NIT Selections

[TheLivingLegend]

UC going from a NCAA bubble team to not even being selected for the NIT. PATHETIC finish.

How some teams got in over UC is beyond me, however maybe it will inspire some of these players to get there head out of there asses and do some work.

[Thegreatone]

They dont care... the players havent cared after Syracuse game.

[Bu7ch]

How did ND get a 2 seed? I mean, leave UC out because they didn't play well...I get that. But ND? wtf?

[Matt1982]

Hate to say I told you so. You clowns thought this team had a shot at the NCAA a few weeks ago, then you thought we'd be NIT bound... I make a remark saying we're CBI at best and get ripped.... look who's laughing now.

[catscratchfever]

mods..please do not close this thread. Some of us still like to talk about basketball even after UC's season is over. I'm ok with closing threads that become hostile or stupid, but this is legitimate sports discussion about college basketball. I went to the NIT thread to discuss the selections, and it was already closed as soon as UC was not announced. That's a little bit ridiculous.

[STKohls]

mods..please do not close this thread. Some of us still like to talk about basketball even after UC's season is over. I'm ok with closing threads that become hostile or stupid, but this is legitimate sports discussion about college basketball. I went to the NIT thread to discuss the selections, and it was already closed as soon as UC was not announced. That's a little bit ridiculous.

I agree 100%. Allow us some time to commiserate.

[coach]

this team ended its season againt west virgina. it's been over for several weeks now.

[Thegreatone]

Hate to say I told you so. You clowns thought this team had a shot at the NCAA a few weeks ago, then you thought we'd be NIT bound... I make a remark saying we're CBI at best and get ripped.... look who's laughing now.

Yeah sweet man... your laughing about us not making it to a tournament? Go cheer for X or whoever you cheer for.

Why do you seem so happy about this? Wait, dont answer I dont care but please stop writing this stuff

[Forsure21]

So they weren't picked? Wow. Unbelieveable but to be honest I'm not surprised. Who else from the BE was picked? ND, Providence, Seton Hall, and Georgetown?

[Bu7ch]

Hate to say I told you so. You clowns thought this team had a shot at the NCAA a few weeks ago, then you thought we'd be NIT bound... I make a remark saying we're CBI at best and get ripped.... look who's laughing now.

I love "fans" laughing at how bad the team is. Hilaaaaarious

When the team was on a streak you didn't say much until they finally lost. Now you gloat because the team you root for isn't all that great? What a fan.

[STKohls]

So they weren't picked? Wow. Unbelieveable but to be honest I'm not surprised. Who else from the BE was picked? ND, Providence, Seton Hall, and Georgetown?

Seton Hall was not picked. ND #2 seed, Providence #4, GTown #6.

[Matt1982]

I do believe as a fan I'm allowed to be critical of my team... should I just keep drinking the Mick's garbage koolaid? I don't think so. The progress has turned into regress. I'm LAUGHING at the fans who didn't take off their bearcat goggles until it was too late. Reality check people, this team was NEVER any good. I debated it all freakin' year, and no one wanted to believe it. Trust me, the NIT did UC a favor by not taking us, we would've been embarrassed yet again.

[STKohls]

I do believe as a fan I'm allowed to be critical of my team... should I just keep drinking the Mick's garbage koolaid? I don't think so. The progress has turned into regress. I'm LAUGHING at the fans who didn't take off their bearcat goggles until it was too late. Reality check people, this team was NEVER any good. I debated it all freakin' year, and no one wanted to believe it. Trust me, the NIT did UC a favor by not taking us, we would've been embarrassed yet again.

The team was "Never" any good? What is UC's record against the teams in the NIT field? 5-2. I don't think saying that UC would fit into that field acceptably is something in need of a 'reality check'.

(edited for my marginal grammar)

[Forsure21]

Does anybody else just not really care? I actually think its funny to a point. Mick Cronin in three years has not win a game in March. Wow this program has FALLLLEN

[Matt1982]

Thank you Forsure... someone else on this board has a clue.

[Forsure21]

I think it's good we weren't picked. IMO, tuesday was a good way to end the season and I swear it feels like last year already

[Forsure21]

Mike THomas and crew better be paying Brin Kelly whatever he wants. If he wasn't here this school would not be relevant in ANYTHING

[YouGuessedItFrankStallone]

Gotta wonder why some "fans" continue to follow the program when it makes them so cranky.

[Matt1982]

Right on man.. BK is the only thing keeping UC alive at this point

[BeastUC]

Is this the part where someone points out how badly some other good/great coach done his first 3 seasons without even getting an NIT invite?

[PK2]

As much as I hated how they went out and gave up on the season, I was kind of hoping that they would make the NIT just to see if there is any hope for next season or if this team really has no heart. I'm not gonna go back and forth with the Mick lovers about how much progress we have or haven't made this year but I think most people at the beginning of this season were at LEAST hoping for an NIT bid.

[bubbachunk]

Is this the part where someone points out how badly some other good/great coach done his first 3 seasons without even getting an NIT invite?

It is not worth the time of people with perspective. The cranky people who disguise themselves as "fans" wont listen anyway.

[Big B]

Everyone is blaming the committe, have you even thought that maybe something happen within the program in the last week and Mick decided to turn down the invite. Because no way they would take 3 teams that finished worst then UC in the Big East. We assume there's issues, maybe he's just decided to deal with those.

[Kindog202]

Everyone is blaming the committe, have you even thought that maybe something happen within the program in the last week and Mick decided to turn down the invite. Because no way they would take 3 teams that finished worst then UC in the Big East. We assume there's issues, maybe he's just decided to deal with those.

