OFFICIAL Notre Dame Post Game Thread ...

[Herb Jones]

Have at it gentleman ... Great game for the Cats! Wooo Hooo!

[Ding Chavez]

Not come back, I never left. I want to like Mick, but he just can't motivate these guys. I just don't think he is the guy to get us back.

I am of the opinion we could have won at least 2 of these 3 BE losses.

Before this week, you hadn't posted in 11 months. You never left?

[Who Dey Time]

Frustrating. Somehow they have to stop the huge run when on the road. Obviously a much better 2nd half but you have to play better to win.

Still, perspective. 16-3 (3-3). I think Saturday will tell a lot more about this team. Villanova, Syracuse, and Notre Dame are all undefeated at home this year.

[BearcatNationUC]

No NCAA Tournament = No JOB for Mick next year? I'm not looking at this through rose colored glasses, we have no offensive gameplan.

[Who Dey Time]

I think its time for Killa to start over Bishop. I'd say sit Thomas as well but who is there other than Jackson to gat his minutes?

[McMickenKid]

I think its time for Killa to start over Bishop. I'd say sit Thomas as well but who is there other than Jackson to gat his minutes?

Biggie played better than Thomas tonight.

[TheJumperIsWet]

UC runs a bunch of sets and they don't have a motion offense. Teams take away UC's 1st & 2nd options and the kids resort to playground hoops. No toughness to get to the 3rd & 4th options. Sets are ok but you have to have some motion because its hard to scout motion offense. Teams can defend sets and motion teaches kids how to play and move without the ball. UC just seems disjointed on offense.

[MDW79]

I don't understand why we didn't a.) press more b.) waited so long to press.

The players looks uninspired. The D looked like arse in the first half. The offensive sets looked like garbage. Yancy still looks more interested in being a balarina than a post player. Thomas is just horrible. (I think he less than 10 points in the last 4 games COMBINED)

This loss fall squarely on Mick anyway you slice it. I don't care if he's not the one shooting it or not. His offense looked like trash and waiting that long to try to get back in the game is unforgivable. Why? Were we trying to win or not? Especially when St. Johns just beat them using the same strategy. ND is short on players, our coach likes to run a ton of bodies. (Even Parker played) I just don't get it.

I think the skeptics were proven right tonight. This team is nowhere near a top 6 BE team and they have no business being ranked. We have no go to player, our post play sucks, our offense is basic, we're an average shooting team at best.

Our only hope is to D up and win the easy one's and steal a few at home and throw ourselves at the mercy of the committee. Someone will reply with "The sky is not falling". Maybe not, but this is not a great team. If we lose to St. John's, that may very well break what little psyche they have left, and the fans will go nuts about Mick.

Really need a win Sat. Like I said yesterday, two straight losses he could "break" the season.

[Rational Cat]

Seems to be the same as it ever was.

Thanks to the 13 cupcakes, and down years by X, Oklahoma and UD, we all got excited there for a bit.

This team, for four years in a row has given up on their coach down the stretch when the going has gotten tough. This year is not over yet, and I hope that it does not happen again. But the sledding is starting to get awfully tough.

Starting off 16-0 and missing the NCAA? Could that actually happen?

[TheLivingLegend]

Why the same starters? Clearly not working.

Why the slow tempo?

[unclerico]

Before this week, you hadn't posted in 11 months. You never left?

1. My Mom always said not to say anything if you cant say anything NICE.

2. I forgot my darn password!

If Mick keeps it up, I might lose my password again!

[Who Dey Time]

1. My Mom always said not to say anything if you cant say anything NICE.

2. I forgot my darn password!

If Mick keeps it up, I might lose my password again!

Lets keep the trolls off of here if we could.....that's how this board became unbearable last year.

If you want to debate basketball have at it but, judging your last two posts, I'd say you are just looking for a Mick bash.

[unclerico]

Lets keep the trolls off of here if we could.....that's how this board became unbearable last year.

If you want to debate basketball have at it but, judging your last two posts, I'd say you are just looking for a Mick bash.

NOT TRUE. Not a troll, I only come here during hoops season and dont post all that much. Heck, I even said I WANTED him to succeed, its in our best interest. I just don't see it unfortunately. We still have a lot of games left and I hope we can win some tough games so we can make the dance.

I am ok with UC missing shots, it happens. But darn, at least MOVE without the ball rather than standing around. These guys are frustrating to watch because I DO FEEL they have talent and a nice bench that many other teams don't have.

They just cant finish for some odd reason.

[Who Dey Time]

NOT TRUE. Not a troll, I only come here during hoops season and dont post all that much.

I am ok with UC missing shots, it happens. Bur darn, at least MOVE without the ball rather than standing around. These guys are frustrating to watch because I DO FEEL they have talent and a nice bench that many othher teams dont have.

They just cant finish for some odd reason.

Fair enough and my apologies. Tonight wasn't what anyone was looking for but they are far from done.

I think it was KY Bearcat that mentioned last year's team loses this game by 20+ and I agree. If the team keeps fighting like this they WILL get some of these tough road wins. Hopefully that starts on Saturday.

[Brian H.]

This team is starting to look just like last years, Dixon is the new Lance and Kilpatrick is Vaughn. The rest are the same player as last year.

[anbuc88]

Seems to be the same as it ever was.

Thanks to the 13 cupcakes, and down years by X, Oklahoma and UD, we all got excited there for a bit.

This team, for four years in a row has given up on their coach down the stretch when the going has gotten tough. This year is not over yet, and I hope that it does not happen again. But the sledding is starting to get awfully tough.

Starting off 16-0 and missing the NCAA? Could that actually happen?

They just lost to a Notre Dame team that is tough to beat at home. Their other 2 losses are on the road to top 7 teams. And as a rational cat you have to bring up giving up on the coach??? C'mon man. You have to be better than that.

[bearcatfan]

Dan Hoard just gave Thomas' stats for the last 5 games and it's not pretty. 4 points or less each game. And he's not rebounding.

UC is just too weak inside. They have no offense..... again. They have no fire or energy at the start of each game - at least the last 3 games.

They were outcoached tonight.

[unclerico]

All teams are tough to beat at home. If we shoot even marginally better we beat Villanova, Cuse and Notre Lame.

If we ran an offense a bit better, we win.

Our bench outscored Notre Lame 24-6. I agree, they should have run guys in and out and pressed the whole time, or least a larger chunk of the game.

[bg703]

Here are a few thoughts in no particular order

* Kilpatrick has to start at this point. There are only 3 guys on this team who can score against tough defenses: Kilpatrick, Dixon and Gates. Sometimes the other team plays good defense and you have to make shots. SK can actually create his own shot which matters when teams just pack it in on them

* In three straight road games we've seen that UC can't score in the half court unless the game is out of reach

* Yet another poor performance from Thomas

* For a team built on defense they have really been poor in their last 4 games

* They waited too long to press. I understand they were afraid of getting blown out but UC was running out of possessions and waited until after the under 8 TV timeout to press. Mick waited too long and essentially they had no chance to catch up by trading baskets for most of the second half.

* Should UC just play up tempo against the better teams? They look incapable of scoring or defending consistently in the half court against good teams.

* Let's not let the final score obscure the fact that UC was never really in this game. Against Villanova, Syracuse and Notre Dame the Bearcats got down by 16 or more and then started executing their offense once the game was over for all intents and purposes. That's troubling if you're a Bearcat fan.

[nyCat99]

Wish we would've played both halves like the 2nd-at least offensively. I'd like to think it was just poor execution the first 40, but who knows.

[Rational Cat]

They just lost to a Notre Dame team that is tough to beat at home. Their other 2 losses are on the road to top 7 teams. And as a rational cat you have to bring up giving up on the coach??? C'mon man. You have to be better than that.

It is what it is, anbuc. Plus, I wasn't criticizing the coach, I carefully worded the post to throw the TEAM under the bus, and not the coach. ;-)

Haven't we seen this show before?

Most of us are looking for some hope, any glimmer of hope. The last 3 games this team starts out down by double digits within the first 5 minutes of the game. That pretty much sucks the joy out of following this team.

Which was the last team to start out 16-0 and not make the big dance? I think this was pretty much a must win. Things need to change, quickly.

hey, i'm there, all the time, every game. Along with 3000 of my closest friends, except against X, when all of our old friends showed up.

[CanadianBearcat]

I almost never rag Mick, however this case I will. I blame this one on him for two reasons. Firstly, we needed a change in the starting lineup, it was so obvious that I thought anyone would have changed it and yet it remained the same. Result: we had 6 points in the first ten minutes. Bishop and Thomas have been terrible at putting the ball in the basket. I wanna see cash, dixon, killa, yancy, and biggie (or yancy and darnell). The second coaching mistake was made during the game. The last two games ND got destroyed by pressure defense. Instead of pressuring though, we let Nash take the ball up the entire game unpressured. Now I know that yancy isnt gonna guard him for 96 feet, however, there is no reason that he cant hang back and guard the rim. If Nash is taking the ball up the floor we should've forced 25 TO's with our press.

