Look. Mick is staying. Time to stop whining. I'll admit, I may not be the best person to be starting hoops discussions as I stopped watching them a month ago. I haven't regretted that decision yet as they have tanked for the most part but I still want my favorite program to get back to where they belong.

Anyway, my point. What can Mick do to help turn this around because we're all better off if he works out here. If he's successful, we all win because he's a Cincinnati guy through and through.

What kinds of changes need to be made? Transfers? Staff changes? System? Let me here what you guys think.

Him leaving isn't helpful to this discussion so don't bother.

I would not sleep on the impact that this environment (MSG + Tourney format) could have on Lance. You could see he was fired up last night. The fact he gets one game right after another could be huge. Unlike other games, where they're spaced days apart, there's travel, and obviously different gyms this is much more like high school. It seems he could get into a rhythm very easily. Plus, he can showcase his skills for everyone to see. This isn't USF on ESPN360. Hometown, biggest stage possible, and 30 games of experience could mean serious trouble for our competition. Call me crazy but I could seeing him going for 20+ and carrying this team to a win tonight, and possibly more. Thoughts?

He should be getting 20+ minutes a game from here on out. He is the only consistent shooter from deep, doesn't turn the ball over, hits free throws, and plays solid defense.

Agree or disagree?

I've read multiple posts from varying posters about Mick's inability to develop players. Never really thought it was a fair assessment because he's only had one guy to play under his teachings/coaching for all four years of their eligibilty. No doubt DV has digressed, but how can we be sure that it was Mick's fault? I look at guys like Ibrahima Thomas, Cash Wright and Jaquon Parker. It seems like they get better every time they touch the floor. Especially Ibrahima. His defense and hustle around the rim become more and more apparent every game.

Isn't Deonta Vaughn three assist shy of the school record right now? Someone let me know if they find out. I also believe he is up to 1,822 points on his career and I think Fortson had like 1,891. Again, I could be wrong but if anyone knows for sure let me know. Considering we have a good shot now at the NIT I think he will get the assist record but to pass Danny for third all time in scoring Cincinnat is going to need a deep run. I think he is padding the record for most games consecutively started with like 124 in counting. If i am wrong on my calculations someone let me know I checked up on this a couple weeks back so its all math from my head. It would be neat to see him grab the assist record tonight in ny against our biggest rival

We can beat Louisville. Lets not make them out to be one of the best teams in the country just yet. They are good and have some great wins this year. They just beat syracuse and they beat USF. Not to mention US!

But this is also a team that has lost to:

Charlotte
Western Carolina
St Johns (by 20)

If we play our game and the refs let us bang like yesterday it is completely posssible to win this game. Now, Louisville has ended strong and we all know our struggles but we can win this game.

I am a huge Rashad fan as I have stated many times here but anyone else think about the outcome if Rashad was shooting those three's and not Jaquon??

How about Jaquon getting a big board of a Yancy miss ft late?

He is going to get a offensive foul tonight and I will yell and be mad but this kid has some potential

I absolutely loathe UofL. Always have. It hurts to lose to them any time however twice in the same season stings a bit more. I've nevere wanted them as bad as I do now. Come on Bearcats!!!!

Cincy 71
UofL 65

If someone steps up to handle the ball and we make a few jumpers we will be fine.

Lets keep the ball rolling! (figuratively). I like our chances against Louisville tomorrow. Now lets make it happen BEARCATS!

Lets keep the ball rolling! (figuratively). I like our chances against Louisville tomorrow. Now lets make it happen BEARCATS!

It seems to me he wants to be a yeller and a screamer during games. Why can't he be positive and smile and enjoy it and clap and smack players on the butt. That will motivate them and we will see more good plays. I can't stand to see MICK on the TV when they show him. He is always yelling and being mean. That approach isn't working. He needs to change.

Here we go...........

Rashad Bishop did not make the trip to NYC for undisclosed disciplinary reasons. Obviously he will not be in action tonight for the Cats...

:eek:

UCONN out. Big time. 73-51. A bit of a surprise. No surprise in the other game.