Given what I know about the current state of the program, that thought did cross my mind but I have no direct proof that this is what occurred.
**
Now that we did not get in, I am happy that we didn't make it. I think it saved the program further embarassment. Better to cut our losses and look to next year.

[STKohls]

Everyone is blaming the committe, have you even thought that maybe something happen within the program in the last week and Mick decided to turn down the invite. Because no way they would take 3 teams that finished worst then UC in the Big East. We assume there's issues, maybe he's just decided to deal with those.

It's hard to believe Mick would have turned down an bid days after he said they'd play in the NIT.

The last team I remember to turn down an NIT bid was Georgia Tech (about 15 years ago). One year after narrowly missing the dance and then being upset by Siena in the first round of the NIT, the Yellowjackets decided not to do it 2 years in a row. Vastly different from UC's circumstances.

I think the committee just saw the horrific losses and lazy play, and decided to go with teams that were playing hard.

[LongTimer]

This whole sad season is on Mick, and it is also on the fans. Mick just hasn't got it done. In his defense, he had key injuries at key points in the pre-season and during the season. He also had to try and over-achieve with his team at a half-full arena pretty much all season. We lost our home court advantage and that is a key reason why we couldn't get that one huge upset that we needed. As we did last year, Mick built us up with great progress, only to lose it all in an embarrassing way. I have been complaining about him a lot, and I have complained about our fan situation a lot. I think Mick should definitely get 2 more years, before he has to face firing. But, he has to improve a lot before I will change my mind about him. He's an average coach, maybe even a C- at this time. But, he is also very young, and he's from our city and our school, so it's to our advantage to be more patient with him. Next year should be good and then hopefully the fans start coming back and this thing starts getting on a roll again.

[STKohls]

This whole sad season is on Mick, and it is also on the fans. Mick just hasn't got it done. In his defense, he had key injuries at key points in the pre-season and during the season. He also had to try and over-achieve with his team at a half-full arena pretty much all season. We lost our home court advantage and that is a key reason why we couldn't get that one huge upset that we needed. As we did last year, Mick built us up with great progress, only to lose it all in an embarrassing way. I have been complaining about him a lot, and I have complained about our fan situation a lot. I think Mick should definitely get 2 more years, before he has to face firing. But, he has to improve a lot before I will change my mind about him. He's an average coach, maybe even a C- at this time. But, he is also very young, and he's from our city and our school, so it's to our advantage to be more patient with him. Nest year should be good and then hopefully the fans start coming back and this thing starts getting on a roll again.

Well said. The most disappointing thing is that after the WV win, it seemed like the team had a little momentum and was becoming dangerous. What a letdown...

[Matt1982]

What??? We use real words in here??? Go back to living in your double-wide in the megapolis of Troy.


Aha, obviously you've never been to Troy... know what you're talking about before you speak.

[Cats4Ever]

wow - i can't believe uc is not even in the nit. that means uc is less than 97 other teams or so.

posters said the nit was on schedule for this year - i guess that goal is missed.

stuck with mick another year - but as some say - the future looks bright!

[BearcatAlum1]

Now that we did not get in, I am happy that we didn't make it. I think it saved the program further embarassment. Better to cut our losses and look to next year.

I agree completely. This team lacked heart, desire, and effort in the final 2 weeks of the season/BET.

I am not suprised that UC did not make the NIT. There were many "bubble busters" that made the NIT deeper.

Unfortunately, UC had a complete collapse in the final 5 games of the season. You cannot expect respect if you have not earned it. I'd rather not be in the NIT than go play an away game and get smoked by 20 because "no one cares."

Let's hope MC can nail down a few more recruits, get the problems off the team, and focus for next year.

BearcatAlum1

[Billy Don]

The NIT must have looked real hard at UC losing 6 out of the last 7. It kind of left a bad taste in everybodys mouth especially when the last 3 teams to beat them weren't in the NIT field even. A month ago if UC didn't make the NCAA there was always the NIT for sure. Hard to believe they blew it that bad.

[Matt1982]

I have a suspicion Mick may have denied the bid... there are plenty of eye openers as to how they were picked over UC...

[anbuc88]

This whole sad season is on Mick, and it is also on the fans. Mick just hasn't got it done. In his defense, he had key injuries at key points in the pre-season and during the season. He also had to try and over-achieve with his team at a half-full arena pretty much all season. We lost our home court advantage and that is a key reason why we couldn't get that one huge upset that we needed. As we did last year, Mick built us up with great progress, only to lose it all in an embarrassing way. I have been complaining about him a lot, and I have complained about our fan situation a lot. I think Mick should definitely get 2 more years, before he has to face firing. But, he has to improve a lot before I will change my mind about him. He's an average coach, maybe even a C- at this time. But, he is also very young, and he's from our city and our school, so it's to our advantage to be more patient with him. Next year should be good and then hopefully the fans start coming back and this thing starts getting on a roll again.

Excellent post and I agree almost 100%. The highlight of the season was the West Virginia victory and this would not have been possible without the racous crowd. Even the Louisville game was entertaining as the crowd was really into it. The rest of the games at Fifth Third were comparable to being at a funeral and that is just not conducive to pulling off an upset. Although I am slightly disappointed that a NIT bid was not forthcoming, one should not be rewarded for poor play at the end of the season. A probable first round loss would have only exacerbated the current situation. Next year there will be true seniors on the team who hopefully will have a sense of urgency and will prevent a meltdown for reoccurring. Additionally, there will be some additions by subtraction and this should help the makeup of this team. As always, GO CATS.

[BeastUC]

It is not worth the time of people with perspective. The cranky people who disguise themselves as "fans" wont listen anyway.