Now luckly we still don't have a bad loss yet (on the road at 4,7, and 16) and we have a chance to go 7-1 in our next eight, and be at 10-4. However, I cant see us getting them if we dont fix the problems we keep seeing on the road.

For now I think we will go:

@St. John's L
vs. Rutgers W
vs. WVU W
@ Pitt L
@ Depaul W
vs. St. John W
vs. Louisville W
@ Providence W

Hopefully we start to see them turn the corner this weekend at St. John and we get on a nice run through a part of the schedule that we NEED to do very well in!

[waterhead]

I think its time for Killa to start over Bishop. I'd say sit Thomas as well but who is there other than Jackson to gat his minutes?

If we keep waiting 6 minutes for Killa to come in every half we can expect the same results. We keep saying he is a liability on D but we keep scoring more than the opponent when he is in the game. At least that is what I have noticed. I could be wrong. Is there a way to track that stat?


Mick was wondering why we have been getting our butts kicked for the first few minutes of each half?????


HELLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Why do we make comebacks in the middle??????? Wake up...and realize you have to get this kid in the game from the start and for 30 minutes. He is a TRUE gamer! Put him in for Bishop and put JJ in for Thomas as far as I am concerned.

[cincyfan81]

St. Johns game has turned into a MUST WIN. If they lose that game I am afraid to think how this team might tank. I don't want to hear well they lost to two top 7 teams on the road and ND is great at home and St. Johns is so good at home blah blah blah just win and stop making excuses.

[B-Team]

SK has gotta start. I'm not sure what Mick was thinking in not bringing him into the game until the 10:00 mark.

That's now 2 straight games where the opposing team has gone on a huge run before SK even enters the game.

[TheJumperIsWet]

Here is what I don't understand. Cronin spends the pre-conference season playing a pressing style defense and running guys in and creating tempo and wearing teams down. They hit Big East play and now they play a completely different style. If I was on that team, I would wonder why we are playing differently. Tonights game was a game that UC was suppose to impose their style on ND.

This game was winnable if they played fast. They would have worn ND down and the last 10 minutes would have been all UC. I just don't get why they play slow now.

[bearcatfan]

It is hard to understand why he does not play Kilpatrick sooner and more. If it's his defense it's not like anyone else is playing much better.

And UC plays faster (and scores more) when a guard is in in place of Thomas, who at this point is more of a liability than anything.

Hoard pointed out that throwing the ball in to Thomas now is pretty much a turnover because he can't make a basket.

[CallTheWahbulance]

Hate me for this comment, I don't care. Mick Cronin has no clue how to run an offense, no clue how to game plan, and absolutely no clue how to motivate his players. Everyone hails him as a guru of a recruiter, that doesn't = being a great coach. Heck, even I could be a great recruiter if the coach was Bob Huggins or Rick Pitino... just sayin'.

[bearcatfan]

Hate me for this comment, I don't care. Mick Cronin has no clue how to run an offense, no clue how to game plan, and absolutely no clue how to motivate his players. Everyone hails him as a guru of a recruiter, that doesn't = being a great coach. Heck, even I could be a great recruiter if the coach was Bob Huggins or Rick Pitino... just sayin'.

The last comment does not hold water. Cronin has recruited pretty well to UC on his own without Pitino or Huggins.

[Thegreatone]

Na na na na

Banned.

[CanadianBearcat]

wow, I feel a bit better at least we're not doing what WVU is doing tonight at home against Marshall down 51-29 with 12 min left at Home! But yes I agree Killa has to start!!

[CallTheWahbulance]

Just frustrated like the rest of you. But I do believe Cronin is NOT the guy. He has no stage presence, no inspiration, no motivation, no saavy anything, he's just a 4 foot 9 bald millionaire.

[CallTheWahbulance]

Did anyone hear the press conference with Mike Brey before the game? He specifically said " I am very concerned with our guard play against Cincinnati's tough physical press, it's been very impressive." I guess Mick didn't hear that one, because he needed to.

[milfordcats]

So let me get this straight. We have lost three games...that going into the season we all figured we'd lose anyways...and everyone is calling for Mick's head?

I am just as frustrated as everyone that we lost...we should have won...I agree with you...

But come on guys. We have lost on the road at #3, #7, and #16.

We still have a great chance to make the tournament. I think we see a very different team Saturday at St. Johns.

[MDW79]

Just frustrated like the rest of you. But I do believe Cronin is NOT the guy. He has no stage presence, no inspiration, no motivation, no saavy anything, he's just a 4 foot 9 bald millionaire.

You've just been waiting haven't you? Now, I'm certainly not the biggest Mick guy on here but at least I'm somewhat consistant, and I'm on here regardless. You on the other hand? Me thinky you were almost rooting for them to lose. (Doss is that you? Lend me a few thousand dollars.)

[nyCat99]

Let's forget this game happened and go smash the shight out of st John's

[waterhead]

Mick has been trying to figure out what is going to work and he thought better D was the answer. To me it is now painfully obvious that it is better O that is our issue. We can't score with consistency until SK comes in. SK is not as much a liability on D as he is an asset on O. Plain and simple.

I am not blaming Mick for tonights game plan...but if he doesn't adjust I will start blaming him from here on out. This team is completely different with SK in the game and attacking. Same goes for Dixon...he wasn't attacking till second half when we were down big.

[anbuc88]

Here is what I don't understand. Cronin spends the pre-conference season playing a pressing style defense and running guys in and creating tempo and wearing teams down. They hit Big East play and now they play a completely different style. If I was on that team, I would wonder why we are playing differently. Tonights game was a game that UC was suppose to impose their style on ND.

This game was winnable if they played fast. They would have worn ND down and the last 10 minutes would have been all UC. I just don't get why they play slow now.

In the beginning of the game they were playing fast. But ND moved the ball to open shooters and hit 3's to quickly pull out to a 10 point (16-6) lead. Plus you can't set up the press if you don't make shots, and their shooting was miserable in the first half. Unfortunately, on the road, especially against ND, you aren't going to get the benefit of the calls, and playing fast would have just led to a parade to the free throw line. SJU pressed ND during their two meetings, and were blown out at ND and blew them out at home. How the game was called had a definite effect, along with ND just shooting better in their place. If this game had been played at Fifth Third, is there any question that the Cats would have won. Not in my mind.

[TheJumperIsWet]

So let me get this straight. We have lost three games...that going into the season we all figured we'd lose anyways...and everyone is calling for Mick's head?

I am just as frustrated as everyone that we lost...we should have won...I agree with you...

But come on guys. We have lost on the road at #3, #7, and #16.

We still have a great chance to make the tournament. I think we see a very different team Saturday at St. Johns.The loses aren't the frustating part. Its how they are losing. They billed themselves as a full court pressing team that has depth and can wear you down. Now they are playing different. If you are going to lose, lose playing your style! UC is playing conservative instead of the attacking style that they showed for 13 games straight.

[JohnFrancis]

'Cats continue to miss a lot of uncontested close-in shots....this has been going on for a while even against the cupcakes earlier in the season....another dunk missed by Thomas tonight. Missing bunnies has to be demoralizing to the team.
(I don't believe that Marshall score, game is not over yet though - WVU must have let done after that Purdue win, geez).

[MDW79]

I am not blaming Mick for tonights game plan...

Then who do you blame for it? We have been pressing this year (or trapping) quite a bit, we run 10 deep, and we come across a team short on bodies, who's been eatin up by the press, AND WE DON'T PRESS???? What sense does that make?

We play into their strengths. Let's get into a slow methodical half court matchup, even when we're down double digits past the 15, 10, 9 minute mark of 2nd half... Seriously, wtf?!!!

I really wonder if sometimes we almost have a Napolean complex that says "We'll beat you at your own game!" rather than work to what is our advantage. For people that really do follow this team, look to the Marquette game last year where we went small and Gates spent the majority of the game on the bench. (including the final 15 minutes, 10 of them with Lance, on the bench) PS We lost in OT.

Makes no sense to me. Coaching grade tonight = a big fat F. Gameplan sucked, intensity sucked, effort sucked, offensive sets sucked. etc....

[anbuc88]

Just frustrated like the rest of you. But I do believe Cronin is NOT the guy. He has no stage presence, no inspiration, no motivation, no saavy anything, he's just a 4 foot 9 bald millionaire.

Stage presence?? No Saavy?? Seriously? Would a red colored tie help? LOL.

[TheJumperIsWet]

In the beginning of the game they were playing fast. But ND moved the ball to open shooters and hit 3's to quickly pull out to a 10 point (16-6) lead. Plus you can't set up the press if you don't make shots, and their shooting was miserable in the first half. Unfortunately, on the road, especially against ND, you aren't going to get the benefit of the calls, and playing fast would have just led to a parade to the free throw line. SJU pressed ND during their two meetings, and were blown out at ND and blew them out at home. How the game was called had a definite effect, along with ND just shooting better in their place. If this game had been played at Fifth Third, is there any question that the Cats would have won. Not in my mind. I watched the St. Johns game at ND and they didn't press ND the whole game. The press may give up some baskets early, it pays dividends in the last 10 min of the game when those shots don't fall because of fatigue. UC has a zone press that would have been effective. The man to man run and jump pressure was not effective because they just threw the ball to Gates man and he brought the ball up. UC played ND's tempo and you can't win in that building playing their style. If you are going to lose, lose playing your way with your identity.

