care about them one way or another. As far as supporting John, I'll be cheering for him when he steps on the court for sure. But if we have another crappy start I simply don't think there's anymore I can give.

If you leave I say FY.
Unless you finish your career here you are not a Bearcat.

(03-24-2021 05:15 PM)Bcatbog Wrote:  “ Year 3 should never be the time for a rebuild. This is when Brannen should be making an AAC championship run and aiming to land a high seed. “

You mean like years 1 and 2?

Exactly like years 1 (and 2 to a lesser extent). We're clearly regressing on a year to year basis.

Dont forget that Tuberville won an AAC title his first year too.

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Also, we wouldve been an 11 seed at best in year 1. This year we wouldve been a 12.

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This year we should have been a 14 if Houston’s team all came down with the flu the day of our game.

(03-23-2021 07:34 PM)robertfoshizzle Wrote:  

(03-23-2021 07:18 PM)Cataclysmo Wrote:  I question it too. But not because of the quality of the program, but because I'm not sure what exactly it is about Brannen that would make him and Mikey so comfortable moving down a level.

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If something truly awful was going on, I would think it would have come out anonymously in the Athletic piece. Brannen has some work to do, and he will need to make some adjustments in his recruiting and communication or else he'll be gone in 1-2 years. The no jewelry/do-rags thing is just dumb, and Brannen needs to relax on that kind of stuff if he's going to be such a demanding practice coach. We've all played for dickhead coaches. I'd even say that most coaches are dickheads to some degree. I don't begrudge the guys transferring out for making the decision they feel is best for them, and I wish them well.

But I've been following this all very closely, have subscriptions to the Athletic and Bearcat Journal, and have listened to all the relevant podcasts and local radio pieces on this story. I've heard nothing even remotely shocking that has come out from current players, transferring players, or insiders. If Brannen or members of his staff did something that is worthy of investigation, then the players need to come out with it. Otherwise, I'm ready to move on with players who want to play for Brannen. If he doesn't produce results next season or has another mass exodus of transfers, then it's probably time to move on with a new coach.

Nailed it. People are treating transfers as de facto evidence Brannen was "out of line." I'm not buying it.

(03-24-2021 11:05 AM)coachpipe Wrote:  

(03-24-2021 11:00 AM)Cataclysmo Wrote:  

(03-24-2021 10:59 AM)coachpipe Wrote:  

(03-24-2021 10:50 AM)Cataclysmo Wrote:  

(03-24-2021 10:27 AM)coachpipe Wrote:  well, this thread is about mason going to the AD behind brannens back right? put 2 and 2 together.

Even if that were true, going to the AD constitutes burning a program down?

i mean, i dont believe hes going to the AD for some ice cream.

You don't think there are any legitimate reasons for a player to take his concerns to the AD? Seriously?

Well we are 2 weeks in and havent heard a single one, so no I dont. Everything we have heard isnt a "get the boss involved" problem. Yet he made it one.

If I am the AD and a player went around the coach to tell me the coach wouldn't let him wear jewelry and yelled at him in practice I would tell the player to get the **** out of my office.

Mick pulled a similar stunt with Devan Downey his first years and was excoriated for it (as he should've been). it's interesting how many people are giving the benefit of the doubt to a coach who hasn't earned it. if a coach isn't willing to put in the same effort to retain talent as s/he did to attract talent, they're not Bearcat material

This thread isn’t going to age well.

(03-26-2021 11:10 AM)blackcattitude Wrote:  Mick pulled a similar stunt with Devan Downey his first years and was excoriated for it (as he should've been). it's interesting how many people are giving the benefit of the doubt to a coach who hasn't earned it. if a coach isn't willing to put in the same effort to retain talent as s/he did to attract talent, they're not Bearcat material

Devan Downey was gone before Mick even got here.

I think he was here about a week after Mick got hired but someone has to fit a Mick rant in this mess.

(03-26-2021 11:36 AM)fnz Wrote:  

(03-26-2021 11:10 AM)blackcattitude Wrote:  Mick pulled a similar stunt with Devan Downey his first years and was excoriated for it (as he should've been). it's interesting how many people are giving the benefit of the doubt to a coach who hasn't earned it. if a coach isn't willing to put in the same effort to retain talent as s/he did to attract talent, they're not Bearcat material

Devan Downey was gone before Mick even got here.

I was on campus at this time, and iirc I was told by someone ON THE TEAM that he asked Mick to come back and Mick basically said "You made your choice, I only want 100% Bearcats on this team, see ya"