It works both ways.People who point out how bad some of the good/great coaches did their first 3 years seem to leave out how poor other coaches did their first 3 seasons.
I will support and be a Bearcat fan no matter who the coach is,but i'm not feeling very good about the future of our program right now.

[Forsure21]

The NIT is a business. They aren't out as much to reward young student athletes as some of you may think. They took ND, prov, and Georgetown because of numbers. Why would they take UC over ND? We could have beat them 10 times.

[BeastUC]

The NIT is a business. They aren't out as much to reward young student athletes as some of you may think. They took ND, prov, and Georgetown because of numbers. Why would they take UC over ND? We could have beat them 10 times.

My guess is they took ND because they recently beat the NCAA #1 Overall seed UL by 33 points and blowing out PC on the road.
They didn't finish the season too bad,despite the 7 game losing streak.
Beating great teams after you lose 7 straight shows they didn't completely give up being competitive.
Not to mention i'm sure ND will have maybe twice as many fans show up for their NIT game then UC would have.

[Lobot]

Some of you who want this thread to stay open are making it really difficult. Please stop arguing with and directing posts at one another.

[Doss]

We got what we earned. We were quiters.

Now I love that some folks who were sure we would get invited, have excuses.

[BearcatAlum1]

We got what we earned. We were quiters.

Now I love that some folks who were sure we would get invited, have excuses.

Why would you care if anyone makes an excuse?

Bottom line is this team caved down the stretch, losing 6 of their last 7 games. They should have won at least 3 of those games (USF, SH, and DePaul).

Who cares if people make excuses for "why" it happend! It happend, so deal with it and move on!

We will be better next year. Let's just hope MC can pull some aces out of his sleeve and land a few more recruits this offseason.

BearcatAlum1

[LongTimer]

I really don't want Mick fired yet. It's just not good timing for our program. However, everything that I have been saying and getting criticized for, getting called names for, etc....has proven to be true. I'm not gloating though. To me, it's just sad. It's sad that we are where we are. Most of my posts against Mick are just a reaction to the stupid posts about Huggs and his supposed flaws and tearing up our program, we didn't have an elite program. etc. Those people are just ignorant. Sorry. I'm just a UC fan and all I want is a great program. I am way past Huggs, but I will defend him against the ignorant posters who want to downplay his success. I think this result tonight can just serve to shut the people up who have been praising Mick's fantastic progress, his respect from the national media, everyone recognizes the amazing job that he has done, etc.

Mick Cronin has been destroyed in the local polls. He didn't even finish in the Top 25 in a national list of the best coaching jobs this year. Tom Crean and Frank Martin both were in the top 25 ahead of Mick Cronin. It's amazing that a coach who only won 6 or 7 games got more respect than a coach in the Big East who won 18 games. Then, the icing on the cake....we don't even get an NIT bid....when there were 5 or 6 teams that we defeated and some that we finished ahead of in the BE. That speaks loudly where Mick Cronin stands nationally with regards to respect. Nobody thinks he has done an amazing job, and nobody thinks this was a five year process. They know three years is plenty of time to get to the NCAA, or at the very least the NIT. Mick didn't do it, and he has yet to take ownership of his poor performance (We're still young and inexperienced!!!!!!).

I don't think he can screw up next year. So, we'll all be happy and celebrating a return to the big dance. It's the year or two after next where we'll see if Mick is for real or not. Can he just reload and sustain our success, or will we have to fall back for a couple years before we see the dance again?

[catsfan32]

^I'm not sure but i think Crean was voted on his MU record, not his IU record. How anyone can vote a coach as one of the top 25 after winning six games seriously has no idea what they are talking about. I dont think Cronin will go anywhere soon, he should have us back in the Dance next year and then he has already shown he can land good talent in the future (top 10 player Behanon and future AA in 2011). As for the NIT, i would have to think we got shafted, or Mick turned down the invite to get the clubhouse in order.

[Doss]

I love the posters who for some reason think being a blind fan is right and pointing out Mick's failure as not being a supporter. A supporter is different than a fan((atic).

I support FB and BB and have for 50 years. What has been my "support"? Joining UCATS ($$$$ each year), Season BB and FB tickets, travel to away games frequently, go to NCAA and NIT games, go to all FB away games within 8 hour drive.

I am not a blind fan(actic). I will criticize repeated poor results. Examples, Rick Minter time management, play calling, and staff turnover. Mick Cronin, poor recruiting, poor motivation, coaching, failure to accept blame, etc. leading to repetitive poor results.

I supported firing Rick and support firing Mick.

[bcatwilly]

I love the posters who for some reason think being a blind fan is right and pointing out Mick's failure as not being a supporter. A supporter is different than a fan((atic).

I support FB and BB and have for 50 years. What has been my "support"? Joining UCATS ($$$$ each year), Season BB and FB tickets, travel to away games frequently, go to NCAA and NIT games, go to all FB away games within 8 hour drive.

I am not a blind fan(actic). I will criticize repeated poor results. Examples, Rick Minter time management, play calling, and staff turnover. Mick Cronin, poor recruiting, poor motivation, coaching, failure to accept blame, etc. leading to repetitive poor results.

I supported firing Rick and support firing Mick.

I respect your opinion about Cronin and will be right along side you if they don't make the NCAA tourney next season, but it really does seem that firing him after this season would be rather stupid. Given the complete disaster that he walked into he at least deserves next season with Vaughn as his first 4 year senior and all of his juniors to prove that he is the right guy no matter how much any of us like him.