[anbuc88]

Then who do you blame for it? We have been pressed (or traps) quite a bit, we run 10 deep, and we come across a team short on bodies, who's been eatin up by the press, AND WE DON'T PRESS???? What sense does that make?

We play into their strengths. Let's get into a slow methodical half court. I really wonder if sometimes we almost have a Napolean complex that says "We'll beat you at your own game!" rather than work to what is our advantage. For people that really do follow this team, look to the Marquette game last year where we went small and Gates spent the majority of the game (including the final 15 minutes, qo with Lance on the bench)

Makes no sense to me. Coaching grade tonight = a big fat F. Gameplan sucked, intensity sucked, effort sucked, offensive sets sucked. etc....

When do you press? After made baskets. How many baskets did UC make in the first half? Next.

[CallTheWahbulance]

By no stage presence I'm saying Mick is not a good face for the program. He has zero charisma, he's just blah, and his personality and attitude is expressed in how this team has played the last 3 games.

[MDW79]

When do you press? After made baskets. How many baskets did UC make in the first half? Next.

BS. Baskets can be made off the press. This team would have been better served trying to score in transition. And as bad as our half court D was in the first half, it would not have been a huge risk to turn it up in the 2nd. I saw NUMEROUS times after a made basket where we applied no pressure, when a 6'8 dude was bringing the ball up. We didn't try to trap him when another defender was just feet away. We clearly gameplanned to play a half court game, regardless if the shot was made or not. And whoever said first half only?

Seriously, you kidding me with this "Next" stuff? No joke, you Mick's brother? Yo, your bro should have pressed before the 5 minute mark to give us a chance, we basically forfeited.

Next.

[TheJumperIsWet]

When do you press? After made baskets. How many baskets did UC make in the first half? Next.They opened the game with the first basket and they didn't press. They didn't press after their second basket, or the 3rd. They were right there in the beginning. This team needs to play that way to get plugged into the game. They have been lethargic in the beginning because for the first 13 games of the season they played that way. Now they just walk it up and down the floor.

If you can't score, then they should figure out how to press after misses.

[anbuc88]

I watched the St. Johns game at ND and they didn't press ND the whole game. The press may give up some baskets early, it pays dividends in the last 10 min of the game when those shots don't fall because of fatigue. UC has a zone press that would have been effective. The man to man run and jump pressure was not effective because they just threw the ball to Gates man and he brought the ball up. UC played ND's tempo and you can't win in that building playing their style. If you are going to lose, lose playing your way with your identity.

I didn't say they pressed them the whole game, just that it was not effective at ND. SJU also didn't make shots at ND and couldn't employ the press as much, similar to what happened tonight. Also touch fouls were called at ND, and weren't at SJU. That allows a pressing team to be more aggressive. Brey got a technical at SJU, but had that silly grin and happy as pig in $hit at home. Just like tonight.

[TheJumperIsWet]

BS. Baskets can be made off the press. This team would have been better served trying to score in transition. And as bad as our half court D was in the first half, it would not have been a huge risk to turn it up in the 2nd. I saw NUMEROUS times after a made basket where we applied no pressure, when a 6'8 dude was bringing the ball up. We didn't try to trap him when another defender was just feet away. We clearly gameplanned to play a half court game, regardless if the shot was made or not. And whoever said first half only?

Seriously, you kidding me with this "Next" stuff? No joke, you Mick's brother? Yo, your bro should have pressed before the 5 minute mark to give us a chance, we basically forfeited.

Next. Laughing out loud at this one. I'm with you. UC presses for 13 games and now its take the ball for a walk.

[KY Bearcat]

Let's be rational here...its too early to give up on the team or the coach. Having said that...its the same reoccurring problems that are keeping us down...the same reoccurring problems we had last year and the year before...

Our post play is weak, our motion offense is weak...and...we can't shoot the ball.

Yes, we went 15-0 and pounded X...lets give the team and the coach all possible credit there...however, our post play and offense was NEVER outstanding. We played well as a team and out hustled and used our athleticism to beat weaker teams.

Plain and simple, the BEast is exposing us like it does with every team in the conference and the results are not what we want to see.

What bothers me, is that the same problems destroy this team every year. Our offense is too simple and noneffective AND we are undisciplined...hustle only takes you so far.

Im not about to mention a coaching change, but with the recent (all too familiar performances,) we're going to finish this season in similar fashion to the previous 4 seasons.

[waterhead]

Then who do you blame for it? We have been pressing this year (or trapping) quite a bit, we run 10 deep, and we come across a team short on bodies, who's been eatin up by the press, AND WE DON'T PRESS???? What sense does that make?

We play into their strengths. Let's get into a slow methodical half court matchup, even when we're down double digits past the 15, 10, 9 minute mark of 2nd half... Seriously, wtf?!!!

I really wonder if sometimes we almost have a Napolean complex that says "We'll beat you at your own game!" rather than work to what is our advantage. For people that really do follow this team, look to the Marquette game last year where we went small and Gates spent the majority of the game on the bench. (including the final 15 minutes, 10 of them with Lance, on the bench) PS We lost in OT.

Makes no sense to me. Coaching grade tonight = a big fat F. Gameplan sucked, intensity sucked, effort sucked, offensive sets sucked. etc....

I was refering to his focus on getting better D to start the game as his main concern. It's okay we all make mistakes. Our D is fine. Our focus now obviously needs to be on O. If he doesn't adjust in the VERY next game I will be upset. We continue to get down BIG on the road early. Then Killa comes in and we start making a comeback from too far behind. We can't get behind on the road...and our O is what is killing us. Hopefully that is painfully obvious now.

I would give him an F tonight too.

[anbuc88]

BS. Baskets can be made off the press. This team would have been better served trying to score in transition. And as bad as our half court D was in the first half, it would not have been a huge risk to turn it up in the 2nd. I saw NUMEROUS times after a made basket where we applied no pressure, when a 6'8 dude was bringing the ball up. We didn't try to trap him when another defender was just feet away. We clearly gameplanned to play a half court game, regardless if the shot was made or not. And whoever said first half only?

Seriously, you kidding me with this "Next" stuff? No joke, you Mick's brother? Yo, your bro should have pressed before the 5 minute mark to give us a chance, we basically forfeited. Next.

Ah, a loss bring out someones true colors, doesn't it? A mind is a terrible thing to waste, bro. Try using yours sometime.

[Who Dey Time]

By no stage presence I'm saying Mick is not a good face for the program. He has zero charisma, he's just blah, and his personality and attitude is expressed in how this team has played the last 3 games.

Really???? How much charisma does Mike Brey have? Jim Boeheim??? Don't think so. If anything, Mick's personality is pretty fiery. Bottom line is wins and losses and so far the team is 16-3 and still has a good NCAA shot.

If you want to be disappointed about tonight that's a fair point. However, you have to let it play out. We have lost at two Top 10 teams and at the team who, arguably, have been the best home court team in the Big East the last 5 seasons.

I think most people expected these 3 games to be losses. Now, if they start losing to teams that we are clearly better than I'd be more concerned. In the broad scope of things, tonight is not a bad loss.

[TheJumperIsWet]

I didn't say they pressed them the whole game, just that it was not effective at ND. SJU also didn't make shots at ND and couldn't employ the press as much, similar to what happened tonight. Also touch fouls were called at ND, and weren't at SJU. That allows a pressing team to be more aggressive. Brey got a technical at SJU, but had that silly grin and happy as pig in $hit at home. Just like tonight. I just don't agree with that, cause we've had teams that pressed on the road in the past and isn't that why you have depth. Maybe St. Johns doesn't have the depth that UC has. The point is that the press can produce fatigued play in the last 10 minutes of a game, which is when you go on a 12 - 0 run.

[Who Dey Time]

Seriously, you kidding me with this "Next" stuff? No joke, you Mick's brother? Yo, your bro should have pressed before the 5 minute mark to give us a chance, we basically forfeited.

Next.

You're better than this dude.

As for why we didn't press, IMO they had Nash bring the ball up a lot which would have put Yancy or Thomas as the point person and neither of them can play full court defense.

ND has very good ball handlers at every position and Mick took his chances with a half court set tonight. It actually worked as 66 is not a bad number to give up to a team like Notre Dame. Bottom line, score the way you are capable of and you have a chance to win in a very tough building to do so in.

[ucat4]

It's almost like we impose our will agianst weaker opponents but when the Beast comes around and the opponents get tougher we resign our pressing style of play to the style of the other team, hence letting the other team dictate the tempo.

We need to keep our pressing style and force the other team to adjust to us.

