Where's my panic button?

[waterhead]

Okay, now that it is safe beside me I can relax. I want to win every game but that is not being realistic with this team and this conference. Which one's would I expect to lose? On the road at Nova where they haven't lost in over 40 games. On the road at Syracuse...one of the best teams in the country. On the road at ND...where they seem to about 95% of the time.

That being said I don't like the way we lost. Early in games. Both Syracuse and ND were at the final margin of victory 12 minutes into the game. For the Nova game it was at 18 minutes in. We proceeded to make it worse to start the second half before battling back and playing with these teams for the better part of the games.

So we definitely need a change. IMO it's (almost) as simple as inserting SK into the lineup earlier (starting) for offensive confidence. I also think we should press more and do more up tempo full court game. I would like to see SK for Bishop (an offensive liability at this point) and JJ for Thomas just to see what JJ can do.

It would be nice to see a significant change in game plan or starters or both for this next game. I really think this team can get the job done with the right game plan and people getting the minutes. I don't want to hit the panic button any time soon. We have 3 winable games coming up. If we win three of those I will put the panic button away for a while. If we win two I will keep it within reach. If we win one I will push it...since Pitt will be the following game. I don't want to get down too far in the BE too early and have to fight back in standings like we have late in these road games only to fall short in the end.

It seems a lot of people have pushed the "panic button" already but I think it's just a little too soon for that. I am giving the benefit of the doubt for a little longer. Go Bearcats!

[Big B]

I would like to see more of a smaller lineup, with 4 g/sf and then Gates. With Gates doing better on the glass and Thomas basically taking up space, throw the shooters in and just run. I see SK starting some of the future games over Thomas with Thomas moving back in towards the end because he's a senior. But I've never seen a 7 footer get so many of his shots blocked in my life. I believe with a win tomorrow and 8-8 or better finish we are in the tourney.

[juckerrules]

I would like to see more of a smaller lineup, with 4 g/sf and then Gates. With Gates doing better on the glass and Thomas basically taking up space, throw the shooters in and just run. I see SK starting some of the future games over Thomas with Thomas moving back in towards the end because he's a senior. But I've never seen a 7 footer get so many of his shots blocked in my life. I believe with a win tomorrow and 8-8 or better finish we are in the tourney.

SK, Wilks, Gates, Dixon, Wright is the way to go - intense defensive pressure, fast break points, better shooting...screw the boards - make shots and there ain't no rebounds - steal the ball, fill up the passing lanes and they don't get boards either

[waterhead]

I would like to see more of a smaller lineup, with 4 g/sf and then Gates. With Gates doing better on the glass and Thomas basically taking up space, throw the shooters in and just run. I see SK starting some of the future games over Thomas with Thomas moving back in towards the end because he's a senior. But I've never seen a 7 footer get so many of his shots blocked in my life. I believe with a win tomorrow and 8-8 or better finish we are in the tourney.


We are 3-3 now in the BE. There are only 12 games left. We need to go at least 7-5 to have a chance. 9-9 will not get us in by itself. 10-8 might not get us in by itself...it may require we win a BE tourney game or two. 11-7 and we are in.

Winning the next 3 would go a long way. I would like to get to 11-7 to be feel safe.

[Bearcat Bounce]

I honestly wouldn't mind seeing Biggie for 10-12 minutes. I know he wouldn't help much in the press but you could have him just camp out underneath the basket to defend against any cherry pickers.

From the small amount of time he's seen on the floor this season, he seems to play hard, go after rebounds and contest shots.

I'd be happy with 4pts & 6rebs and for a big to show a little interest.

[BearCatMarcher]

I honestly wouldn't mind seeing Biggie for 10-12 minutes. I know he wouldn't help much in the press but you could have him just camp out underneath the basket to defend against any cherry pickers.

From the small amount of time he's seen on the floor this season, he seems to play hard, go after rebounds and contest shots.

I'd be happy with 4pts & 6rebs and for a big to show a little interest.

He was on the floor at one instance and he was playing some monster D under the basket. The ball went in (freak shot) but it was definitely the most contested shot I've seen a UC big create in many games. He's not a terrible shot either.

[Bearcat Cafe]

If Biggie gets more minutes, put a fork in this season.

[BearcatAlum1]

This team is not a very good running team.

We are good at creating turnovers off our press, but we are not very good getting into transition off of misses and defensive stops.

[Bearcat Cafe]

FWIW, UC us now up to #47 in the RPI. SOS has jumped 120 spots in a week and a half. Even a loss to St Johns moves UC higher. A win against a top 15 RPI team on the road (with the #2 SOS) and UC jumps into the mid 30s.

[Doc Brock]

An objective look at why not press the panic button:

Here is the projected outcome from realtimerpi.com as of today.
http://realtimerpi.com/rpi_217_Men.html

The Providence game flip-flops almost everyday, so I marked that with an asterisk.
Going 10-8 or 11-7 would be solid this year. The big problem from this scenario is that the only BEast road win(s) would be @DePaul/Providence. There really needs to be a solid road victory. Therefore, I would trade a home win vs. UConn for a road win @GTown. Winning at St. Johns takes a lot of pressure off and gives us at least a notable road win, but its certainly not the end of the season.

