Great Win vs GT

[shaunsimpson]

I should never coach basketball.

I thought Vaughn had to have an amazing game to win, but he didn't. He put up some numbers and his rebounding was key, but anytime your PG has 6 turnovers that isn't good.......note: When I say that we wasn't amazing I mean that he wasn't his best. I still think he was one of the top players on the court today.

I thought we would need a clear #2 scorer today. We didn't. Instead we had Mitchell with 9, Williams with 11, Davis with 11 and Gates with 11.

Looking at their stat sheet I wouldn't think we would win if they shot 40% from 3, but we did.

I am amazed by the little things that this team did right today. Once again the press allowed us to mix things up and GT didn't get set until 20 on the shot clock often. You don't have to defend the back door cut nearly as often.

And why I am at it........are those Georgetown announcers? The guy yelled yes when Georgetown hit a shot to take the lead and they really seemed like they didn't want the newbie in the conference to win. I am wondering if it is a northeast crew who has been doing a lot of Big East games in the past.

I am so excited!!!! 4 more to go!!!!

[BearcatAlum1]

Mitchell 3-5 (11pts)
Williams 4-7 (11pts) 6 rebounds
Vaughn 5-14 (16pts) 9 rebounds, 7 assists (6 to)
Davis 4-7 (11pts) All in the second half
Gates 4-8 (11pts)

This was a solid team effort. We had a huge lapse in the first half when we went without a bucket for 10 minutes, but we held Gtown without a bucket for the final 11 minutes of play.

This team showed heart and determination. Yes, they need to improve, but they pulled out a win against a tough Gtown team.

I like where we are heading.

Alum1

[JABearcat]

Their communication and team chemistry is really picking up on the court. This is a real confident booster, beating st johns would only help them in their stretch against pitt, louisville, and west virginia.

[UC4life]

I love how this team is really becoming one playing harder together and getting points from people who mabye got 2 a game at the start of the season at the rate we are improving we could be NCAA Tournament Bound!!!

[Loggerfield]

In the perspective of things I think that this might be one of (if not the biggest) of the Cronin Era. If we can take care of St. Johns at home we got to 17-8 (7-5 in the Big East) and put ourselves in great position to make the tournament.

[STKohls]

And why I am at it........are those Georgetown announcers? The guy yelled yes when Georgetown hit a shot to take the lead and they really seemed like they didn't want the newbie in the conference to win. I am wondering if it is a northeast crew who has been doing a lot of Big East games in the past.

I thought they were reasonably fair. They gave UC credit (before the game even) for tough defense and rebounding and made it sound like UC is well known for their great rebounding. Several times during the game they pointed out the lack of back-door success for the Hoyas (using Cronin's "100 back door cuts" line from the first game press conference) and even said something to the effect of "it's really tough to guard the back door cuts when you play aggressively on the perimeter like UC does".

They also gave due credit to Coach Cronin for both the tenacious D and the fact that the full-court press was extremely effective against a deliberate half-court team like the Hoyas.

[dp3113]

Mitchell 3-5 (11pts)
Williams 4-7 (11pts) 6 rebounds
Vaughn 5-14 (16pts) 9 rebounds, 7 assists (6 to)
Davis 4-7 (11pts) All in the second half
Gates 4-8 (11pts)

This was a solid team effort. We had a huge lapse in the first half when we went without a bucket for 10 minutes, but we held Gtown without a bucket for the final 11 minutes of play.

This team showed heart and determination. Yes, they need to improve, but they pulled out a win against a tough Gtown team.

I like where we are heading.

Alum1

just an fyi- Mitchell had 9 points

[shaunsimpson]

just an fyi- Mitchell had 9 points

Maybe he is giving him 5 points of credit on what could turn out to be one of the most important shots this year (along with a dunk in the EKU game ).

[dp3113]

Easily the biggest shot of Mitchell's career, and like you said one of the biggest of the season. It was nice seeing him actually "into the game" on the bench late in regulation and in overtime, unlike the ND game Wednesday where he pouting and moaping in and out of the huddles.

[Irishbearcat]

Did Bishop even shoot? He wasn't looking for his shot at all. UC is starting to move the ball better though, and while they don't always make the shots...they are taking better percentage shots, IMO.

[Loggerfield]

And the play that Cronin drew up at the end of the game was beautiful. Vaughn just has to get that pass to Gates and we probably win in regulation.

[sbcat84]

Great to see the cats improve so much in the second half, not a bad coaching job by MICK either.