And, WTF is Kilpatrick doing on the freaking bench until the 10 minute mark of the first half?!? Seriously, did he have a bad practice or something, because this makes zero sense to me.

[TheJumperIsWet]

Let's be rational here...its too early to give up on the team or the coach. Having said that...its the same reoccurring problems that are keeping us down...the same reoccurring problems we had last year and the year before...

Our post play is weak, our motion offense is weak...and...we can't shoot the ball.

Yes, we went 15-0 and pounded X...lets give the team and the coach all possible credit there...however, our post play and offense was NEVER outstanding. We played well as a team and out hustled and used our athleticism to beat weaker teams.

Plain and simple, the BEast is exposing us like it does with every team in the conference and the results are not what we want to see.

What bothers me, is that the same problems destroy this team every year. Our offense is too simple and noneffective AND we are undisciplined...hustle only takes you so far.

Im not about to mention a coaching change, but with the recent (all too familiar performances,) we're going to finish this season in similar fashion to the previous 4 seasons. I'm not giving up, cause the plan is win all the home games and win against Depaul, and Providence or St. Johns or Georgetown on the road.

There will be no post play in the Big East from this team. Guards will have to carry UC

UC developed an identity and now they are playing different. Its like invasion of the body(team) snatchers!

[CallTheWahbulance]

I agree, Mike Brey, Boheim, I get it. But Cronin needs to get a program over the hump, like Brian Kelly did. I just feel at some point in time you need a salesperson mentality to get that mindset going. Mick is not able to sell to his players that they're good enough to win. I heard Mick comment before the Syracuse game, we might play our best game, and still lose the game. Well thanks Mick, way to really believe in your team.

[TheJumperIsWet]

It's almost like we impose our will agianst weaker opponents but when the Beast comes around and the opponents get tougher we resign our pressing style of play to the style of the other team, hence letting the other team dictate the tempo.

We need to keep our pressing style and force the other team to adjust to us.

And, WTF is Kilpatrick doing on the freaking bench until the 10 minute mark of the first half?!? Seriously, did he have a bad practice or something, because this makes zero sense to me. I agree! New line up should be Dixon at the point, Killa at the shooting guard and Bishop at the three as a ball mover and for defense. Gates and Biggie.

[CatFan/1947]

n Hoard just gave Thomas' stats for the last 5 games and it's not pretty. 4 points or less each game. And he's not rebounding.

you should have discovered this in november. a medocre team beat a less than mediocre team. total coaching staff letdown

[MDW79]

Ah, a loss bring out someones true colors, doesn't it? A mind is a terrible thing to waste, bro. Try using yours sometime.

True colors? Dude, piss off. Seriously. You come at me with that snide bs, and I'll put my fandom against yours any day of the week, buddy. Your post started off with yet another excuse. Excuses, excuses, excuses. We lost, we played like crap, our gameplan SUCKED. It doesn't make you less a fan to to say so. If you don't see that, then save your uppity "everybody wins indoor coed soccer" faggy arse bs for someone else.


What a joke. I'm less of a fan cuz I questioned why we didn't press. Mkay.

[waterhead]

Then who do you blame for it? We have been pressing this year (or trapping) quite a bit, we run 10 deep, and we come across a team short on bodies, who's been eatin up by the press, AND WE DON'T PRESS???? What sense does that make?

We play into their strengths. Let's get into a slow methodical half court matchup, even when we're down double digits past the 15, 10, 9 minute mark of 2nd half... Seriously, wtf?!!!

I really wonder if sometimes we almost have a Napolean complex that says "We'll beat you at your own game!" rather than work to what is our advantage. For people that really do follow this team, look to the Marquette game last year where we went small and Gates spent the majority of the game on the bench. (including the final 15 minutes, 10 of them with Lance, on the bench) PS We lost in OT.

Makes no sense to me. Coaching grade tonight = a big fat F. Gameplan sucked, intensity sucked, effort sucked, offensive sets sucked. etc....

Come to think of it MDW you are right. Mick had all this pre-game talk about maybe switching up the lineup to get better D. What did he come out with? The same lineup that got us WAY down to start both halves of both of our last two road games (and this one). I don't think we need to switch lineups to get better D...I think we need better O. Maybe we can get a little of both by putting in SK and JJ. I can't imagine Thomas gives us much more than JJ at this point on O or D. Bishop is a liability on O...much moreso than Killa is on D IMO.

[Bearcat_DF]

Our D is fine.

We gave up 50% from behind the arc! 50%. We didn't fight through screen and left shooters open. We didn't rotate and left shooters open. We were slow recovering and left shooters open. ND had a lot of good looks. Our D is not fine.

Other lows - last year we were a pretty good rebounding team. This year, not so good. Out rebounded again. I'm incredibly frustrated with effort and toughness. When we were pounding on cupcakes Mick told us not to worry because the team played against BE caliber players everyday in practice. So now I don't know if he didn't know how soft they were or he was just "bs"ing us. He should have recruited some FB players to come in and work against our post players. I'd take a Connor Barwin over any of our post players.

I made this point last year, but I'm afraid it still holds. Mick doesn't think like a head coach, but more like an assistant coach. He gets too caught up in match ups and doesn't work to dictate the game. He is too reactive in terms of setting the tempo.

[anbuc88]

I agree, Mike Brey, Boheim, I get it. But Cronin needs to get a program over the hump, like Brian Kelly did. I just feel at some point in time you need a salesperson mentality to get that mindset going. Mick is not able to sell to his players that they're good enough to win. I heard Mick comment before the Syracuse game, we might play our best game, and still lose the game. Well thanks Mick, way to really believe in your team.

You are taking what he said out of context. He said that against a team like Syracuse, at Syracuse, you could play great, and still not win. That goes for most of the teams in the country. He also said that they fear no one, and can play with anyone in the country. If you don't like the guy, then fine. Just come out, admit it, and say that nothing he does will satisfy you. But to nitpick, and parse everything that he says is ridiculous. After three losses, all away, against top teams in the country, this board is reverting back to last year. Have some perspective. They are 16-3 and still have the majority of the BE schedule in front of them. Some posters act like the sky is falling. Or that they are smarter than the coaching staff. If its so easy, then apply for job. It easy to sit behind the keyboard and say things like- "they were outcoached. this loss is on Mick. I give him an F." How about giving the other team some credit, for a change. ND wasn't rated #16 in the country because they suck.

[PK2]

Let's be rational here...its too early to give up on the team or the coach. Having said that...its the same reoccurring problems that are keeping us down...the same reoccurring problems we had last year and the year before...

Our post play is weak, our motion offense is weak...and...we can't shoot the ball.

Yes, we went 15-0 and pounded X...lets give the team and the coach all possible credit there...however, our post play and offense was NEVER outstanding. We played well as a team and out hustled and used our athleticism to beat weaker teams.

Plain and simple, the BEast is exposing us like it does with every team in the conference and the results are not what we want to see.

What bothers me, is that the same problems destroy this team every year. Our offense is too simple and noneffective AND we are undisciplined...hustle only takes you so far.

Im not about to mention a coaching change, but with the recent (all too familiar performances,) we're going to finish this season in similar fashion to the previous 4 seasons.

I agree 100% with this post. Not time to jump on the Mick bashing train but it is a little worrisome to see some of the same issues from previous years. And I'm a little tired of hearing people say "we've played 3 road games against ranked teams so it's not the end of the world". This is the Big East, if we don't plan on winning against ranked teams/ on the road, we should head back to Conf Usa. At some point we need to actually be winning these games (or at least some of them). This system has been in place long enough that we should be doing that by now. We can't seem to win road Big East games, can't seem to get any kind of offense going (except chucking threes). Either we don't have a good enough offensive gameplan or we are not recruiting good enough shooters. Even then, we should be able to win games when we are not shooting our best. I've never seen teams so offensively challenged year after year

[anbuc88]

True colors? Dude, piss off. Seriously. You come at me with that snide bs, and I'll put my fandom against yours any day of the week, buddy. Your post started off with yet another excuse. Excuses, excuses, excuses. We lost, we played like crap, our gameplan SUCKED. It doesn't make you less a fan to to say so. If you don't see that, then save your uppity "everybody wins indoor coed soccer" faggy arse bs for someone else.

True colors? You should know better than to do the fandom game. Fwiw, short list: Almost everyone in my family is a grad. Dad was a 4 year scholarship athlete, uncle taught law there in b/t practice and county work. I'm a a grad. Mom was a grad. Many friends are grads. Many of our family friends are grads, some former players. (Think late 60's,70's.) Some more I met as a kid down at the Athletic club (50's). I spent hours in Armory in b/t classes in working at the bookstore. Know Bostic pretty well from time at the Beechmont Raquetball club, been up to Salem Gardens for the caravan, have a UC decal on the car, a print in the living room, a flag in the front of the house, UC hat on as I'm typing, a ridiculous waste of time amount of posts on this site, blah, blah, blah.....who cares, most have probably have similar stories. Basically, suck a ...with that nonsense.

