history

[CatFan/1947]

Why should they care about UC history? Basketball has moved on, it's a business. Today's players should not be expected to know anything about tradition. They just need to perform.


ANSWER: YOU CARE ABOUT HISTORY BECAUSE HISTORY HAS A WAY OF REPEATING ITSELF.

[BearcatRob33]

I don't get why something is discussed in another thread, and then someone goes and starts a brand new thread on that topic, even though its discussed in the previous thread.

['nati streets]

I don't get why something is discussed in another thread, and then someone goes and starts a brand new thread on that topic, even though its discussed in the previous thread.

It is repeated here because the old thread fell completely apart becuase people were too busy discussing/insulting each other to properly discuss the topic.

ON HISTORY: Programs call this tradition. Tradition is important. It raises the level of play of the student athletes and is a point of pride for alumni. Students should be aware of the program's history because it is important for them to understand what they are supposed to a part of. UNC, Duke, UConn, Syracuse, UCLA, UK, Kansas, Indiana (and the list goes on) have consistently put tradition at the forefront, in this way they are a able to motivate/pressure for current athletes to succeed.
Tradition is not the sole responsibility of the coach. The fans have a requirement to be educated and to instill the same level of education and expectation into the incomming classes. This includes students on campus as well as every alumnae in their seat. We have great expectation for the players as evidenced by our passionate and sometimes irrational statements on this board.
To conclude what has been a longer post then I expected to write, I have to say college sports are not a business in the same way that professional sports are. Tradition, pride, and loyalty are a major part of the college game whether football or basketball. At many schools, it is as much about atmosphere as it is about success. We as Bearcats have been blessed with both success and a dynamite atmosphere. In many ways the former is dependent on the latter. Yet, here we are risking both, because "college basketball is a business and if I don't think the team will be successful then I am not going to spend my money."
Q: If in cincy we are not going to support our teams until they are successful then who is going to be successful? Does that mean Nippert is going to be empty after a 7 win season?

[bearcat1518]

Tradition is important.

But there is no denying that we live in a world of "What have you done lately!"

Whatever kids see on ESPN, in the media, etc. now is what they remember and what they want.

The attention span for consumers now is so short...and potential recruits are consumers to Mick.

[Bearcat POE]

History is why players go to their respective universities

[bearcat1518]

History is why players go to their respective universities

Recent History maybe...

I'll give a few might go because of complete history...

But most for "What Have You Done Lately"...

Heck, read the Enquirer. I think I just read an article about how Buford was upset that hardly any of the current players know the tradition of UC, respect the former players and even know who the Big O is...

[BeastUC]

History does not have much to do with going to a school now a days.
Several teams,Depaul and Maryland for example,have good history and,MD even won a national title not too long ago,but they are not stacked with 5 star players.
Gonzaga,Baylor,SIU and even Florida are getting good players and doing well as of late.
More impressive for Florida to say they have 2 recent NCAA tiltes with only 13 ncaa apperances,than a long tradition with no ncaa championships as of late.

[jkwuc89]

History is why players go to their respective universities

I certainly hope you were not serious when you posted this. I suspect that history has precious little to do with why recruits go to specific schools. I think the primary reasons a recruit chooses a school are:

1. Chance to play
2. Coaching staff
3. How good the school is now
4. Education

['nati streets]

Keith I would agree except for the following:

I think the primary reasons a recruit chooses a school are:

1. Chance to play
2. Coaching staff
INSERT: TV Coverage
3. How good the school is now
INSTERT: Atmosphere
4. Education

From a purely business standpoint publicity is necessary to be drafted.

I would argue that Tradition/History is part of what makes a great atmosphere and thus is important.

[Forsure21]

Tradition is huge and very important and it should be for our players. When you don't respect those who have come before you then you don't deserve respect yourself.

[DarnellBurton33]

are you kidding me?? Tradition and History mean a lot!! Anthony Buford was right on with his comments. Buford and his teammates worked their tails off to get UC to where they are today...The players during Huggins era(not a Huggins fan) knew how this program got to where it was...Oscar Robertson?? He goes to almost every home game and supports this university and for players not to know who he is is shameful...

The basketball tradition here is rich and many people including myself would give up many things to have the opportunity to play for the Bearcats...They need to know the tradition and history so they have something to live up to...They need to think...man I want to do what Van Exel did...I want to do what Kenyon did...

Come on Bearcat fans...the ignorance on this site is turning me away from reading it.

Anytime a job opening comes up...KELLY GOING THERE?? Chill out...I mean seriously...have faith in your team and don't post nonsense.

[CincyBearcat95]

Keith I would agree except for the following:



From a purely business standpoint publicity is necessary to be drafted.

I would argue that Tradition/History is part of what makes a great atmosphere and thus is important.

I agree tradition is incredibly important, but I don't think it is necessarily the reason why players come to Cincy. I've heard time and again, players came to UC because of Hugg's record of getting players to the NBA. A lot of that was Hugg's work ethic and players knowing that if they worked their tales off as Huggs wanted them to do, they had a shot at getting to the next level.

The tradition comes into play once they get here. A couple of our recent players have had strong relationships with the Big O and past players. One of the things I love about our program is the engagement of our past players and the impact it has on our current players. I think that's taken a hit with what went down with Huggs, but if Mick can get some winning seasons, then his graduated players will be able to come back and hopefully do the same things that Oscar, Terry Nelson, Buford, Gibson and others have done for the current players.

And I hope Oscar does it for another 30 years as well!