[Dono36]

Wow UC has really fallen, Xavier and Dayton are in the big show, UC can't even make it in the NIT.I don't believe I have ever seen a program fall so far so fast.When UC can't even compete with the likes of Dayton and Western Kentucky this program truly is dead.

[Billy Don]

I really don't want Mick fired yet. It's just not good timing for our program. However, everything that I have been saying and getting criticized for, getting called names for, etc....has proven to be true. I'm not gloating though. To me, it's just sad. It's sad that we are where we are. Most of my posts against Mick are just a reaction to the stupid posts about Huggs and his supposed flaws and tearing up our program, we didn't have an elite program. etc. Those people are just ignorant. Sorry. I'm just a UC fan and all I want is a great program. I am way past Huggs, but I will defend him against the ignorant posters who want to downplay his success. I think this result tonight can just serve to shut the people up who have been praising Mick's fantastic progress, his respect from the national media, everyone recognizes the amazing job that he has done, etc.

Mick Cronin has been destroyed in the local polls. He didn't even finish in the Top 25 in a national list of the best coaching jobs this year. Tom Crean and Frank Martin both were in the top 25 ahead of Mick Cronin. It's amazing that a coach who only won 6 or 7 games got more respect than a coach in the Big East who won 18 games. Then, the icing on the cake....we don't even get an NIT bid....when there were 5 or 6 teams that we defeated and some that we finished ahead of in the BE. That speaks loudly where Mick Cronin stands nationally with regards to respect. Nobody thinks he has done an amazing job, and nobody thinks this was a five year process. They know three years is plenty of time to get to the NCAA, or at the very least the NIT. Mick didn't do it, and he has yet to take ownership of his poor performance (We're still young and inexperienced!!!!!!).

I don't think he can screw up next year. So, we'll all be happy and celebrating a return to the big dance. It's the year or two after next where we'll see if Mick is for real or not. Can he just reload and sustain our success, or will we have to fall back for a couple years before we see the dance again?

I don't think UC has the option of firing Mick right now. To buy out the last 3 years of his contract it would cost UC almost if not 3 million dollars and I doubt UC has 3 million laying around. They are still paying on Huggins 3 million buyout because he stretched it out for tax purposes. 3 million dollars is a big hit on the athletic budget which is in bad shape anyway.

[London 'Cat]

This whole sad season is on Mick, and it is also on the fans. Mick just hasn't got it done. In his defense, he had key injuries at key points in the pre-season and during the season. He also had to try and over-achieve with his team at a half-full arena pretty much all season. We lost our home court advantage and that is a key reason why we couldn't get that one huge upset that we needed. As we did last year, Mick built us up with great progress, only to lose it all in an embarrassing way. I have been complaining about him a lot, and I have complained about our fan situation a lot. I think Mick should definitely get 2 more years, before he has to face firing. But, he has to improve a lot before I will change my mind about him. He's an average coach, maybe even a C- at this time. But, he is also very young, and he's from our city and our school, so it's to our advantage to be more patient with him. Next year should be good and then hopefully the fans start coming back and this thing starts getting on a roll again.

Good post, LT. I would say that he only gets one year more, though. He has to show some real progress next season to get that following season. The final record is about what I expected pre-season once Wright went down. It's just that they played well from mid-January through mid-February, raising my expectations, and then fell apart at the end of the season . . . again. He is the only real option UC had at the time of his hire and was, and still is, facing a very difficult situation. Perhaps the expectations of some here are unrealistic given the facts and circumstances.

[Billy Don]

We got what we earned. We were quiters.

Now I love that some folks who were sure we would get invited, have excuses.

Well I for one was sure UC had a NIT bid, at least up until the DePaul game, and am still kind of in shock UC didn't make the NIT. I haven't even thought about an excuse as yet. I wanted to see the team play at least one more game to see if they could regroup and play at least one decent game.

[ME80]

Thank you Forsure... someone else on this board has a clue.

Here is the difference Matt, Forsure mentioned that the team regressed, you would rather play I told you so and laugh at the fans.

[Forsure21]

Guys, this program is down and not even getting an INVITE to the NIT just shows exactly that. It's embarrassing.

[slimm]

Guys, this program is down and not even getting an INVITE to the NIT just shows exactly that. It's embarrassing.

whats embarrassing is that no one from the basketball team seems to give a crap.all the statements from players to coaches are this mono tone diatribe of excuses.
________
Glass weed pipe (http://glasspipes.net/)

[Bearcat Jeff]

I really don't want Mick fired yet. It's just not good timing for our program. However, everything that I have been saying and getting criticized for, getting called names for, etc....has proven to be true. I'm not gloating though. To me, it's just sad. It's sad that we are where we are. Most of my posts against Mick are just a reaction to the stupid posts about Huggs and his supposed flaws and tearing up our program, we didn't have an elite program. etc. Those people are just ignorant. Sorry. I'm just a UC fan and all I want is a great program. I am way past Huggs, but I will defend him against the ignorant posters who want to downplay his success. I think this result tonight can just serve to shut the people up who have been praising Mick's fantastic progress, his respect from the national media, everyone recognizes the amazing job that he has done, etc.

Mick Cronin has been destroyed in the local polls. He didn't even finish in the Top 25 in a national list of the best coaching jobs this year. Tom Crean and Frank Martin both were in the top 25 ahead of Mick Cronin. It's amazing that a coach who only won 6 or 7 games got more respect than a coach in the Big East who won 18 games. Then, the icing on the cake....we don't even get an NIT bid....when there were 5 or 6 teams that we defeated and some that we finished ahead of in the BE. That speaks loudly where Mick Cronin stands nationally with regards to respect. Nobody thinks he has done an amazing job, and nobody thinks this was a five year process. They know three years is plenty of time to get to the NCAA, or at the very least the NIT. Mick didn't do it, and he has yet to take ownership of his poor performance (We're still young and inexperienced!!!!!!).