What a joke. I'm less of a fan cuz I questioned why we didn't press. Mkay.

My God. I said Next and that got your panties in a wad? I apologize. When did I question your fandome? But bringing that Mick brother crap like you did is BS. As a graduate, you should be bigger than that. Nice to know your family history, though. Warms my heart. I spent 8 years at UC also, got a double degree, but I won't bore you with everyone I know. Don't forget to take your Prozac.

[ucat4]

Why is it that when someone criticizes after a lackluster performance their fandom gets questioned?? I don't get it.

I think we all expected to lose probably three of these four road games, but these road losses are just plain ugly and our offense is offensive!! And, yes I am actually a fan.

[MDW79]

I agree 100% with this post. Not time to jump on the Mick bashing train but it is a little worrisome to see some of the same issues from previous years. And I'm a little tired of hearing people say "we've played 3 road games against ranked teams so it's not the end of the world". This is the Big East, if we don't plan on winning against ranked teams/ on the road, we should head back to Conf Usa. At some point we need to actually be winning these games (or at least some of them). This system has been in place long enough that we should be doing that by now. We can't seem to win road Big East games, can't seem to get any kind of offense going (except chucking threes). Either we don't have a good enough offensive gameplan or we are not recruiting good enough shooters. Even then, we should be able to win games when we are not shooting our best. I've never seen teams so offensively challenged year after year

anbuc88 in 3, 2...

(Don't say anything negative. We just lost to another good team on the road, simple as that. Don't make more out of it. We tried. Now, who's up for pizza?!!! Yay!)

[waterhead]

We gave up 50% from behind the arc! 50%. We didn't fight through screen and left shooters open. We didn't rotate and left shooters open. We were slow recovering and left shooters open. ND had a lot of good looks. Our D is not fine.

Other lows - last year we were a pretty good rebounding team. This year, not so good. Out rebounded again. I'm incredibly frustrated with effort and toughness. When we were pounding on cupcakes Mick told us not to worry because the team played against BE caliber players everyday in practice. So now I don't know if he didn't know how soft they were or he was just "bs"ing us. He should have recruited some FB players to come in and work against our post players. I'd take a Connor Barwin over any of our post players.

I made this point last year, but I'm afraid it still holds. Mick doesn't think like a head coach, but more like an assistant coach. He gets too caught up in match ups and doesn't work to dictate the game. He is too reactive in terms of setting the tempo.

They scored 66 points at home...chill out. There are going to be broken plays in every game (and even a few bad defensive efforts). No team has yet to score 70+ points on us. I don't consider that bad D. Our problems are on O my friend.

[waterhead]

Okay so a couple have:) Nova and Utah Valley...my bad...but you get the point

[Carin's Dad]

Since when do we stink because we didn't pull off the upset? Can't we hold off on burying Mick until we lose a game we're supposed to win?

I know some of you (re tards:D) hate KenPom but his 10-8 prediction for this year includes ND as a loss (and St John's too).

It's too soon to panic.

[PK2]

They scored 66 points at home...chill out. There are going to be broken plays in every game (and even a few bad defensive efforts). No team has yet to score 70+ points on us. I don't consider that bad D. Our problems are on O my friend.

I agree. Even though it wasn't our best defensive performance, our D is the least of our problems

[waterhead]

Also I think Gates is having a pretty good defensive year...much better than previous years. I wouldn't have a problem with bringing in JJ for Thomas though...just to see what he can do.

[MDW79]

My God. I said Next and that got your panties in a wad? I apologize. When did I question your fandome? But bringing that Mick brother crap like you did is BS. As a graduate, you should be bigger than that. Nice to know your family history, though. Warms my heart. I spent 8 years at UC also, got a double degree, but I won't bore you with everyone I know. Don't forget to take your Prozac.


That would be this one right here.

Ah, a loss bring out someones true colors, doesn't it? A mind is a terrible thing to waste, bro. Try using yours sometime.

Btw, classy reply. I guess two degrees doesn't teach that. I only brought my family history up to point that we're all fans, not to brag (which I even said in my post) and you shat on it with this reply? You dismiss a post of mine with "Next" like it's a joke, and I make one of my own, and then the fandom comes to question. Then this is it one it come to, huh?

Wow. Just wow. Makes me wonder why I even bother on here. Ok, dude. Mick coached a great game. I'll never blame him or the team, it's always just as simple as we were supposed to lose. I'm done.

To everyone else, have a good one. Let hope for a win against St. Johns.

[waterhead]

Since when do we stink because we didn't pull off the upset? Can't we hold off on burying Mick until we lose a game we're supposed to win?

I know some of you (re tards:D) hate KenPom but his 10-8 prediction for this year includes ND as a loss (and St John's too).

It's too soon to panic.

Agreed CD...the only thing I have an issue with right now is coming out VERY slow on O. I think our D is fine. We need to do something about getting offensive production early on...and I think I know what can help us.

Has anyone mentioned SK;)

[PK2]

Since when do we stink because we didn't pull off the upset? Can't we hold off on burying Mick until we lose a game we're supposed to win?

I know some of you (re tards:D) hate KenPom but his 10-8 prediction for this year includes ND as a loss (and St John's too).

It's too soon to panic.

True but this is the same thing we've been saying for years. It's always, too early to panic and next thing you know we're left out of the tournament again. How many times does it need to happen for us to see a pattern?Not saying it will happen this year but even bad teams can pull an upset ever now and then. If we lose at St. John's we can say that all big east road games are tough, we weren't favored to win blah blah blah. We can make excuses but in the end beating the Seton Halls and USFs and DePauls is just not going to cut it. Almost half of the league is ranked, half of our Beast games are on the road...we have to win at least a couple we weren't "expected" to

[Carin's Dad]

Ok, dude. Mick coached a great game. I'll never blame him or the team, it's always just as simple as we were supposed to lose. You expect us to win them all? That's just not realistic, is it? If you know we're going to lose some games what good does it do to attack them when they do lose a game EVERYBODY expected us to lose?

[waterhead]

If it happens this year again PK2 the wagon will only have a few people left on it. Why don't we wait and see what happens? The coach ain't going anywhere in the next month or two.

[Carin's Dad]

True but this is the same thing we've been saying for years. It's always, too early to panic and next thing you know we're left out of the tournament again. How many times does it need to happen for us to see a pattern?Not saying it will happen this year but even bad teams can pull an upset ever now and then. If we lose at St. John's we can say that all big east road games are tough, we weren't favored to win blah blah blah. We can make excuses but in the end beating the Seton Halls and USFs and DePauls is just not going to cut it. Almost half of the league is ranked, half of our Beast games are on the road...we have to win at least a couple we weren't "expected" to I agree. 10-8 may not be good enough without a good win. However KenPom has us beating WVU, Uconn, Louisville and Georgetown. If we can pull that off (and it's a big if) that should put us in.

[PK2]

If it happens this year again PK2 the wagon will only have a few people left on it. Why don't we wait and see what happens? The coach ain't going anywhere in the next month or two.

Agreed. The St John's game I think will be a huge indicator on where this season is headed.

[MDW79]

You expect us to win them all? That's just not realistic, is it? If you know we're going to lose some games what good does it do to attack them when they do lose a game EVERYBODY expected us to lose?


I predicted us to lose in every post I've made this week. (I think I had us losing by 9 or so) I've always maintained that ND is one of the worst gyms you can ever play.

My frustration was both in, why didn't press more, and why it took us so long to go to it, after time was running out. I have no problems with the loss, but the gameplan seems sub par to me.

I also have to wonder why no changes were made to the lineup. It's clear Thomas is still (more than) struggling and if there was any team to go small against it's probably ND.

No issues with the loss itself, just how we lost. And I'm not attacking them simply for losing but venting, and bringing up questions. If you can't do that, then why even have discussion? Let's just all get on here after every game and applaud the effort and leave it at that.

[waterhead]

After this game we will have lost to 3 top 15 teams on the road. I would have hoped to make them all a bit closer but no shame in losing these. The only shame will come if we don't adjust for future games. Other than Pitt (maybe) we should be able to play with any of the remaining teams at home or on the road. It's still one of those perfect storm type scenarios where we haven't played anyone or we have played against great teams on the road. If we don't adjust we will stuggle to make the tourney. If we do adjust we still have a very good chance.

[waterhead]

The positives...

Our team hasn't given up when WAY down in any game. That's a prop to coaching and character.

We have someone who can change a game...if we just insert him in the lineup earlier (preferably to start) and longer.

Our D is still pretty good. Maybe not as great as we thought but still pretty damn good.

[Carin's Dad]

No issues with the loss itself, just how we lost.That's fair. I had to work tonight so I didn't get to watch yet, but looking at the box it's clear that we lost because of the disparity in free throws. They had 16 more attempts than us and made 14 more. What was up with that? Home court? And how good is your D if you give them so many FT attempts?