[LongTimer]

I certainly hope you were not serious when you posted this. I suspect that history has precious little to do with why recruits go to specific schools. I think the primary reasons a recruit chooses a school are:

1. Chance to play
2. Coaching staff
3. How good the school is now
4. Education

Let's discuss these four points in relation to Mick trying to recruit.

#1 should attract great recruits. The chance to play here is great and playing here gets you on TV a lot since this is a great conference.

#2 is not good for us. I would argue that Mick Cronin's name recognition around the country is not very good and the great coaches use that against him a lot, especially since he is losing and everyone is starting the "fire Mick" talk.

#3 is bad, since we are not very good now.

#4 is not great either. Even though us UC grads are proud of our education, I'm not so sure we are that highly thought of around the country. In all the magazines that rate the different universities, we never get rated very high. I know some of our individual colleges are ranked pretty good, but many people you talk to laugh at our academic reputation.

Bottom line, it is probably tough to recruit to UC right now. That is why it is critical that Mick start winning, so that items 1 and 2 are both attractive to recruits...and that makes #3 work for us too. I'm not sure the academic reputation will ever change much, but I know Nancy Z is attempting to change that one too.

[Bearcat POE]

I certainly hope you were not serious when you posted this. I suspect that history has precious little to do with why recruits go to specific schools. I think the primary reasons a recruit chooses a school are:

1. Chance to play
2. Coaching staff
3. How good the school is now
4. Education

Let me make myself a little clearer, im not saying every student athlete goes to a school because of its history, but for example Yancy grew up wanting to play UC basketball and here he is. When I chose to attend The Ohio State University to play football, it was a decision made because I had always loved their football program. Now most do not have the privilege to go where they grew up wanting to go. But I can say that where they end up has something to do with the schools history, I just dont see us recruiting a player and saying hello were the University of Cincinnati and were in the Big East. The recruits must know something about the program, except for schools like South Carolina Upstate . And I have a hard time believing that the players on the team did not know who Oscar was

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

Why should they care about UC history? Basketball has moved on, it's a business. Today's players should not be expected to know anything about tradition. They just need to perform.


ANSWER: YOU CARE ABOUT HISTORY BECAUSE HISTORY HAS A WAY OF REPEATING ITSELF.

Players nowadays don't even associate Kenyon Martin with UC, much less Oscar Robertson.

Few recruits care about history or tradition when it comes to choosing a college for basketball.

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

I certainly hope you were not serious when you posted this. I suspect that history has precious little to do with why recruits go to specific schools. I think the primary reasons a recruit chooses a school are:

1. Chance to play
2. Coaching staff
3. How good the school is now
4. Education

1 and 2, yes. 3, not really. 4, not very much at all.

Add 5. NBA player development in recent years.

[bearcated]

For most college age kids history is what they had for lunch yesterday,

[jeffto]

Players nowadays don't even associate Kenyon Martin with UC, much less Oscar Robertson.

Few recruits care about history or tradition when it comes to choosing a college for basketball.You're absolutely right. For most kids it's a business decision. To get to the next level tradition is meaningless. Exposure is meaningless (if you're good, agents and/or scouts will find you). These kids want to 1) Play - the more PT the better, 2) Play the position they'd play professionally, 3) Get better and stronger and 4) Play in a big time conference in big games (for the exposure, yes, but more because this will make them better players).

Tradition is important to kids who aren't going to the next level and to movie makers. The result? Rudy.

[jkwuc89]

My guess is that most students currently attending UC know little about Kenyon Martin and even less about Oscar Robertson. Overall, they probably don't know much about UC's history beyond the banners they see hanging inside 5/3 Arena.

What they want is a team that wins. What they see is a team that loses. Hence, attendance is down. Football reinforces this theory. The team is now winning and the students are showing up in force.

[BeastUC]

I think they know about Kenyon Martin since he is still in the NBA.I also would hope they know about The Big O.
Now other good players who made the NBA and wasn't talked about much,they prolly don't know about them.
Perhaps whomever recruited the hoop players reminded them of former players who made it to the pros.

[dp3113]

Kids don't care about the education a school offers. Here is what they care about:

Getting to the nba, playing time, exposure, the coaches, and "money/benefits" the program is willing to offer.

Usually the first 3 have a strong correlation with the success of the program over the recent years.

[LongTimer]

I think they know about Kenyon Martin since he is still in the NBA.I also would hope they know about The Big O.
Now other good players who made the NBA and wasn't talked about much,they prolly don't know about them.
Perhaps whomever recruited the hoop players reminded them of former players who made it to the pros.

Maybe 5% know about the Big "O"....if that much. Kenyon is ancient history...8 years ago. 18 year olds were just 10. Not many know about him either, specifically because his name hasn't become a household word in the NBA

[BeastUC]

Maybe 5% know about the Big "O"....if that much. Kenyon is ancient history...8 years ago. 18 year olds were just 10. Not many know about him either, specifically because his name hasn't become a household word in the NBA

Are you serious?Kenyon still gets in players faces and his dunks are still highlight flicks,so trust me,they know who he is.
They know all about the Martin was injured and still was the #1 pick coming out of UC.They ask my boy about getting them highlights of his games at UC all the time.they always wanna know how the #1 picks did it.

[LongTimer]

Are you serious?Kenyon still gets in players faces and his dunks are still highlight flicks,so trust me,they know who he is.
They know all about the Martin was injured and still was the #1 pick coming out of UC.They ask my boy about getting them highlights of his games at UC all the time.they always wanna know how the #1 picks did it.

Ok...my bad. I didn't really know, just assumed.