Cronin Empathizes with Crean

[MDW79]

I found this to be a good read. Enjoy.

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080622/SPT01/806220410/-1/CINCI

[JerseySean]

The University of Cincinnati is the finest university in the state of Ohio.

[jplog]

If you just ignore them they won't get any satisfaction from their ignorance.

[CincySuperFan]

IU is in a bigger mess than UC was in. It will take TC at least 5 years to turn it around.

[SLMadiCat]

By the way, UC's situation WAS much tougher than IU. If IU gets placed on probation than that may change but no way is Crean's job harder than Cronin's was.

[Irishbearcat]

Crean is a more proven commodity than Cronin is/was. Also, IU hoops is still more prestigious than UC, no matter how homerish we are.

[JerseySean]

Crean is a more proven commodity than Cronin is/was. Also, IU hoops is still more prestigious than UC, no matter how homerish we are.

It's hard to disagree with what you wrote here. I'm not sure what this adds to the discussion, however. Just because Crean is more of a proven commodity (agreed), it doesn't change the fact that both coaches were hired into programs with difficult situations, particularly as it relates to limited returning players.

IU's situation may be more difficult than UC's if they are put on some sort of probation. But certainly the fact that they enjoy a better reputation as a basketball school (also agreed) may help them move up the ranks quickly.

That said, it doesn't warrant pot shots at our current coach. I, for one, wasn't expecting miracles. He is still within a legitimate time window to field a team that can truly compete for a BEast championship, NCAA bid, and a run in the tourney. How much longer should he get? Honestly, I'm not sure. But he's within that window and I believe that progress has been made, is being made, and will continue to be made. I'm comfortable giving him three more years...

[Billy Don]

The way I (and many others) see it is that IU and UC are both in the same boat basketball team wise. Why? Because they both fired the two Bob's. Same thing both places. Academic type's that didn't like sports being bigger than academics fired them and it was unnecessary. They gave their sports fans the shaft, yet still want their money. Wake up America!:D

[CincyBeerCo]

IU's reputation and the overall state of Indiana basketball culture will help facilitate IU's rebuilding in a potentially faster manner than UC. The main difference though, is that Crean will have the undivided support of IU faithfull (as in no lingerieng loyalties to the immediate predecessor), which shamefully Cronin has not been awarded.

[Doss]

Now do you spend the $2000? Last time I checked CPA Partner/CFO's like myself made as much or more than many Docs, especially in these days of HMO's controlling your income.

Yes, I can afford $2000 to be a UCAT. I went to undergratuate and med school at UC. However to be a real UCAT, you have to support the programs, and not just financially. Your BIG TIME comments are tiresome, and not just because they are baseless. Bob Huggins was not a BIG TIME coach when he arrived at UC, having coached at Walsh and low mid major Akron prior to his arrival. As has been mentioned on countless occasions, he had much more to work with than MC has had in his first 2 years here. If you knew anything about college basketball, you would give MC at least 2 more years before rendering judgement. When you have very little talent to work with (talking about MC, although it would also apply to Doss), your results are reflective. You may have followed the Cats since the 60's, but you have retained very little about college basketball. And please, spare us you condescending attitude that because I'm richer than you, I know more than you.

[SLMadiCat]

Are you really bragging on a message board what you make (or pretend to make)? Awesome, were all proud of you. Why don't you publish your name so you can at least back up your statement of how rich you are.

[bearcated]

Are you really bragging on a message board what you make (or pretend to make)? Awesome, were all proud of you. Why don't you publish your name so you can at least back up your statement of how rich you are.
Yeah! If you guys are rolling in so much dough, step up! Only giving $2K to UCATS? Give more! Come on, I'm sure that's just beer money based on some of what I've read here.

[ralph1950]

The way I (and many others) see it is that IU and UC are both in the same boat basketball team wise. Why? Because they both fired the two Bob's. Same thing both places. Academic type's that didn't like sports being bigger than academics fired them and it was unnecessary. They gave their sports fans the shaft, yet still want their money. Wake up America!:D

Both Bob's had become complete embarrasments to the University's they worked for and both President's who fired them cared much about sports, one is now President of the NCAA, and cared a whole lot about the University's they were in charge of. Both firings were absolutely necessary for the integrity of each University.

[MikeInClifton]

If you just ignore them they won't get any satisfaction from their ignorance.

Thanks jplog. Thats my motto as well. And when I clean threads (like I just did, which included a temporary banning on one person), it makes it easier on the admins.

[MikeInClifton]

. . . . one is now President of the NCAA. . . .

I still find it amusing though that two NCAA institutions have hired Huggins after he was let go from UC.

It will be interesting to see how quickly Crean gets IU to bounce back, because I think Mick will have UC back to respectability this coming season and the next level the following year.