[BigDawg]

I was frustrated tonight and disappointed in the effort early on. But we did get some good looks that just weren't made. Yancy missed a lot of point blank shots. I think this may have been sK's coming out party and I expect him more. I would have liked to see more pressing earlier (our lack of scoring did not help and I think Gates ankle may have limited the ability to do that some), but I understood the game plan. The return of Scott really did make it tougher to press, since he was a weakness others were able to exploit. When he has played, they have had very few TOs.

But Saturday is a big game since we may be battling St. johns for a NCAA spot. I still think the team has the pieces to get it done and get to the big dance, but they are not going to compete with the elite, though I think outside of @Pitt (Where nobody wins), the rest are winnable.

[waterhead]

I didn't think the refs were unfair...but then again I usually don't. I think it's mainly an excuse for teams that lose to use. They were very aggressive with the BB...and when we finally decided to be...we got some calls too.

[Who Dey Time]

More perspective..the top 10 teams in the Big East standings are 29-2 (per Lance McAlister's twitter) thus far in league home games. The goal has always been 10-8. Hold serve at home and steal one or two on the road and you are an NCAA team.

[waterhead]

Saturday is definitely a big game BigDawg. If we can take two against STJ we may be looking ok. There are plenty of good wins left...only one major signature win on the road left at Pitt and maybe Geotown by the time we play them. If we don't get one of those we may have to win 11 games rather than 10...depending on who we beat from here on out. 9-9 will NOT do it this year. I am convinced of that. 10 wins and we are bubble and may have to win BE tourney game(s). I still think 11 is in regardless. I once thought 10 was in but not so sure anymore.

[Who Dey Time]

Saturday is definitely a big game BigDawg. If we can take two against STJ we may be looking ok. There are plenty of good wins left...only one major signature win on the road left at Pitt and maybe Geotown by the time we play them. If we don't get one of those we may have to win 11 games rather than 10...depending on who we beat from here on out. 9-9 will NOT do it this year. I am convinced of that. 10 wins and we are bubble and may have to win BE tourney game(s). I still think 11 is in regardless. I once thought 10 was in but not so sure anymore.

I think 10 is a solidly in number. Keep in mind that there are four more spots to go around this season and other power leagues such as the ACC and Pac-10 are not nearly as strong as in years past. Most if not all the current NCAA projections have the Big East getting 10 and maybe even 11 teams into the Tournament. I think that, in the end, the league will get 9 bids and maybe a 10th if things fall in their favor.

[Lobot]

A) do not directly insult other members
B) do not question other members fandom
C) we have lost to 3 ranked teams all on the road please put this in perpective before you call for Mick's head.
D) analyze losses all you want but do it with facts and intelligence and not vitriol and hate.

E) all of the above. Thanks

[KY Bearcat]

You expect us to win them all? That's just not realistic, is it? If you know we're going to lose some games what good does it do to attack them when they do lose a game EVERYBODY expected us to lose?

Agreed...but its more about how and why we lost...not just what you expected.

[ucat4]

Kenpom had us losing by two.....even he thought that we would play better!

Does Kenpom's model have a value for offensive ineptitude or bad game planning?

[waterhead]

I think 10 is a solidly in number. Keep in mind that there are four more spots to go around this season and other power leagues such as the ACC and Pac-10 are not nearly as strong as in years past. Most if not all the current NCAA projections have the Big East getting 10 and maybe even 11 teams into the Tournament. I think that, in the end, the league will get 9 bids and maybe a 10th if things fall in their favor.

I hope you are right Who Dey but I don't see them giving us more than 9 and would be stretching more than 8. That would be half of our league. We may have 10 teams that deserve it...but I think there is a subliminal thing going on in the voters heads about too many from one conference.

[dp3113]

we need to go small. our power forwards should be bishop and jackson. jackson plays great in the press. thomas is bringing nothing to the table and wilks is a walking turnover/foul. we need people who can create offense. kilpatrick can through his offense and jackson can through his defense. Wright-Dixon-Kilpatrick-Jackson/Bishop-Gates

[London 'Cat]

For now I think we will go:

@St. John's L
vs. Rutgers W
vs. WVU W - Questionable. I say L
@ Pitt L
@ Depaul W
vs. St. John W
vs. Louisville W - No way they beat UL. Definite L
@ Providence W - UC is 11-38 on the road under Cronin. L



That's 3-5 in the next 8 games for a 6-8 BEast record. Looking like a longshot to make the NCAA tournament.

[red_n_black_attack]

No NCAA Tournament = No JOB for Mick next year? I'm not looking at this through rose colored glasses, we have no offensive gameplan.

Not true, Mick will be here next year. Yancy is great, when he plays hard, Killa should be starting. Both Cash and Thomas are not playing to their abilities. No way Mick is not here next year with the recruiting class coming in and recruiting for future years.

[oldcat48]

Killa needs to start. Period. I don't even care if he starts for Thomas (just kidding ... kinda).

[Cats4Ever]

The scoring droughts are killers. Some idjiot somewhere else was saying its the bad officiating causing UC's last 3 losses. Yeah that's it.

Cash Wright needs to be the QB of the offense - Dixon does an amazing job attacking the rim along with Kilpatrick.

Didn't Brey say the book was out on ND to press them and force turnovers? Nash ended up bringing the ball up court pretty much uncontested.

I think UC could have been pressing more and ND has no depth at all. At the very least it could have tired them out.

I expected the ND game to be a win after seeing them get beaten down by St Johns. Then St J gets blown out by Louisville.

Next game is huge for UC - they need a win desperately.

[CincyEngGrad02]

You've just been waiting haven't you? Now, I'm certainly not the biggest Mick guy on here but at least I'm somewhat consistant, and I'm on here regardless. You on the other hand? Me thinky you were almost rooting for them to lose. (Doss is that you? Lend me a few thousand dollars.)

Why do you continue to attack people on here? I've seen you do it a few times now and its very rude.

[London 'Cat]

Not true, Mick will be here next year. Yancy is great, when he plays hard, Killa should be starting. Both Cash and Thomas are not playing to their abilities. No way Mick is not here next year with the recruiting class coming in and recruiting for future years.

Can the athletic department withstand another year of averaging 5,000 fans? The fans are not getting behind Cronin and 5/3 needs to be full to generate some cash. I believe that if they miss the NCAA this year, it will be awfully hard not to cut ties with Cronin.

[Bearcat1996]

Adjustments in the lineup should have been made 5 minutes into the game. I say sit Bishop and Thomas - start Kilpatrick and Jackson (or Biggie). Its a shame since Bishop and Thomas are seniors but they aren't cutting it right now. Maybe this lights a spark and they can make a run down the stretch.

I can't see why the press wasn't used more - it seemed to be effective late. Yancy needs more touches but once he gets the ball they need to crash the boards. Offensive rebounding last night was bad.

[mtezee]

If we keep waiting 6 minutes for Killa to come in every half we can expect the same results. We keep saying he is a liability on D but we keep scoring more than the opponent when he is in the game. At least that is what I have noticed. I could be wrong. Is there a way to track that stat?


Mick was wondering why we have been getting our butts kicked for the first few minutes of each half?????


HELLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Why do we make comebacks in the middle??????? Wake up...and realize you have to get this kid in the game from the start and for 30 minutes. He is a TRUE gamer! Put him in for Bishop and put JJ in for Thomas as far as I am concerned.

My thoughts exactly! But instead we put Killa in to bring us from a deficit. So a reasonable coach would say "hmm maybe we could build a lead or stay even if this kid was in the game earlier". Thomas can't finish to save his life and Bishop's shooting is terrible (see his 3 @ ND that missed the rim and nailed the backboard?) Put Wilks in for a longer stretch. He'll throw his normal turnover(s) but he'll also fly around and keep things moving and get a loose ball to make up for the TO. I'm not giving up yet because their BE road sched has been very hard. Lastly, can Yancy ever get the ball on the actual block? He's always 12-15 feet from the basket. I just want him to get a 3 second call for posting up in the paint, or get an offensive foul for being too aggressive while posting up. Just ONCE YANCEY

[bearcatbbllfn]

Lets keep the trolls off of here if we could.....that's how this board became unbearable last year.

If you want to debate basketball have at it but, judging your last two posts, I'd say you are just looking for a Mick bash.

Amen! Its bad enough for us to suffer through the let down, let alone listen to that crap on top of it. We are all disappointed but the season is not trashed yet. Some I think expect perfection like were in conf USA.

[brcats]

A few things that bother me about this team:
1) We seem, at times, to have ZERO offensive gameplan. We dribble the ball around the post, passing occasionally, then jack up and ill-advised 3.
2) When we do #1, nobody crashes the boards. So many times I see 4 defenders in the box and the offense just standing there watching.
3) Yancy can be lazy... very lazy. That is beyond me. That guy has a ton of talent and, in my opinion, has the potential to take his game to the next level. If he's tired, take him out. We have a deep bench that can spell a guy when he's tired. Until consistent effort is instilled in Yancy, nothing will change.
4) Yancy's game vs. X hurt him. That day, he could hit anything from anywhere. Since then, he wants to take the pullup "J" instead of working his massive body in the post.
5) Defense wins ballgames. Our 1/2 court offense is mediocre at best. Our true strength is our depth. We should press more, generating offense from our defense. When I think back to the 91-92 team, I NEVER thought that we were out of any game because I knew that we would create turnovers and score more points. This team reminds me alot of that team... if we could only execute.