[bearcat josh]

And the play that Cronin drew up at the end of the game was beautiful. Vaughn just has to get that pass to Gates and we probably win in regulation.

from what i saw cronin drew up alot of good out of bounds plays coming out of timeouts...VERY nice job

[Loggerfield]

from what i saw cronin drew up alot of good out of bounds plays coming out of timeouts...VERY nice job


Definitely...Coming out of a timeout we get a GREAT shot 95% of the time

[ucjay99]

I am absolutely thrilled with today's win! Way to go Mick and Mick's Cats! Let the new era Bearcats take shape! Keep ignoring the nay sayers and keep your eyes on continuing to improve! I am very proud to be a Bearcat everyday, but something about today's win has me more excited than any other big win since Mick arrived.

[behrlezt]

Yea great to see the Cats back...I think that this sudden momentum has more to do with the players than Mick. I think Mick is a great coach and pushes his players but you can tell the players are starting to really play for each other instead of just the university...NCAA here we come!

[Pruke]

Great to see the team buying into Cronin's gameplan - Great Win - Great Series Sweep - Great day for the Cronin era. I certainly didn't expect the team to be in the NCAA hunt, but it feel good to get into the discussion...

[BearcatAlum1]

Maybe he is giving him 5 points of credit on what could turn out to be one of the most important shots this year (along with a dunk in the EKU game ).

Hah. I must have looked at the box score wrong. Although, Mitchell helped us stay in the game when we could've easily folded. Big ups to Mitch.

I think this was Mick's biggest win because it meant so much. Many fans have been critical of the lack of success thus far, and we're within grasp of an NCAA birth 2 short years after barely fielding a team. Post-season aspirations were on the line today, and Georgetown needed this win as bad as us.

BearcatAlum1

[Joe_Pong]

When did we play Geogia Tech?

The GU win was huge though!:)

[Josh Rexhausen]

When did we play Geogia Tech?

The GU win was huge though!:)

Gt is GeorgeTown, it may not be the best way, but some call it that.

[TmacGoCats]

Great to see the team buying into Cronin's gameplan - Great Win - Great Series Sweep - Great day for the Cronin era. I certainly didn't expect the team to be in the NCAA hunt, but it feel good to get into the discussion...

Great to see fans buying into conin's gameplan too..........when we win, more and more fans seem to be jumping on the wagon as well.

[08bearcat]

This win is so critical. The team hadn't looked confident on the road against elite competition. Our most embarrassing losses had been on the road against 'elite' teams. Today, our guys weren't the best, but they showed the toughness necessary to win games on the road. That intangible is something we haven't had in years. It's such an important thing, to hang tough on the road even when your game plan is a little shaky. The fact this team can spread the load like they did today is very impressive, and should scare teams down the road. Our bench is getting longer and longer, Coach's creativity with it has been a major part of our success lately. Really confounding opponents.

Oh yeah, not to jinx us, but the worst we can finish now is 16-16, enough for an NIT bid. (seven more games on the schedule, one loss in the tournament.) But i think that last year proved the Cronin gets Pitino and Huggs pretty well, so i think we go 5-2 down the stretch and go a few deep in the tournament to finish pre-ncaa off with 22 or 23 wins - 11-7 in the conference.

[Scheids21]

This win is so critical. The team hadn't looked confident on the road against elite competition. Our most embarrassing losses had been on the road against 'elite' teams. Today, our guys weren't the best, but they showed the toughness necessary to win games on the road. That intangible is something we haven't had in years. It's such an important thing, to hang tough on the road even when your game plan is a little shaky. The fact this team can spread the load like they did today is very impressive, and should scare teams down the road. Our bench is getting longer and longer, Coach's creativity with it has been a major part of our success lately. Really confounding opponents.

Oh yeah, not to jinx us, but the worst we can finish now is 16-16, enough for an NIT bid. (seven more games on the schedule, one loss in the tournament.) But i think that last year proved the Cronin gets Pitino and Huggs pretty well, so i think we go 5-2 down the stretch and go a few deep in the tournament to finish pre-ncaa off with 22 or 23 wins - 11-7 in the conference.

23-11? Wow that would be nice. We would be in for sure, but Im thinking more along the lines of 21-12. Also if we finish 11-7 then we would get the first round bye right? Then if we won 2 in the tournament like you anticipate we would be in the Final Four of the Big East tournament?? Oh happy day....