I don't think he can screw up next year. So, we'll all be happy and celebrating a return to the big dance. It's the year or two after next where we'll see if Mick is for real or not. Can he just reload and sustain our success, or will we have to fall back for a couple years before we see the dance again?

LongTimer I agree with some of this. I think you make some valid points and I feel the same of some of those things.

I agree Mick is unproven at this point, but disagree about the respect nationally. U.C. has to win to gain the kind of respect you speak of. Crean is a proven winner at the high D1 level. So are the other 2 coaches you mentioned. If U.C. takes that step next season and makes the NCAA the national media will gloat over Mick and how he brought this program back. People have great respect for him having the courage to follow Huggs and take on the challenge that was before him. They also respect the progress he has made. It's 2 different types of respect. The one he has the other he hasn't earned yet.

[LongTimer]

Wow UC has really fallen, Xavier and Dayton are in the big show, UC can't even make it in the NIT.I don't believe I have ever seen a program fall so far so fast.When UC can't even compete with the likes of Dayton and Western Kentucky this program truly is dead.

The state with the most NCAA teams is....OHIO!!!!! 5 Teams in the dance. Whoever thought that there would ever be 5 Ohio teams in the NCAA and the University of Cincinnati wouldn't be one of them? There was a day not too long ago that every Ohio team was eating our dust every year. Now we're 6th in our own state, 2nd in our own city....that's if you think Cincinnati State and Mt. St. Joes are still behind us!

[Deaf_Bearcat]

Bearcat curse stays on. So frustrating!

[LongTimer]

I don't think UC has the option of firing Mick right now. To buy out the last 3 years of his contract it would cost UC almost if not 3 million dollars and I doubt UC has 3 million laying around. They are still paying on Huggins 3 million buyout because he stretched it out for tax purposes. 3 million dollars is a big hit on the athletic budget which is in bad shape anyway.

Mick is not a bad coach. He's just not at the level, or anywhere close to the level, that many people in here place him. For two straight years, he had us on the verge of proclaiming him pretty damn good, only to toss it all out the window and leave us disappointed and pissed. He just needs to get over the hump and I think he will be fine. Next year should get him over the hump for once. Then, he "MUST" not fall back. Yes, he started with a somewhat depleted roster. Yes, he has had injuries. Yes, he started with an angry fan base. But he hasn't turned the corner in 3 years. He almost did, but he couldn't get it done. And, the fan base is still angry. Until he can get the fans back, I think it will be difficult to keep showing progress. There's a big group of very unhappy fans out there who are not supporting this program anymore. Mick needs them back. The administration could help by getting ticket prices and UCATS fees back in line. Right now, those fees are so far out of line compared with the quality of this product, that I suspect that the Shoe will have less fans at games next year than they had this year. This administration should make a statement this year and reach out to the fans unlike what they did this past year where they screwed us blind by raising the **** out of prices!

[LongTimer]

Well I for one was sure UC had a NIT bid, at least up until the DePaul game, and am still kind of in shock UC didn't make the NIT. I haven't even thought about an excuse as yet. I wanted to see the team play at least one more game to see if they could regroup and play at least one decent game.

BD, the fans have melted down pretty much as it is. Mick is getting hammered from all directions and deservedly so. If we went to the NIT, it would have been a road game and probably another loss, and then further meltdown. It might be best to just get out of the limelight, go stealth for awhile and try to pick up the pieces and rebuild this mess into something. The NIT is actually a pretty damn good tournament this year and it would have been nice to be in. But, if it is one and done in the NIT, it's almost beneficial to just call it a season and start over now. That's what we will do hopefully!

[LongTimer]

Here is the difference Matt, Forsure mentioned that the team regressed, you would rather play I told you so and laugh at the fans.

The way Matt has been treated in here, I don't blame him for saying "I told you so"! The people who have been disappointed and not on Mick's bandwagon all year have been treated pretty bad by the so-called "positive posters"...many of whom are suprisingly absent the last few days. Matt was right in what he said. He might have said it a little less abrasively at times, but he was correct.

[LongTimer]

LongTimer I agree with some of this. I think you make some valid points and I feel the same of some of those things.

I agree Mick is unproven at this point, but disagree about the respect nationally. U.C. has to win to gain the kind of respect you speak of. Crean is a proven winner at the high D1 level. So are the other 2 coaches you mentioned. If U.C. takes that step next season and makes the NCAA the national media will gloat over Mick and how he brought this program back. People have great respect for him having the courage to follow Huggs and take on the challenge that was before him. They also respect the progress he has made. It's 2 different types of respect. The one he has the other he hasn't earned yet.

Well, I don't know if he had courage. I think he was brash enough and self-confident enough to think he could easily pull it off and bring us back pretty quickly. I really think what has done him in is exactly what he was most noted for coming in here....and that is his recruiting. His recruiting thus far has not proven to be very good and that is why we didn't take that next step. The talent level on the team is not very good and he is the one that recruited them. You have to be an amazing coach to win with the talent that we have. We really didn't have a single shooter on the team. There wasn't one player who when you saw him shoot the ball, that you knew it was going in most of the time...not one. When Flynn, Rautins, Devendorf and most other BE team's shooters go up to shoot, you pretty much know it's going in. With our shooters, we "hope" it is going in.