[coach]

the season is far from over, and although i don't like their chances at winning saturday they did play well in the garden last year in the tourney. the problem has been these long droughts on the road scoring. my observation is that early on, particularly in the first half, they feed the ball into the paint(gates), and it seems he does not look to pass it. if you watch nd pass into the paint, they look for the open man and rotate it for an open shot. it almost looks to me that they should be using someone else in the post(?) who facilitates their offense more even if it's a 2 or 3. gates becomes very predictable going to the hoop and often his moves take to long to develop. it's bogging their offense down. they were better in the second half opening up shots when they had guards driving directly to the hoop.spread the floor out. still lots of ball to be played.

[bearcatbbllfn]

Offensive rebounding last night was bad.

Rebounding and poor shooting is why we failed to get a top 25 win period. Our bigs are not having a meaningful impact. It looks we are stronger in a guard line up. Then at least we can maybe shoot our way to a win. The bigs just cant control the game.

[DMoney1080]

If we don't start SK and JJ for the rest of the season, I don't think we make the tourney. If I see Thomas chuck another 3 this season, someone can have my season ticket.

No defense the first 12 minutes. SK played great but again after we were down by 10 or more. I'd rather give JJ and Biggie a shot than watch Thomas play anymore. I even think of un-redshirting Gaines so we can see what type of talent we will have the next 3 years. Personally, if Bishop or Thomas start anymore, Mick should be fired.

Bishop and Thomas have been liabilities on defense all season. People talk about Bishop's defense, but I've watched and he takes plays off and he may be good, but he's not right now. I'd rather have a guy like Davis and SK who bring some energy to the game. I know that being on the road in the BE is tough, it is....but we could have won at Villanova and ND last night had we played 40 minutes of BB than the 25 we decided to play. I think there have been a lot of shots not falling. Yancy made a lot of nice moves, and just didn't finish. Was one of those games. But the play that summed it up for me is we had 4 guys back and one ND player gets behind us and gets an uncontested layup. Ridiculous. That's grounds for all 5 to be benched and grounds for concern for the coaching staff.

And for gods sake PRESS. I'd rather give up 10 points to the press if it's not effective than to not do it.

[bearcatbret]

Not to mention that Gates went for something like 1 for 100 in the first half and Thomas misses a gimmy dunk for the second straight game.

[catscratchfever]

Seriously, you kidding me with this "Next" stuff? No joke, you Mick's brother? Yo, your bro should have pressed before the 5 minute mark to give us a chance, we basically forfeited.

Next.

funny thing is...this isn't the first time people have suspected that anbuc88 is Mick's mortgage broker brother. It was either last year or the year before, i'm not sure exactly, but there was some pretty strong evidence by his posts that he may have been.

[bearcat_cd]

The season is definitely not over. We have plenty of opportunities to win games and still make the tournament. IMO the problem with this team is the starters. Bishop and Thomas are playing the worst basketball in the league right now, easily. They contribute maybe 8 points a game that's pitiful out of starters and the other team continuously keeps going on runs of 10 points or more and putting is in a hole that on the road is impossible to dig yourself out of. The reason I believe we are successful at times is because of Dixon, Cash, and Kilpatrick. Each of these guys have the ability to get in the lane and create opportunities. These 3 need to start playing 30+ minutes a game and I'd even consider Davis getting significant minutes since he at least attacks and does make open shots. Defense is going to be fine, but I think Gaines getting redshirted this year may have been a mistake. Hopefully, we sign a "big" man soon, especially one that won't be thrown around and can play with the big boys.

[GoCats1994]

Here's what I love about this team offensively -

They move the ball until they get a good shot.

Outside of a few ill-advised 3-pt attempts from Thomas & Wilks, I cannot think of many bad shots this entire season.

To quote a former head coach here (Huggins): "It's amazing how good you look when you're making shots".

The defense this year continues to be above average. They lost last night because they did not hit the open shots they worked for. If they can solve for that...they'll be fine going forward. If they continue to miss open/good shots, they will not go very far this year.

Just my $0.02

[bearcated]

Amen! Its bad enough for us to suffer through the let down, let alone listen to that crap on top of it. We are all disappointed but the season is not trashed yet. Some I think expect perfection like were in conf USA.No. I don't expect perfection. This is the Big East. My concern is that this team has not really looked all that competitive. Yeah they might make a run (basketball is a game of runs), but when push comes to shove they've been dominated.

[bearcated]

Here's what I love about this team offensively -

They move the ball until they get a good shot.

Outside of a few ill-advised 3-pt attempts from Thomas & Wilks, I cannot think of many bad shots this entire season.

To quote a former head coach here (Huggins): "It's amazing how good you look when you're making shots".

The defense this year continues to be above average. They lost last night because they did not hit the open shots they worked for. If they can solve for that...they'll be fine going forward. If they continue to miss open/good shots, they will not go very far this year.

Just my $0.02Thomas and Wilks should never shoot 3's. Ever. Dixon is not a very good 3 ball shooter. He's best when he is attacking the goal. Wright tends to shoot a 3 ball too early in the shot clock when there are no rebounders in position.

Gates does a poor job setting up in the paint, and he tends to want to dribble through traffic (like against Syracuse) only to cough the ball up, or shoot low percentage fade aways instead of taking the ball strong to the goal. Thomas is still a work in progress.

Other than that, I think the shot selection is great.

[Best Body]

Lets keep the trolls off of here if we could.....that's how this board became unbearable last year.

If you want to debate basketball have at it but, judging your last two posts, I'd say you are just looking for a Mick bash.

In fairness, praising or bashing the head coach is actually part of debating basketball.

I'll get killed for this, but I think the primary problem is simply that our best 5 isn't as talented as the starting 5s of the good teams in this league. The team may be very deep, but the games are only 40 minutes. Most D1 players are capable of playing nearly 40 minutes a game, so I don't think the deep bench is that great of an advantage. Not that it hurts, but quality wins out over quantity.

[bearcatbbllfn]

No. I don't expect perfection. This is the Big East. My concern is that this team has not really looked all that competitive. Yeah they might make a run (basketball is a game of runs), but when push comes to shove they've been dominated.

You are right. The players need to take this personally. Hicks and Maxiell etc, would not be pushed around and would not let a rebound get away from them. Our bigs dont have this determination yet. That would make all the difference. If we own the glass, we can dictate the tone and tempo of the game.

[Carin's Dad]

I'll get killed for this, but I think the primary problem is simply that our best 5 isn't as talented as the starting 5 of the good teams in this league.Why would you get killed for that? It's a true statement.

[Best Body]

St. Johns game has turned into a MUST WIN. If they lose that game I am afraid to think how this team might tank. I don't want to hear well they lost to two top 7 teams on the road and ND is great at home and St. Johns is so good at home blah blah blah just win and stop making excuses.

Toward the end of the game the announcer on ESPN 2 indicated that given the weak OOC schedule, this team really needs a quality road BE win. He emphasized that it can't be over Depaul or Providence or the like.

[Best Body]

Why would you get killed for that? It's a true statement.

There are alot of people on here convinced that Mick is an excellent recruiter, and has assembled outstanding talent for the program. Every time I suggest otherwise, I get ridiculed.

[Who Dey Time]

You are right. The players need to take this personally. Hicks and Maxiell etc, would not be pushed around and would not let a rebound get away from them. Our bigs dont have this determination yet. That would make all the difference. If we own the glass, we can dictate the tone and tempo of the game.

While I am as appreciative of the old school guys as much as anyone Hicks, White, etc. took their lumps in this league just as this team is. Some of the road results for the 2005-2006 team:

At UL....lost by 17 (+6 rebounds)
At Gtown....lost by 19 (-8 rebounds)
At Pitt.....lost by 20 (-18 rebounds)
At Seton Hall.....lost by 10 (-5 rebounds)
At WVU.....lost by 9 (+12 rebounds)

Safe to say there were times when they got pushed around. Point is, this league is brutal and you have to play damn near perfect to win against certain teams on the road. There are opportunities out there for this team to get where we all want them to go. If they take advantage, we will all be happy on March 13.

[Brian H.]

The defense this year continues to be above average. They lost last night because they did not hit the open shots they worked for. If they can solve for that...they'll be fine going forward. If they continue to miss open/good shots, they will not go very far this year.

Just my $0.02

I think the defense is over rated right now, ya we were excellent against cupcakes early in the season. ND last night shot 50% from three and 45% from 2. They scored 66 points which is only slightly below their BEast average. Only Depaul and Seton Hall have shot less they 45% from two on us.

[Brian H.]

Toward the end of the game the announcer on ESPN 2 indicated that given the weak OOC schedule, this team really needs a quality road BE win. He emphasized that it can't be over Depaul or Providence or the like.

