UConn factor

[Oldtimer_UC_fan]

Is it just me, or, does anyone else wonder why it seems like we keep losing recruits to UConn? It seems like we are always competing for the same players, and, we keep coming up second best.

[MikeInClifton]

Since Huggins contract concerns were made public in the spring of 2005, Cincinnati had a hard time recruiting anyone. Cronin is now on track.

In looking at UConn's current roster I see former recruits Stanley Robinson, Thabeet and now Kemba, but thats it.

Who else has UConn gotten over Cin? It would have been a while ago now and Cin was in Conf USA in the past which would have been a factor.

[levydl]

How soon we forget the recruiting win with Anthony McClain.

[Oldtimer_UC_fan]

Believe me....it is not forgotten. But, three recruits on UConn's roster is significant. It's probably just my imagination, or maybe just recent history that we seem to be recruiting the same guys.

[Nerf]

UConn is a quality program that won it's second national championship just 3 years ago.

It probably doesn't help that UC won it's second national championship 45 years ago. That was probably before a lot of today's player's PARENTS were even born.

No worries, I'm confident that Mick's got things headed in the right direction.

[Corporateballa]

We got the 7-footer! We have no way of knowing where a player is on Mick's radar. For all we know, Dee Bost could be the #1 PG target. Mick has been on the job just a little over a year and has done a fantastic job! UC recruiting is good (#15 ranked class) and will only get better.

Exhale and think about this year's class and next year's commitments (sporting news had Gates ranked #30 and Wilkes ranks #63 in most recent issue). I don't understand where the concern lies????

[Oldtimer_UC_fan]

I never said I was concerned. I'm sure Cronin will come up with a good class for '08. Actually, he already has with Gates and Wilkes. If he gets a good PG, I'll be more than happy, even without the C. We'll have plenty of size. Teams with good guard play are usually the ones advancing.

[red_n_black_attack]

All of the top programs go after the same top recruits. We win some. UConn wins some, UK, Duke, UNC, etc.....etc.... etc.....

Let's focus on our kids and tip our hats to the competition (especially in conference competition), and then challenge them to put their best foot forward against our top game. This is what makes college basketball so much fun and exciting.

Quit whining about the ones that got away and do something with the ones that we have!

[CincyBearcat95]

Ok, Old Timer was just making conversation and its no biggie. I think its a good question - not whining. That's one of the reasons we have forums. When things are a little slow, we speculate and comment. Its part of the fun. Driving someone away for their comment doesn't do any of us anygood.

[Oldtimer_UC_fan]

I don't scare off that easily. But, thanks. I was just trying to stir up some conversation. I've been a UC fan since the days of Oscar. I've seen more that most on here. I vividly remember our two titles, and cried over the third.....I was only 14 in '63. I agonized over the lean years, and rejoiced during the good times. I totally understand that we aren't going to win every recruiting battle, or even most of them.

[james jr]

I don't scare off that easily. But, thanks. I was just trying to stir up some conversation. I've been a UC fan since the days of Oscar. I've seen more that most on here. I vividly remember our two titles, and cried over the third.....I was only 14 in '63. I agonized over the lean years, and rejoiced during the good times. I totally understand that we aren't going to win every recruiting battle, or even most of them.

I am an "old timer" since the days of Oscar, Ralph Davis and co. too and I still remember the tip in in the Loyola '63 championship game like it was yesterday.
My years of experience tell me that we may be potientially entering a period of resurgence that comes with new quality coaching (Jucker, Catlett, Huggins).
I believe Mick is on the right track and will elevate the program to the heights that will make us competitive with any program in the BE for recruits.
GO CATS!

[Oldtimer_UC_fan]

Catlett doesn't get recognized, but, he had some really good teams at UC. After him, came the drought.

[ctipton]

I am an "old timer" since the days of Oscar, Ralph Davis and co. too and I still remember the tip in in the Loyola '63 championship game like it was yesterday.
My years of experience tell me that we may be potientially entering a period of resurgence that comes with new quality coaching (Jucker, Catlett, Huggins).
I believe Mick is on the right track and will elevate the program to the heights that will make us competitive with any program in the BE for recruits.
GO CATS!

You remember the tip-in, I remember the travelling call they never made on Loyola at the end of regulation. Gawd, we shoulda never lost that game.

[jeffto]

Catlett doesn't get recognized, but, he had some really good teams at UC. After him, came the drought.

A real shame about his cheating. Those WERE exciting years though!

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

A real shame about his cheating. Those WERE exciting years though!

Catlett was not the first (nor the last) UC basketball coach to get NCAA infractions.

He won 74% of his games at UC. He was nowhere near that (%) at WVU.

[waterhead]

Is it just me, or, does anyone else wonder why it seems like we keep losing recruits to UConn? It seems like we are always competing for the same players, and, we keep coming up second best.

I would say three is a trend Old Timer and I for one think you are right. That is no surprise to me though and I'm not concerned. Mick still doesn't have as much to sell as Uconn. Uconn has a proven coach with (correct me if I'm wrong) 2 national titles. They are rebuilding sure but not a complete roster. It will take a couple years but Mick can start to win more of these recruiting battles as he proves himself. He is already doing a fantastic job of recruiting with very little other than history and facilitites to sell.

You can't beat the big time programs in recruiting with an un-proven coach. If you were a recruit what would you do? Anyway, it will be like this until UC gets back in the top 25 rankings and more specifically the top 10. In the mean time we should be pretty stoked that Mick is doing as great a job as he is to get kids to commit. Mick has to show he can coach before we can win more recruiting battles.

[jeffto]

Catlett was not the first (nor the last) UC basketball coach to get NCAA infractions.

He won 74% of his games at UC. He was nowhere near that (%) at WVU.

Who was the first coach with infractions?

No his record wasn't as good at WVU, but his infractions did follow him there.

[The real Bearcat Fan]

Mick says recruiting is about building relationships. It probably did not hurt U-Conn that Curtis Kelly a high school teammate of Kemba Walker was on the U-Conn team.

[The real Bearcat Fan]

I liked Gayle Catlett too. His name should be mentioned with the great UC coaches. I would also mention Tay Baker. He loss to a Texas Western team in double overtime that went on the win the National Championship against Kentucky and make history.

[james jr]

You remember the tip-in, I remember the travelling call they never made on Loyola at the end of regulation. Gawd, we shoulda never lost that game.

Sorry to open old wounds but when you "bleed" black and red its hard to let go. Here's to good times ahead to help relieve our pain. GO CATS!

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

Who was the first coach with infractions?

No his record wasn't as good at WVU, but his infractions did follow him there.

George Smith in 1956 and again in 1959. Both relatively minor infractions. Both involved Oscar and other teams' envy that UC got him instead of them.