THIS Season

[BasketBySteveLogan]

The recruiting news is all good and well, and it looks like we're attracting some good players.. but let's talk about THIS season...

Projected wins? Toughest non-conf games? Leading scorer/rebounder/assist man? Toughest teams in the Big East? Best dunker?

Projected record: 18-13... NIT... yes it's a tough schedule, but remember last season- Mick had some impressive wins (XU, NC St, WVa [almost W at Cuse/Prov]) with a weak bad shooting nondeep inexperienced team. Give him a full roster with size and bodies, as well as some seniors.. and he should be able to pound out some W's

Toughest non-conf games: Of course Memphis will be stacked.. at Xavier (revenge game).. at NC St will be very tough (all those talented FRs and SOs a year older).. at UAB (never ever easy to win there)

Leading Scorers: Vaughn 18.0 ppg, Williams 15.0 ppg

Leading Rebounders: Williams/Williamson/Hyrcianuk 7.5-9.5 rpg

Leading Assist Man: Vaughn 4.5 apg

Toughest Teams in Big East: Georgetown (fundamentally sound, size, experiece), Louisville (deep, coach), Syracuse (recruiting class), Pitt (depth, guardplay, defense), Notre Dame (offense, depth)

Best Dunker: Looks like Wilks.. but don't sleep on John Williamson if his knee is healthy and strong.. Mitchell looks like he may have somethin for us too

--The Bearcat Expert--

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

The recruiting news is all good and well, and it looks like we're attracting some good players.. but let's talk about THIS season...

Projected wins? Toughest non-conf games? Leading scorer/rebounder/assist man? Toughest teams in the Big East? Best dunker?

Projected record: 18-13... NIT... yes it's a tough schedule, but remember last season- Mick had some impressive wins (XU, NC St, WVa [almost W at Cuse/Prov]) with a weak bad shooting nondeep inexperienced team. Give him a full roster with size and bodies, as well as some seniors.. and he should be able to pound out some W's

Toughest non-conf games: Of course Memphis will be stacked.. at Xavier (revenge game).. at NC St will be very tough (all those talented FRs and SOs a year older).. at UAB (never ever easy to win there)

Leading Scorers: Vaughn 18.0 ppg, Williams 15.0 ppg

Leading Rebounders: Williams/Williamson/Hyrcianuk 7.5-9.5 rpg

Leading Assist Man: Vaughn 4.5 apg

Toughest Teams in Big East: Georgetown (fundamentally sound, size, experiece), Louisville (deep, coach), Syracuse (recruiting class), Pitt (depth, guardplay, defense), Notre Dame (offense, depth)

Best Dunker: Looks like Wilks.. but don't sleep on John Williamson if his knee is healthy and strong.. Mitchell looks like he may have somethin for us too

--The Bearcat Expert--

20 W (maybe). NIT (likely) but NCAA (maybe).

[Big B]

I agree with the wins between 18 and 20 wins.. Definite NIT.

Leading Scorers: Vaughn, Gentry and Williamson. I think Williams will get most of his points on put backs. The guards and small forwards will be jacking the ball up in 1 or 2 passes at the most. A lot of running, especially with a bench this deep.

Rebounding: I agree with those three with Adam H. on the low end Williams on the high end.

Best Dunkers: Definitely Williamson and Williams. The freshman may get some break away dunks

[Mick's Da Man]

Toughest Teams in Big East: Georgetown (fundamentally sound, size, experiece), Louisville (deep, coach), Syracuse (recruiting class), Pitt (depth, guardplay, defense), Notre Dame (offense, depth)

--

Pitt lost all their size. They will be guard dependant and a notch below last season.

G'town, Louisville, and possibly Marquette will be the 3 best teams in the conference. Syracuse and UConn may be up and comers based on recruiting.

UC should be much improved based on returning starter experience, addition of 2 guys who sat out last year but practiced and witnessed the league, and the addition of talented frosh/newcomers. Depth, size, and experience have all been answered. It should be a much different season.

[Inchickinkick]

2007
1 Vaughn 15- 3-5
2 Gentry 10-3
3 Sikes 10-10
4 Williams 15-10
5 Hrycaniuk 10-10-2
(dept)
6 Warren 10-3-5
7 Williamson 15-10
8 6 freshmen help

Make the freshman earn their playing time.
If the returners play the way there expected too.
If 2 0r 3 freshman help.

This could be a very good team.
20- wins NCAA- yes If nod>
17- wins NIT- yes
Key freshman; Mitchell Wilks McClain
Thats the way it is, Do it, Or dont>

[jeffto]

Let's keep in mind that this is still a rebuilding year.

We have a group of patched together veterans and unproven newcomers. Some will exceed expectations, some will disappoint.

W's may not be the correct measure of success. I'll be happy if they improve during the season, play team ball, get stronger and build a platform for big successes in the future.

On the other hand, if they win around 20 games they'll probably be meeting those objectives.