[ralph1950]

Well I for one was sure UC had a NIT bid, at least up until the DePaul game, and am still kind of in shock UC didn't make the NIT. I haven't even thought about an excuse as yet. I wanted to see the team play at least one more game to see if they could regroup and play at least one decent game.

Your good friend Alan Cutler was also shocked UC did not get into the NIT, Mack. I think it was a political decision by the NCAA-NIT selection committee, after all UC did beat Georgetown twice and Notre Dame and SEC Champ Mississippi State, and UAB, and West Virginia.

I am dissappointed UC decided not to play in the CBI or the CollegeBI tourney. I would have liked to have gone to some more home games this season.

[ralph1950]

I love the posters who for some reason think being a blind fan is right and pointing out Mick's failure as not being a supporter. A supporter is different than a fan((atic).

I support FB and BB and have for 50 years. What has been my "support"? Joining UCATS ($$$$ each year), Season BB and FB tickets, travel to away games frequently, go to NCAA and NIT games, go to all FB away games within 8 hour drive.

I am not a blind fan(actic). I will criticize repeated poor results. Examples, Rick Minter time management, play calling, and staff turnover. Mick Cronin, poor recruiting, poor motivation, coaching, failure to accept blame, etc. leading to repetitive poor results.

I supported firing Rick and support firing Mick.

You are suffering from "I cannot get over the firing of Bob Huggins" desease. If you could take a step back and take an unemotional look at the rebuilding job Mick has done you would realize Mick has done one of the best rebuilding jobs ever. To get this team to be talked about as a bubble team this year was far more than anyone not suffering from "I cannot get over the firing of Bob Huggins" desease could have ever expected. It takes time to rebuild when you have nothing to start out with but a tradition and a Big East membership.

[ralph1950]

Mick is not a bad coach. He's just not at the level, or anywhere close to the level, that many people in here place him. For two straight years, he had us on the verge of proclaiming him pretty damn good, only to toss it all out the window and leave us disappointed and pissed. He just needs to get over the hump and I think he will be fine. Next year should get him over the hump for once. Then, he "MUST" not fall back. Yes, he started with a somewhat depleted roster. Yes, he has had injuries. Yes, he started with an angry fan base. But he hasn't turned the corner in 3 years. He almost did, but he couldn't get it done. And, the fan base is still angry. Until he can get the fans back, I think it will be difficult to keep showing progress. There's a big group of very unhappy fans out there who are not supporting this program anymore. Mick needs them back. The administration could help by getting ticket prices and UCATS fees back in line. Right now, those fees are so far out of line compared with the quality of this product, that I suspect that the Shoe will have less fans at games next year than they had this year. This administration should make a statement this year and reach out to the fans unlike what they did this past year where they screwed us blind by raising the **** out of prices!

Longtimer, the "I am poor please lower my ticket prices and donation" stick is quite old. You have a choice, if you do not like what you are getting for your dollar then quit, give up your seats. UC is not going to lower the UCATS donation and lower arena ticket prices. UC has already stated they will lower the prices for the upper deck corner seats, so you also have the option to move up there and pay less.

[ralph1950]

Well, I don't know if he had courage. I think he was brash enough and self-confident enough to think he could easily pull it off and bring us back pretty quickly. I really think what has done him in is exactly what he was most noted for coming in here....and that is his recruiting. His recruiting thus far has not proven to be very good and that is why we didn't take that next step. The talent level on the team is not very good and he is the one that recruited them. You have to be an amazing coach to win with the talent that we have. We really didn't have a single shooter on the team. There wasn't one player who when you saw him shoot the ball, that you knew it was going in most of the time...not one. When Flynn, Rautins, Devendorf and most other BE team's shooters go up to shoot, you pretty much know it's going in. With our shooters, we "hope" it is going in.

If Mick could have recruited 6 McDonald's All-Americans to UC this season he would have. He recruited the best players who wanted to come, same as all other coaches. At the present time it is easy to negative recruit against UC. A great example is Thabeat. Mick came within an eyelash of getting him to UC. Calhoun could tell Thabeat why go to a rebuilding team when you can join a team that is going to win now.

[LongTimer]

Longtimer, the "I am poor please lower my ticket prices and donation" stick is quite old. You have a choice, if you do not like what you are getting for your dollar then quit, give up your seats. UC is not going to lower the UCATS donation and lower arena ticket prices. UC has already stated they will lower the prices for the upper deck corner seats, so you also have the option to move up there and pay less.

Ralph, you have proven to be wrong in just about everything you've said, and you are dead wrong here. I know lots of great fans who have left the program because of what they did this past year with prices. I know a lot more who told me they are leaving this year. I don't make the same unrealisting claims and boasts that you do and I am in touch with how the average fan feels. You can keep supporting the high prices, but all you are doing is screwing Mick and making his job way more difficult. The program needs fans back, the economy is poor, the program is losing its stature, the demand for tickets has fallen off the map....every indicator that you can come up with says lower prices now!!! I'm coming back not matter what Ralph. This has nothing to do with me. I want a home court advantage again and a fun atmosphere to watch a ballgame. Anyone who was wishing and dreaming for NIT and CBI home games is a pretty poor representative to even speak to how the average fan feels. You were almost by yourself in hoping for participation in the losers tournaments. Every decision the administration has made with regards to basketball lately has failed. I am offering something that will work. You are offering more of the same. Look at our trend line.....more of the same is leading to failure!

[davecattitude1]

Longtimer, the "I am poor please lower my ticket prices and donation" stick is quite old. You have a choice, if you do not like what you are getting for your dollar then quit, give up your seats. UC is not going to lower the UCATS donation and lower arena ticket prices. UC has already stated they will lower the prices for the upper deck corner seats, so you also have the option to move up there and pay less.