[CincyBeerCo]

Both Bob's had become complete embarrasments to the University's they worked for and both President's who fired them cared much about sports, one is now President of the NCAA, and cared a whole lot about the University's they were in charge of. Both firings were absolutely necessary for the integrity of each University.

I dont want to cover the issue of the actual firings (been there done that), but it is WAY off base to claim that the Presidents didn't care about sports. IU spent a ton of money to get Sampson in there (obvioulsy didn't work out too well, but a big time hire), and UC has made great hiring decisions (in my opinion) for both major sports and they have allowed the athletic department to put much more man power and marketing $ behind football then EVER before.

[Billy Don]

I dont want to cover the issue of the actual firings (been there done that), but it is WAY off base to claim that the Presidents didn't care about sports. IU spent a ton of money to get Sampson in there (obvioulsy didn't work out too well, but a big time hire), and UC has made great hiring decisions (in my opinion) for both major sports and they have allowed the athletic department to put much more man power and marketing $ behind football then EVER before.

I don't hold it against anybody that like's where UC is at with the new coach hiring's. I still think the main reason Cronin was hired was because he was a hometown boy and they didn't figure they would get much heat with the hire. I think the worst thing to happen to college sports was when Miles Brand was hired by the NCAA. He's behind the basketball players staying in college 2 years which I think is uncalled for. All it does is help the NBA. If a pro type player has to go 2 years to college instead of one he still isn't a grad so what's the big difference? Myles was long gone when they fired Davis and hired Sampson at IU. It looks like both coach's at UC will be fine in time but neither have proved as yet they can win with their own recruits. It seems like everybody was unhappy with getting put out the first weekend of the NCAA tournament a lot of times(but not always) and now everybody just wants to get back to the NCAA tournament one of these years(3 years and counting). Back to the post about the 2 thousand doc. I have a friend since childhood who is a doc and he is in the 12 thousand seats, and thats before he buys his tickets. Although 12 thousand would be a bad week for him he still doesn't like it. A lot of fans will give Cronin another pass this year (as they should) but a lot won't. It's time for Mick to show what he can do. It's not that far off he needs his contract extended and he knows it. You can't pay a coach a million a year that doesn't put some fans in the seats. The pressure is on!

[OhioFootball]

Both Bob's had become complete embarrasments to the University's they worked for and both President's who fired them cared much about sports, one is now President of the NCAA, and cared a whole lot about the University's they were in charge of. Both firings were absolutely necessary for the integrity of each University.

Embarrassing is the bitterness towards someone that did more for UC than you could ever dream of. Without Bob Huggins you don't have your beloved Mick Cronin, the Big East, Brian Kelly or a "pretty" campus. Pretty as compared to 1996. Brian Kelly doesn't come to coach some second rate Conference USA football team.

On subject I am surprised that Mick Cronin would be giving any advice to Tom Crean on this situation. What exactly has Mick Cronin done to help his situation? Attendance is falling and the program hasn't been this irrelevant in years. He needs a miracle year to get the notoriously fickle Cincinnati fans to come back to caring about UC basketball.

[milfordcats]

He needs a miracle year to get the notoriously fickle Cincinnati fans to come back to caring about UC basketball.

Actually all he needs to do is to have a good year and be an NIT/bubble team for the tourney. That will get people to start caring again. (Even though there are many of us who still care)

[611116]

Both Bob's had become complete embarrasments to the University's they worked for and both President's who fired them cared much about sports, one is now President of the NCAA, and cared a whole lot about the University's they were in charge of. Both firings were absolutely necessary for the integrity of each University.

If the current UC President "cared a whole lot about the University she was in charge of" she wouldn't have insulted the alumni in national media.

[SLMadiCat]

I'm an alum...she didn't insult me.

[JerseySean]

If the current UC President "cared a whole lot about the University she was in charge of" she wouldn't have insulted the alumni in national media.

She cares. She cares a lot. I'm not offended by anything she's said in the national media -- although I'm frequently offended by comments I've read on this thread. We're lucky to have her.

She cares so much that she works harder than probably anyone who's on this board, including me.

[611116]

I'm an alum...she didn't insult me.

Then you weren't listening...

[SLMadiCat]

Then you weren't listening...

Nope.....I was. Still not offended.

[cincycpaw]

She cares. She cares a lot. I'm not offended by anything she's said in the national media -- although I'm frequently offended by comments I've read on this thread. We're lucky to have her.

She cares so much that she works harder than probably anyone who's on this board, including me.

What's your source for all this caring? Proof is in the puddin'.

[SLMadiCat]

Do you have proof that she doesn't care?

The simple fact that she is still here, has limited her own raises, and has done many good things for the university should be enough to show she cares.

[MikeInClifton]

Looks like we are sufficiently off topic here.