That is just it, there are 9 teams ahead of us in the BEast in the RPI, most are significantly ahead, Unless the BEast is getting 10 in this year I can see why some say we need to be +2 in BEast to make the tournament, even or plus 1 may not get it done.

[Bearcat_DF]

Our D is still pretty good. Maybe not as great as we thought but still pretty damn good.

I think someone said earlier in this thread or in the game thread - "ND ran their offense like we weren't even on the court."

You take some solace in the fact we only gave up 66 points. They didn't want to score a lot of points. They wanted the game slowed down and played in the half-court. We didn't hold them to anything. They dictated the game.

[Jeff From Cincinnati]

In fairness, praising or bashing the head coach is actually part of debating basketball.

I'll get killed for this, but I think the primary problem is simply that our best 5 isn't as talented as the starting 5s of the good teams in this league. The team may be very deep, but the games are only 40 minutes. Most D1 players are capable of playing nearly 40 minutes a game, so I don't think the deep bench is that great of an advantage. Not that it hurts, but quality wins out over quantity.


This could not be more true. Its hard to see Bishop, Thomas, and Cash starting on another quality team in the Big East...

[CincyEngGrad02]

[/B]


This could not be more true. Its hard to see Bishop, Thomas, and Cash starting on another quality team in the Big East...

Sorry but people on here said Cash was the next savior. No way he wouldn't start on other BEast teams.

[catscratchfever]

In fairness, praising or bashing the head coach is actually part of debating basketball.


I think what he means by trolls are the guys who disappear when the team is 15-0 and all of a sudden show up after a tough loss and claim that their hiatus during winning was due to a lost password. And just a heads up to the trolls on here..you can't just say "hey look I want them to be successful but..." and then proceed to spew your venom. We know that isn't true.
I'm sure that no one on here has a problem with people criticizing the team and the coach. That is a two way street though. You can't be silent when the team is winning then pile on after a loss.

[BearcatAlum1]

Losses will happen.

We're not good.

We're not bad.

It's tough to win on the road, especially when we sleep walk for 25-30 minutes.

Big game at SJU. It would be a very, very good win at this point.

[ZCat]

This is a test reply being made by one of the admins...please ignore

[Lobot]

funny thing is...this isn't the first time people have suspected that anbuc88 is Mick's mortgage broker brother. It was either last year or the year before, i'm not sure exactly, but there was some pretty strong evidence by his posts that he may have been.

Anbuc is not Mick's brother. I think I can say that based on his full name, which the admins and mods can look up.

[Jeff From Cincinnati]

Sorry but people on here said Cash was the next savior. No way he wouldn't start on other BEast teams.

Uh...what?

[bearcatbbllfn]

While I am as appreciative of the old school guys as much as anyone Hicks, White, etc. took their lumps in this league just as this team is. Some of the road results for the 2005-2006 team:

At UL....lost by 17 (+6 rebounds)
At Gtown....lost by 19 (-8 rebounds)
At Pitt.....lost by 20 (-18 rebounds)
At Seton Hall.....lost by 10 (-5 rebounds)
At WVU.....lost by 9 (+12 rebounds)

Safe to say there were times when they got pushed around. Point is, this league is brutal and you have to play damn near perfect to win against certain teams on the road. There are opportunities out there for this team to get where we all want them to go. If they take advantage, we will all be happy on March 13.


Fair observation. However, all of us and everyone else that has watched Gates play, is stunned he doesnt own the paint. In his defense, he is a junior and does not have a seasoned supporting cast like in the old days. Plenty of time to find the determination and intesity to prevail this year though. Get pissed and go embarass some one besides yourself.

[JohnFrancis]

Tuttle's column was a good read - does he get paid by the word when subbing for PD? He really ripped into MC but I was more upset that the beer dispenser/ cup filler link did not work. I'll have to search YouTube I guess.


Ok, I found it...think I may have seen this before
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ2dh5gU6lo&feature=fvst

[Ding Chavez]

Uh...what?

Ignore him. His posts are always backhanded compliments because he got banned for awhile for his negativity. So he couches his comments so that unless you know his history, you might not pick up on his negativity.

[hangarninetysix]

Losing on the road to 4, 7, and 16 is really not that bad. Ideally where UC should be? No, but what did you really expect from this season? Realistically, winning one of this 4 game stretch against Villanova, Syracuse, ND, and SJU is a good outcome.

[CincyEngGrad02]

Uh...what?

You might not remember but when Cash was recruited, and even after he got hurt, there were so many people on here saying "if we just had Cash, we win this game." Or "next year, we will have a real point guard. That is why we are losing now".

And here we sit, Cash is playing and people are now saying he's the problem. Man oh man the knowledge that pours out of some of these people.

[BearcatAlum1]

NEWS FLASH: Gates is not dominant. Just because he is big, doesn't mean he is going to dominate people. See Gary McGhee of Pitt.

[UcatsRick]

I said it in another thread: Our bigs are playing soft. Thomas cannot score on a dunk and Gates won't even try to make a post move. Last night Gates had only 2 points inside 5 feet. Until the bigs play big, they're going nowhere.

[Dannyboy]

Losing on the road to 3 great teams is expected for a "good" team like us. The shooting is poor, but I'm not sure what can be done about that at this point. Its not like they WANT to shoot poorly. I see a lot of effort out there.

We can still easily make the tournament.

[catscratchfever]

You might not remember but when Cash was recruited, and even after he got hurt, there were so many people on here saying "if we just had Cash, we win this game." Or "next year, we will have a real point guard. That is why we are losing now".

And here we sit, Cash is playing and people are now saying he's the problem. Man oh man the knowledge that pours out of some of these people.

I think the "uhh what?" was regarding the confusing word usage in your post..
Originally Posted by CincyEngGrad02
Sorry but people on here said Cash was the next savior. No way he wouldn't start on other BEast teams.

By saying no way he wouldn't start means that he would definitely start on other Big East teams...so are you saying that he is good and that he would start on other big east squads or are you taking a jab at people who thought highly of him as a recruit? Your wording appears that you are doing both at the same time?

[BearcatAlum1]

I said it in another thread: Our bigs are playing soft. Thomas cannot score on a dunk and Gates won't even try to make a post move. Last night Gates had only 2 points inside 5 feet. Until the bigs play big, they're going nowhere.

I agree.

We need our bigs to play better.

I agree with some posters that we might as well go smaller to press and spread the floor. My only concern is defense. Wilks and JJ get shoved around and don't rebound particularly well.

[CincyEngGrad02]

I think the "uhh what?" was regarding the confusing word usage in your post..
Originally Posted by CincyEngGrad02
Sorry but people on here said Cash was the next savior. No way he wouldn't start on other BEast teams.

By saying no way he wouldn't start means that he would definitely start on other Big East teams...so are you saying that he is good and that he would start on other big east squads or are you taking a jab at people who thought highly of him as a recruit? Your wording appears that you are doing both at the same time?

Gotcha, made mor sense in my head than what i typed.

[bearcatbbllfn]

NEWS FLASH: Gates is not dominant. Just because he is big, doesn't mean he is going to dominate people. See Gary McGhee of Pitt.

He has to dominate more than he does now. His professional future is depending on it. The guy is going to have to rebound with the best in country and be strong enough to put it back. The NBA will be thrilled he can make the 10-12 footer but they wont hire him for that. He is built like a monster and has to play like one. Its asking a lot I know but, we need the same thing the NBA will need from him. How else we supposed to play him? He is a junior and most players don't get it until their senior seasons. The guys has the tools. His time here is not over. I hope he gets the will to earn a spot on a NBA team.

[MI Bearcat]

I believe Mick has it in his head that you cannot win with freshman in the BE. He continues to believe that experience is the best way to win, therefore Jackson and Killa don't start.

No matter if anbuc wants to admit it or not, Mick was out-coached last night. Brey switched things up and had Nash bring the ball up and we didn't adjust until 5 minutes left in the game. Why couldn't Jackson come in the game for Thomas and press Nash and Yancy drop off and guard someone else? Mick just kept letting Nash walk it up the court.

I don't believe our offense is as anemic as last year. We still seem to pass the ball more, we just can't make shots and don't have a good low post game to go to when we get into our 6 minute stretches of building houses. As much as we would like Yancy to become another Blair, it's not going to happen. Yancy's allergic to paint and my sister could block a Thomas dunk.

Hopefully Mick has learned something from these games and will follow through with a few line-up changes.

[BearcatAlum1]

He has to dominate more than he does now. His professional future is depending on it. The guy is going to have to rebound with the best in country and be strong enough to put it back. The NBA will be thrilled he can make the 10-12 footer but they wont hire him for that. He is built like a monster and has to play like one. Its asking a lot I know but, we need the same thing the NBA will need from him. How else we supposed to play him? He is a junior and most players don't get it until their senior seasons. The guys has the tools. His time here is not over. I hope he gets the will to earn a spot on a NBA team.

I'm not saying what we need or what he should be, I'm merely stating what he is...