Obviously by the looks of the shoe this year there are a lot of "I am poor please lower my ticket prices and donation" people! Longtimer just makes sense!!!!! How can anybody justify paying more for less entertaining basketball? They never should have raised the prices!

[LongTimer]

If Mick could have recruited 6 McDonald's All-Americans to UC this season he would have. He recruited the best players who wanted to come, same as all other coaches. At the present time it is easy to negative recruit against UC. A great example is Thabeat. Mick came within an eyelash of getting him to UC. Calhoun could tell Thabeat why go to a rebuilding team when you can join a team that is going to win now.

Why go....because you can start now at UC. He didn't start at UCONN as a freshman. Mick has failed Ralph...give it up!

[long suffering UC fan]

You are suffering from "I cannot get over the firing of Bob Huggins" desease. If you could take a step back and take an unemotional look at the rebuilding job Mick has done you would realize Mick has done one of the best rebuilding jobs ever. To get this team to be talked about as a bubble team this year was far more than anyone not suffering from "I cannot get over the firing of Bob Huggins" desease could have ever expected. It takes time to rebuild when you have nothing to start out with but a tradition and a Big East membership.

I think making the statement that Mick has done "one of the best rebuilding jobs ever", is more of an emotionally charged statement, than anything he posted. Essentially nothing has been rebuilt. If you look at what Mick has accomplished: Zero NCAA bids, zero NIT bids, recruiting classes each year in the bottom half of his league, not to mention late season collapses, I don't see how this is one of the best rebuilding jobs ever.

I hated Huggins firing as much as anyone at the time, but am well over it, and simply am frustrated with who they have now. Mick, however, has shown very little that inspires me to believe that this program will make the NCAA tournament next year, or even the year after.

Yes, he has improved this team from where he took it over, but essentially anyone you brought in to coach UC could've recruited borderline Big East players to come enjoy Big East playing time vs. having to go to the MAC to start.

To me, and others I've talked to, Mick just doesn't come across as "Big-Time" enough to recruit enough good players to win in this league. Further, the guys he has recruited don't seem even fazed when he yells or tries to motivate them.

If I were AD, I'd give him one more year, only b/c I'd want it to be clear that UC gave Mick every chance to prove himself, before I needed to go find his replacement. It will be tough enough to sell this job to the level of coach that we need, without it seeming as though there are unrealistic expectations. The new coach will need to know that he will be given every opportunity, and if Mick is fired after 4 years of failure, it won't seem as bad as if it were done after 3.

I really hope I am dead wrong on this, and will happily start a thread discussing how much of an ***** I was, and invite all of the Mick supporters to rip on me, etc., if that turns out to be the case. I just think this job is too big for him, and he is in way over his head.

[bubbachunk]

Only ignorant UC fans living in the past believed it was truly possible that we would be back in the tourney in less than 3 years. When a program was decimated as ours was it just takes time to recover period. I dont even count Mick's first two years here because he was playing with southland conference talent in the big east and still managed to win some games. Next year is year 4 and the most telling year. He will have a proven scorer and senior leader in Vaughn along with experience along side of him and big men down low. If there is no NCAA tourney next year then you can call for his head, there would be nothing wrong with that.

[YouGuessedItFrankStallone]

Only ignorant UC fans living in the past believed it was truly possible that we would be back in the tourney in less than 3 years. When a program was decimated as ours was it just takes time to recover period. I dont even count Mick's first two years here because he was playing with southland conference talent in the big east and still managed to win some games. Next year is year 4 and the most telling year. He will have a proven scorer and senior leader in Vaughn along with experience along side of him and big men down low. If there is no NCAA tourney next year then you can call for his head, there would be nothing wrong with that.

Oh, c'mon, we all know how easy it is to make the NCAA tourney with no point guard, only 1 player (an undersized SG) with more than a single year of experience, in arguably the toughest bball conference in history. Geez, enough of these excuses.

[bubbachunk]

Oh, c'mon, we all know how easy it is to make the NCAA tourney with no point guard, only 1 player (an undersized SG) with more than a single year of experience, in arguably the toughest bball conference in history. Geez, enough of these excuses.

Ok ok I am to easy on him, he should have been fired after last season.

[ralph1950]

Ralph, you have proven to be wrong in just about everything you've said, and you are dead wrong here. I know lots of great fans who have left the program because of what they did this past year with prices. I know a lot more who told me they are leaving this year. I don't make the same unrealisting claims and boasts that you do and I am in touch with how the average fan feels. You can keep supporting the high prices, but all you are doing is screwing Mick and making his job way more difficult. The program needs fans back, the economy is poor, the program is losing its stature, the demand for tickets has fallen off the map....every indicator that you can come up with says lower prices now!!! I'm coming back not matter what Ralph. This has nothing to do with me. I want a home court advantage again and a fun atmosphere to watch a ballgame. Anyone who was wishing and dreaming for NIT and CBI home games is a pretty poor representative to even speak to how the average fan feels. You were almost by yourself in hoping for participation in the losers tournaments. Every decision the administration has made with regards to basketball lately has failed. I am offering something that will work. You are offering more of the same. Look at our trend line.....more of the same is leading to failure!

I am not wrong, I am 100% correct, UC is not going to lower UCATS donations and ticket prices in the lower arena.

[ME80]

The way Matt has been treated in here, I don't blame him for saying "I told you so"! The people who have been disappointed and not on Mick's bandwagon all year have been treated pretty bad by the so-called "positive posters"...many of whom are suprisingly absent the last few days. Matt was right in what he said. He might have said it a little less abrasively at times, but he was correct.