ALso posted on the front page

http://www.bigeast.org/newMediaPlaye...mid=19400&KEY=

From Lances Blog

Recruiting expenses
UC Men's teams: $258,468
UL Men's teams: $669,431

Expenses by team
UC basketball: $4.0 mill
UL basketball: $8.6 mill

Revenues by team
UC basketball $5.1 mill
Louisville basketball $25.4 mill


Where are you UCAT members at? Someone best get this changed. How is there that much difference between these schools?

I know they have been better recently but wow..

I was trying to plan a trip to MSG to see the Big East tourney next year.
A few questions...

Are there ticket packages for all 8 sessions? If so how much?
Whats it like to watch 45 hrs of live basketball in 5 days?
Where is a good place to hotel?

Anyone made the trip before?

A few commentators are making the outrageous assertion that the Big East could send 10 teams to the NCAA.

At the beginning of this season how many of you, if told there would be 10 Big East teams in the tourney, would have picked us to be one of the 6 teams left out?

Do they keep records for futility? Maybe that's the record book Mick is shooting for.

From Bearcat Banter...

Cronin on Yancy Gates

An interesting exchange today at Mick Cronin’s press conference between him and Channel 5’s George Vogel, who asked the UC coach to address critics who say Yancy Gates hasn’t gotten any better and that Gates should be more of a force in the low post.

“I don’t know how fair that is,” Cronin said. “Who says he’s supposed to be a force? There’s a lot of guys that could be this or could be that. The challenge is to get them to where they are. But at the end of the day we are who we are.

“That’s the problem with the whole ranking system of recruits. It’s hardest on a guy like Yancy because other guys don’t have the expectations because they don’t have five stars next to their name. Yancy was not a dominant player at Withrow High school. He averaged seven rebounds a game at 6-9, 270.

“Yancy’s been a guy who’s a project. He’s got talent but he’s a project. And he continues to be one. And he’s well aware of that. I don’t have the magic wand. Coaching a guy is one thing. You can’t make somebody something they’re not. You can try to develop them, develop their footwork, but there’s only so much you can do. At the end of the day, you can’t make players somebody that they’re not.

“The problem with Yancy is that people want him to be somebody he’s not. He’s got to worry about being Yancy Gates. He’s got to worry about being the best guy Yancy Gates can be.”

Here’s what Mick said about Gates when he signed with UC November, 2007:

“Yancy is one of the most athletic players you’ll ever see that’s 6-9, 260 pounds. He’s very quick off his feet and he’s got tremendous hands. He’s still learning to play with his back to the basket and developing his low-post game, but he’s a big-time player. He’s the most talented big man in Cincinnati since LaSalle Thompson.”

Comments today from Mick............

Mick Cronin said today he appreciates the vote of support he received last week from athletic director Mike Thomas, who told The Enquirer that Cronin would be back for a fifth year in 2010-11.

“Mike’s always been supportive of me,” Cronin said. “We’ve been on the same page with how hard this was going to be, that we were going to be in it together. That being said, I need to deliver.

“The only thing I’d like to say to people is just because you hear me say we lost a close game or this or that, trust me, nobody wants to deliver more than me. I understand where this program wants to get back to. We’ve made progress, but we’re not over the hill. We’ve got to push it over the hill.”

followed by this..........

"Trust me," Cronin said. "Nobody wants to play better than those guys do. What I don't want them to do is press too much, which I think has been an issue. As bad breaks started piling up on us, I think the kids started putting too much pressure on themselves.

"The game's going to be close. These games are all going to be close. This tournament is going to be wild. You can't play with stress. You've got to have the pressure to perform, but you can't have stress."

Not really sure what points Mick is trying to make here. In his earlier comments he seems to be stepping back from some of the excuses that he's made after games. He comes right back in the later comments and eludes to the "bad breaks" that his team has gotten this season.

I also find it comical that he continues to say "trust me" then eludes to how no one wants to win more than him or the team. Well I should hope so! I don't think anyone has accused him of wanting to lose.