Mick's Post Game

[Bearcat Jeff]

Anyone who listened to the post game show knows that Mick is frustrated with the lack of effort. He even stated that Belton would be getting more playing time at someone else's expense because of that. John Williamson also admits that the players aren't listening to the coaching staff. This is not uncommon with young teams. My concern is the second year players who are not accountable and aren't stepping up. Marcus Sikes played 14 minutes and did not get a single rebound. At 6'8" he should get 1 rebound by mistake. John Williamson is short arming every shot 5 feet from the basket. Last season he took the ball to the hoop and finished strong. This season you don't see that. Somebody has to emerge as an on court leader for this team. The only consistent player is Adam H. to this point. He is a solid player. All of U.C.'s past teams have had a leader on the court. A player who was a part of the tradition that pushed the other players. We do not have that right now. At this point I'd like to see Mick go with this line up:
PG - Warren/Davis/Vaughn
SG - Vaughn/Gentry/Mitchell
SF - Bishop/Wilks/Mitchell
PF- Adam H./Williamson/Belton
C - McClain/Belton/Adam H.

[Bearcat Jeff]

Some have asked if Cedric McGowan was so good that without him this team is now this bad. Cedric was that leader I spoke of in my post above. More than once last season this was said by Coach Cronin. He played with guys tied to the programs past success that took pride in being a Bearcat. This team needs to build an identity and the players need to enforce how you have to play to be a Bearcat.

[Mick's Da Man]

I don't blame the coaching staff. All of these kids won in high school.......you'd think they'd expect the same results or work hard to obtain the same results in college.

My concern is that the lackadaisical attitude of the returning players and losing mentality will kick in with the frosh.

[jeffto]

I don't blame the coaching staff. All of these kids won in high school.......you'd think they'd expect the same results or work hard to obtain the same results in college.

My concern is that the lackadaisical attitude of the returning players and losing mentality will kick in with the frosh.

This really will be a "lost" season. You simply cannot coach a player to have the confidence to be a leader.

Adam H. is consistent, but I think cultural issues keep him from stepping up.
I think Mike W. might have been the leader we need. Hard to say.

In reality, either Deonta or Williamson should be the leader. But it could be they just don't have the personality for it.

Hopefully someone who has the personality for it will gain the stats and confidence to step into that role. Bishop? McClain? Nice if it were a freshman.

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

This really will be a "lost" season. You simply cannot coach a player to have the confidence to be a leader.

Adam H. is consistent, but I think cultural issues keep him from stepping up.
I think Mike W. might have been the leader we need. Hard to say.

In reality, either Deonta or Williamson should be the leader. But it could be they just don't have the personality for it.

Hopefully someone who has the personality for it will gain the stats and confidence to step into that role. Bishop? McClain? Nice if it were a freshman.

It's not a lost season if the young players gain experience and the veterans step up (at least) to their 2006-07 level of play. Seems like none of them have done even that, yet.

[Iwannarawk]

Complaining about not being able to motivate your own players is just an excuse. Either way it's the fault of the coach. Sometimes it's just a way for a coach to make excuses for recruiting the wrong players for a rebuilding project. Cronin seems to recruit players like Jamaal Warren, John Williamson, and Sikes that think they are WAY better than they are.

Only two or three players on this team are above mid D1 talent. The one's with talent are incredibly raw and have nobody on the team to learn from. Coaches can only do so much, young players like Mcclain and Belton need older players to learn from. They might be ruined before they even get a chance to grow. That's why this year and next year are so important. You should be able to see growth in almost every game with a team this new. Right now they seem to be regressing from game to game. Not good news.

[Iwannarawk]

This really will be a "lost" season. You simply cannot coach a player to have the confidence to be a leader.

Adam H. is consistent, but I think cultural issues keep him from stepping up.
I think Mike W. might have been the leader we need. Hard to say.

In reality, either Deonta or Williamson should be the leader. But it could be they just don't have the personality for it.

Hopefully someone who has the personality for it will gain the stats and confidence to step into that role. Bishop? McClain? Nice if it were a freshman.

Not true, IMO. Kenyon learned how to be a leader. Steve Logan did also. Talent and production will make players follow you. You can't be a leader if you just aren't talented. Vaughn and Williamson really aren't.

KMart and Logan became great leaders because of their work ethic and talent. You have to show both. UC doesn't have one player on this team with a good enough mix of work ethic and talent to really be a leader, IMO. If the 08 and 09 class are full of raw players with work ethic problems this program will take years to recover. Gates? He's about the laziest player in Cincinnati. He has frustrated coaches all over the region and most coaches didn't offer because of this. He will dominate for a few minutes and then just hang around the perimeter jacking up threes. Not good.

The 08 class isn't even considered a top 30 class. With the lack of talent on UC's roster that is a killer. Two schollies and one good player (Wright) or not.

[mu77]

anyone interested in buying two Crosstown tix ?
sect 204 row E

pls reply, no dealers please.

[611116]

I used to go to the basketball games in the 80's because it was a nice place to study or read a book. Maybe it well be that way again soon.

[jeffto]

You can't be a leader if you just aren't talented.

I agree with that statement, but you cannot teach someone to be a leader. A player can learn it (if he has the right personality), but it cannot be forced on him. If Deonta either cannot or dues not have the respect of his teammates then hopefully one of the freshman will fill the void.

And BTW, you're among the first on this forum, when asked if the glass is half full or half empty for UC athletics, to answer: "It's empty - not a hint of moisture anywhere!"

[ME80]

Cronin seems to recruit players like Jamaal Warren, John Williamson, and Sikes that think they are WAY better than they are.



?????????????????? You are judging Cronin on the people he had to pick up at last minute just to field a team?

[Bearcat Cafe]

?????????????????? You are judging Cronin on the people he had to pick up at last minute just to field a team?

If he is he either knows squat about basketball or he just got off the short bus. That is just silly.