My point was that others including myself can handle dissenting opinions but don't like the method that was taken. As I have said many times before, I think the majority of people on this board are somewhere in the middle and are still unsure of where this whole thing is headed. I for one still believe some progress has been made and is/was willing to wait for 4 years to make my final call. Matt called out anyone having any hope as being "clowns". Many of his comments are done that way and that is why he gets treated differently. You have ripped Mick numerous times and I have not had a big issue with you until you want to pull the past into the argument.

[LongTimer]

I think making the statement that Mick has done "one of the best rebuilding jobs ever", is more of an emotionally charged statement, than anything he posted. Essentially nothing has been rebuilt. If you look at what Mick has accomplished: Zero NCAA bids, zero NIT bids, recruiting classes each year in the bottom half of his league, not to mention late season collapses, I don't see how this is one of the best rebuilding jobs ever.

I hated Huggins firing as much as anyone at the time, but am well over it, and simply am frustrated with who they have now. Mick, however, has shown very little that inspires me to believe that this program will make the NCAA tournament next year, or even the year after.

Yes, he has improved this team from where he took it over, but essentially anyone you brought in to coach UC could've recruited borderline Big East players to come enjoy Big East playing time vs. having to go to the MAC to start.

To me, and others I've talked to, Mick just doesn't come across as "Big-Time" enough to recruit enough good players to win in this league. Further, the guys he has recruited don't seem even fazed when he yells or tries to motivate them.

If I were AD, I'd give him one more year, only b/c I'd want it to be clear that UC gave Mick every chance to prove himself, before I needed to go find his replacement. It will be tough enough to sell this job to the level of coach that we need, without it seeming as though there are unrealistic expectations. The new coach will need to know that he will be given every opportunity, and if Mick is fired after 4 years of failure, it won't seem as bad as if it were done after 3.

I really hope I am dead wrong on this, and will happily start a thread discussing how much of an ***** I was, and invite all of the Mick supporters to rip on me, etc., if that turns out to be the case. I just think this job is too big for him, and he is in way over his head.

All so true LSUF. A well thought out and well stated post without any personal attacks....a rare occurance in here.

[RobPoppeil]

Only ignorant UC fans living in the past believed it was truly possible that we would be back in the tourney in less than 3 years. When a program was decimated as ours was it just takes time to recover period. I dont even count Mick's first two years here because he was playing with southland conference talent in the big east and still managed to win some games. Next year is year 4 and the most telling year. He will have a proven scorer and senior leader in Vaughn along with experience along side of him and big men down low. If there is no NCAA tourney next year then you can call for his head, there would be nothing wrong with that.

Except of course yet another wasted year!

It is pretty easy to tell if Mick is a top flight coach. If UC fired him today, how many power schools would offer him a job? The answer is zero.

[slimm]

Except of course yet another wasted year!

It is pretty easy to tell if Mick is a top flight coach. If UC fired him today, how many power schools would offer him a job? The answer is zero.

the videographers position is opening up at WVU
________
Laguna Bay Condos Pattaya (http://pattayaluxurycondos.com)

[LongTimer]

My point was that others including myself can handle dissenting opinions but don't like the method that was taken. As I have said many times before, I think the majority of people on this board are somewhere in the middle and are still unsure of where this whole thing is headed. I for one still believe some progress has been made and is/was willing to wait for 4 years to make my final call. Matt called out anyone having any hope as being "clowns". Many of his comments are done that way and that is why he gets treated differently. You have ripped Mick numerous times and I have not had a big issue with you until you want to pull the past into the argument.

I would argue that I only pull the past into the argument when someone else bashes the previous coach in an ugly way. I will defend him, but I have long ago let loose of the disappointment of his exit. If Mick would perform, he has me 100%. I haven't seen it. I see glimpses, but then nothing. Yes we have progressed, but too slowly. Yes we will be in the NCAA next year, but should we dump a long contract extension on him....I'm not so sure. I do not want a Rick Minter type coach....two years up....two years down. We need a coach that gets us up...and stays up! I'm not convinced Mick is the man, but I'm willing to give him 2 more years to find out!

[LongTimer]

Except of course yet another wasted year!

It is pretty easy to tell if Mick is a top flight coach. If UC fired him today, how many power schools would offer him a job? The answer is zero.

Good point. I would say his star is less bright today, then after his 3rd year at Murray St.

[LongTimer]

I am not wrong, I am 100% correct, UC is not going to lower UCATS donations and ticket prices in the lower arena.

Ralph, you might be correct, but if they don't do something, they are idiots!!!

[ME80]

I would argue that I only pull the past into the argument when someone else bashes the previous coach in an ugly way. I will defend him, but I have long ago let loose of the disappointment of his exit. If Mick would perform, he has me 100%. I haven't seen it. I see glimpses, but then nothing. Yes we have progressed, but too slowly. Yes we will be in the NCAA next year, but should we dump a long contract extension on him....I'm not so sure. I do not want a Rick Minter type coach....two years up....two years down. We need a coach that gets us up...and stays up! I'm not convinced Mick is the man, but I'm willing to give him 2 more years to find out!

See I have know problem with that type of logic. I intentionally stayed off the forum for last week because I knew the emotions would run high. I was and am very disappointed with the finish but I do know that we were a free throw away of winning one game in regulation and some open layups and wide open threes from at least getting close to winning two more down the stretch.

I often wonder if people watch other games with the same vigor that the judge UC games. It always amazes me on how some teams are considered great offensive teams but when you watch them they just make their open shots, especially from the 3 point lines. We had open shots during March, we just missed the majority of them.