[Deaf_Bearcat]

I believe with returning starters' NCAA/Big East basketball experiences, UC basketball should improve to better than .500 winning percentage. However, its 2008 NCAA tourney trip remains very slim, but as the best, it could end up in the NIT tourney. Hopefully, one of UC newcomers will surprise many of critics like me. Who knows which UC recruits would be best sleepers in NCAA.

Go Bearcats!

[Inchickinkick]

Let's keep in mind that this is still a rebuilding year.

We have a group of patched together veterans and unproven newcomers. Some will exceed expectations, some will disappoint.

W's may not be the correct measure of success. I'll be happy if they improve during the season, play team ball, get stronger and build a platform for big successes in the future.

On the other hand, if they win around 20 games they'll probably be meeting those objectives.
7 players returning, I would say just adding more ammoe,
We have a strong core, The sky is the limit and Mick knows
that.

[Oldtimer_UC_fan]

7 players returning, I would say just adding more ammoe,
We have a strong core, The ski is the limit and Mick knows
that.

I didn't know UC had a ski team.

[Inchickinkick]

I didn't know UC had a ski team.
I didnt knowuc had a ski team either.

[Inchickinkick]

I didn't know UC had a ski team.

Ididnt know uc had a ski team,either

[Mick's Da Man]

7 players returning, I would say just adding more ammoe,
We have a strong core, The sky is the limit and Mick knows
that.

I didn't know UC had a rifle team.

[Kindog202]

I would think that a 20 win regular season, which would mean a plus .500 conference record and 1 victory in the BE tourney would put us in the NCAA's. I think it is feasible depending on how quickly this team gells. I truly believe that this team has Top 5-7 BE talent level, it will be a matter of how quickly they can come together.

[Inchickinkick]

I didn't know UC had a rifle team.

I didntno that. uc had a rifle team

[Inchickinkick]

I would think that a 20 win regular season, which would mean a plus .500 conference record and 1 victory in the BE tourney would put us in the NCAA's. I think it is feasible depending on how quickly this team gells. I truly believe that this team has Top 5-7 BE talent level, it will be a matter of how quickly they can come together.

Uc has 5 bigeast tested players, two transfers, with
six freshman>

[james jr]

Uc has 5 bigeast tested players, two transfers, with
six freshman>

I believe the team will win 18-20 games and the big key will be what we get from the 3 position. I am not sure whether they will start John Williamson there or try Mitchell as he seems to be more immediately BE ready than Wilkes. I feel that the other 4 positions should be pretty solid (Adam H, Williams, Deonta and Gentry)! Prediction definite NIT with reasonable Big Dance possibilities. GO CATS!

[shaunsimpson]

I was overly optimisitic on what new players could do for a team last year so I am a little more pesimistic this year and will save my blind optimisim until next year. I think this is an NIT team this year and I think this will be a darn near great team in two years with a hopefull run next year at the tournament.

Hope I am wrong with that and with my track record that included last year this is very likely.

[CincyBearcat95]

I was overly optimisitic on what new players could do for a team last year so I am a little more pesimistic this year and will save my blind optimisim until next year. I think this is an NIT team this year and I think this will be a darn near great team in two years with a hopefull run next year at the tournament.

Hope I am wrong with that and with my track record that included last year this is very likely.

I'm with Shaun on this one. I think we're starting to convince ourselves that we can get into the NCAA tourney. I think we have a much better team than last year and agree that we look really really good in the coming years. I look at it as this:

BE Tourney - Ok
NIT - meets expectations
NCAA - outstanding!

I realize that we are a much improved team, but coming back from a losing season the year before to an NIT run is a pretty good leap, though not what we've become accustomed to over the years.

[Oldtimer_UC_fan]

I'm with Shaun on this one. I think we're starting to convince ourselves that we can get into the NCAA tourney. I think we have a much better team than last year and agree that we look really really good in the coming years. I look at it as this:

BE Tourney - Ok
NIT - meets expectations
NCAA - outstanding!

I realize that we are a much improved team, but coming back from a losing season the year before to an NIT run is a pretty good leap, though not what we've become accustomed to over the years.

I'd much rather be pleasantly surprised than disappointed.

[CincyBearcat95]

I'd much rather be pleasantly surprised than disappointed.

Agreed. I don't want to set unrealistic expectations by talking ourselves into the NCAA tourney. Better to try to understand worst, middle and best cases and be "pleasantly surprised" when Mick knocks it out of the park!

[Inchickinkick]

I'd much rather be pleasantly surprised than disappointed.

Last year we could say was a pleasant surprise concedering no dept,

[jeffto]

I JUST SPEAK ENGLISH

No you don't, at least you don't write it. LOL

[Inchickinkick]

I enjoyed watching last years 9-19 team,

[Nerf]

Really? Because I had a **** of a time watching them go 11-19.

[Inchickinkick]

Really? Because I had a **** of a time watching them go 11-19.

Your right man,my bad.