OT: How 'bout dem Bearcats!

[Cincyfan78]

Good news...Lawrence does not have a torn ligament. Simply a sprained toe.

Should be back in a week or two.

 

[bengaldoug]

Once again Mick takes a team with mediocre physical talent and is turning them into a formidable team. Yesterday they held Rutgers to 2 points over the last 11 minutes. Nyarsuk in that zone has become the human eraser. Just two weeks ago he seemed useless and a waste of a scholarship. If only Mick were able to recruit a couple of 5* guys he could win a championship.

 

[kramer1]

This team is capable of a final four run.

 

[bengaldoug]

This team is capable of a final four run.

Everything would have to fall neatly into place to even do a sweet sixteen run. But Mick gets the most of his talent. Imagine if he could recruit with the Dukes and Kentuckys.

 

[kramer1]

Everything would have to fall neatly into place to even do a sweet sixteen run. But Mick gets the most of his talent. Imagine if he could recruit with the Dukes and Kentuckys.

Nonsense. This team is a 4 seed at absolute worst.

 

[cincygrad]

This team is capable of a final four run.

Fuck it.

I'm getting on the bandwagon.

I'm going to reinvest myself in Bearcat Hoops -- I've held off long enough.

Sorry for the two game losing streak that is coming up.

 

[kramer1]

Fuck it.

I'm getting on the bandwagon.

I'm going to reinvest myself in Bearcat Hoops -- I've held off long enough.

Sorry for the two game losing streak that is coming up.

Next game is against Temple who is 5-9 (0-4 in conf.). Yeah, thanks.

 

[bengaldoug]

Fuck it.

I'm getting on the bandwagon.

I'm going to reinvest myself in Bearcat Hoops -- I've held off long enough.

Sorry for the two game losing streak that is coming up.

You didn't reinvest yourself for the first 29 minutes vs Rutgers, did you?

 

[cincygrad]

You didn't reinvest yourself for the first 29 minutes vs Rutgers, did you?

Get ready for the suckage to begin.

 

[DanBengalfan]

I haven't watched a UC game in eons, if I start watching they'll be in last place of whatever the heck their supposed to be doing.

 

[bengaldoug]

Considering that for 23 years now we haven't won anything in any sport, I firmly believe we are well stocked in jinxes......

 

[cincygrad]

Last season's squad drove some of the passion out of me. They drove me nuts.

You guys are really talking up this year's team. My expectations are high.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Last season's squad drove some of the passion out of me. They drove me nuts.

You guys are really talking up this year's team. My expectations are high.

Here's why I've been excited about this team.

My expectations were low. They lost Wright and Parker last year. Two of their toughest players. They didn't have any legit "big" for this year, and with teams focusing on Kilpatrick, who was going to pick up the slack? I really came into this year hoping that they could "sneak" into the NCAA's and use this year as a rebuilding kind of year to restock for next year.

They started off pretty good, but that is usual. They play crappy teams, just like everyone else. Then they lost 2 in a row to New Mexico and XU, and got beaten to death on the inside/paint. Since that game:

Justin Jackson has gone beast mode. He's average nearly 13 points and 8 boards a game to go a long with 3-4 blocks a game, against much bigger players. He's just flat out getting it done.

Kilpatrick has found ways to score when he can't make a shot. Since he's a streaky shooter, this was a MASSIVE "must" for him this year. He's driving to the lane, and is getting to the line a ton this year.

Shaq has been hit or miss, but the talent he shows is there.

Caupain and Johnson have been rare freshman that can play defense and earn time. Caupain is the best PG this team has had since Kenny Statterfield. Book it. The kid can dish it, score it, rebound it, and defend it. He's got finishing speed, he can hit 3's, and he loves playing defense. Johnson has been clutch in minutes off the bench, he can hit FT's, has hit a few threes and made some shots after a rough start to the year. He's also damn near 7'0 wingspan on the wing makes him a solid defender. He looks like he should be playing in the 2-3 zone for 'Cuse.

Sanders has been the big 6th man off the bench (I don't count Caupain, because he's a defacto starter for Guyn, who only starts because he's a junior). The guy hits 3's, and is playing solid defense.

This team, to make any kind of run, was going to have to get serious minutes from a few freshman, and for guys like Jackson and Sanders to step up. Well, that's exactly what's happened. Their offense will make your eyes bleed more often than not, but they are in every game because they play defense for 40 minutes, rebound the ball, and have been getting to the line, and making FT's (70% as a team). Outside of Memphis (who UC beat at Memphis) and Louisville (not nearly as good without Ware/Behanan), UC has become the dark-horse to take this league in the first year.