@St. John's 66-72 L
Rutgers 76-61 W
West Virginia 77-71 W
@Pittsburgh 67-82 L
@DePaul 71-65 W
St. John's 74-64 W
Louisville 77-72 W
@Providence *68-69 L
@Georgetown 67-79 L
Connecticut 75-72 W
@Marquette 67-71 L
Georgetown 75-71 W

Final record: 23-8 (10-8) *24-7 (11-7)

[binturong07]

An objective look at why not press the panic button:

Here is the projected outcome from realtimerpi.com as of today.
http://realtimerpi.com/rpi_217_Men.html

The Providence game flip-flops almost everyday, so I marked that with an asterisk.
Going 10-8 or 11-7 would be solid this year. The big problem from this scenario is that the only BEast road win(s) would be @DePaul/Providence. There really needs to be a solid road victory. Therefore, I would trade a home win vs. UConn for a road win @GTown. Winning at St. Johns takes a lot of pressure off and gives us at least a notable road win, but its certainly not the end of the season.

@St. John's 66-72 L
Rutgers 76-61 W
West Virginia 77-71 W
@Pittsburgh 67-82 L
@DePaul 71-65 W
St. John's 74-64 W
Louisville 77-72 W
@Providence *68-69 L
@Georgetown 67-79 L
Connecticut 75-72 W
@Marquette 67-71 L
Georgetown 75-71 W

Final record: 23-8 (10-8) *24-7 (11-7)


If that happens, I think we are dancing.

[Dannyboy]

We have yet to lose a game anyone expected us to win. So I'm not worried. If we lose tomorrow, then I start to worry.

[CallTheWahbulance]

We have no half court offense, we have no offense because Mick doesn't have an offense. He spent the last several years with the mantra of dribble the ball, pass it to Deonta or Lance and let them shoot.

That being said, this team thrives with pressuring the ball and creating turnovers. We've got a full freaking bench of players now, USE THEM!!! Press, press, press until you can't breathe anymore, bring in fresh legs, and press the crap out of them some more. I GUARANTEE we beat Notre Dame if Mick would've stuck to what works best for this team rather than outsmarting himself.

On a side note, we either A. need a new big man coach, or B. Mick has no clue how to develop big men for Big East levels. Yancy may as well be Nancy half the time. Biggie Mcclain was recruited by Jim Calhoun, that HAS to mean something, they don't typically recruit garbage there...

[BearCatMarcher]

Hand me the panic button for Pitt. YIKES! I'll hammer that thing.

[waterhead]

An objective look at why not press the panic button:

Here is the projected outcome from realtimerpi.com as of today.
http://realtimerpi.com/rpi_217_Men.html

The Providence game flip-flops almost everyday, so I marked that with an asterisk.
Going 10-8 or 11-7 would be solid this year. The big problem from this scenario is that the only BEast road win(s) would be @DePaul/Providence. There really needs to be a solid road victory. Therefore, I would trade a home win vs. UConn for a road win @GTown. Winning at St. Johns takes a lot of pressure off and gives us at least a notable road win, but its certainly not the end of the season.

@St. John's 66-72 L
Rutgers 76-61 W
West Virginia 77-71 W
@Pittsburgh 67-82 L
@DePaul 71-65 W
St. John's 74-64 W
Louisville 77-72 W
@Providence *68-69 L
@Georgetown 67-79 L
Connecticut 75-72 W
@Marquette 67-71 L
Georgetown 75-71 W

Final record: 23-8 (10-8) *24-7 (11-7)

What is interesting here is that there is an 18 point swing between the STJ road and home games and 16 for the Geotown games. So home court advantage is somewhere around 8-9 points. Wow! We are 15 point dogs against Pitt. Somehow 11 down vs Nova, 15 vs Cuse, and 8 vs ND doesn't seem to far off of where the games were probably predicted to be.

We didn't embarrass ourselves but we didn't prove anything. We are seemingly smack dab in the middle of where these probabilities play out. That's something to take comfort in if we can steel one more win than we get stolen (so to speak).

Panic button will have to wait for a couple games at least.

[nyCat99]

Good original post. I agree that SK needs to play at least 25 minutes a game, if fouls allow it. The way he's been slashing to the rim (Dixon too) has impressed me, and I feel it would behoove Cronin to set these dogs--er Cats loose from the opening tip.

My only concern is I'm not sure that Gates has the endurance to run the court and remain effective for the bulk of 40 minutes. This is my theory why Mick won't press as much as it seems he should.

That's where Biggie comes in to play. If he could give us some solid minutes (as mentioned in a previous post roughly 12) it would offer Yancey some relief.

Using Wilks and JJ as PFs to press and run makes the most sense to me. Plus, I like Jackson's ability to extend a possession on the offensive boards. This is a factor if Dixon or SK miss their shots on the drive.

Here's to a winning conference record!

[waterhead]

I agree with most of what you said...but Yancey went through physical fitness training to get him in shape to play 30 minutes. He lost 15 pounds. I just think he needs to lace em up and go balls to the wall. We need him 30 minutes...and there are plenty of teams getting guys 30 minutes and winning. We are winning most of them so I won't belabor that point...but Gates should be able to go 30...if not...I agree get him some relief...but 30 minutes is a staple on a lot of teams.