The talent level at the Sophmore (Shaq) and Freshman (Caupain, Johnson, Lawrence) level has been very, very impressive. Count that they have a 4* PF coming in next year that is having a MONSTER senior season (just recently had a quadruple double 22pts, 21rbs, 15blks, 10 assist) and is averaging a double double, just adds to the talent of this team going forward.

It really is too bad they don't have Davis III anymore, because he could be that "shooter" off the bench, as I think he was more of a 3-point specialist and played decent defense, but he transferred when his home burnt down, to be closer to home.

So, my expectations were pretty guarded for this year. UC has surpassed them, Mick has them playing like a true team, and his recruiting is showing off in the likes of Shaq, Lawrence, Caupain, and Johnson. Don't forget that there are also 2 more freshman in this class. Moorman is red-shirting, and another kid did not get cleared by the NCAA after his post-graduate school had issues.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Once again Mick takes a team with mediocre physical talent and is turning them into a formidable team. Yesterday they held Rutgers to 2 points over the last 11 minutes. Nyarsuk in that zone has become the human eraser. Just two weeks ago he seemed useless and a waste of a scholarship. If only Mick were able to recruit a couple of 5* guys he could win a championship.

Really good article by P-doc in the enquirer about recruiting in an intervie with Mick. Mick said that 5/3rd is holding him back in recruiting. No one wants to come in and play there. Fans don't want to attend games there, even for good teams. The arena sucks, and it's expensive for shitty seats. He wants UC to partner with the cyclones and US Bank to move home court to US Bank Arena and have all home games there on the banks. To me, it's a no-brainer. You put UC home games in the middle of the Banks, and you can fill up a lot of seats with the fringe fans who can build an entire day/evening around UC by going to the banks before and after without having to drive all over town.

Mick likened it to playing 7 card stud with 5 cards. He admits that UC isn't as good as UK, OSU, etc...but he can't even get infront of some kids who have said, they aren't playing at 5/3rd. I have to agree. Tickets are too expensive for terrible seats. I only go once or twice because I just don't want to pay to sit 50 rows up in seats with no backs. I'm at a D-I college Basketball game. Not Colerain High football.

 

[cincygrad]

It's a tremendously poor arena. I have fond memories of sitting in student seats -- Those seats behind the basket aren't much different than any other seats. I only had to sit in the upper deck once to realize how terrible it was. Horrible experience and not worth the cash.

I used to be against moving downtown, but now I think it's the right decision. The arena would need some serious renovations though to make casual fans interested.

 

[Cincyfan78]

It's a tremendously poor arena. I have fond memories of sitting in student seats -- Those seats behind the basket aren't much different than any other seats. I only had to sit in the upper deck once to realize how terrible it was. Horrible experience and not worth the cash.

I used to be against moving downtown, but now I think it's the right decision. The arena would need some serious renovations though to make casual fans interested.

Agreed. Everyone knows that. But it's going to cost 1MM just to tear down 5/3rd. It's not worth that. Just turn it into a place for some H.S. baskebtall finals, and intermurals and such.

They Cyclones and US Bank have said they would help split the costs for renovations.

It's a no brainer.

You plop UC games in the middle of the Banks, and you can average 10-12K every game, easy. Partner with HolyGrail, Yardhouse, Tin Roof, etc, for deals on tickets or bring tickets in for free appetizer with drink purchase, etc...

Also, right now, you can't plan anything around a UC game. To go anywhere worth going, you have to drive there, leave there, drive to UC, attend the game, then leave there, drive to somewhere else...it's a pain in the ass. Moving it to the Banks eliminates all of that, and the casual fan will be 100% more interested in attending a game if they can plan other activities around attending the game.

Also, a renovated US Bank can hold tournaments for conferences, NIT, NCAA play-in, etc...

This shouldn't even be a discussion for UC. It should be done. Yesterday.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Here's the article with P-doc.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/...3/Doc-Mick-Cronin-needs-UC-fans-to-step-it-up

 

[kramer1]

Yardhouse! I'd go to every damn game if they played at US Bank Arena.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Here's an article about Gary Clark. PF for 2014-2015.

GoBEARCATS.com - University of Cincinnati Official Athletic Site

Dude is tearing it up.

 

[kramer1]

I scored 6 points once in a JV game. Come at me.