Well we have a new rival

[Thegreatone]

With Huggins going to WVU we now have a very intense rivalary with an in-conference team. Not just on the court but recruiting as well. We will get to see who the true master recruiter is now!

[steveedwards]

I predict WVU will essentially be playing "home" games in 5/3 arena now.

[bearcatfan]

I predict WVU will essentially be playing "home" games in 5/3 arena now.

I predict you are wrong.

[Catmandu]

I predict you are wrong.

I predict he's right... not only are there some huggins fans around here, WVU Travels REALLY well, and they would love to come up here for BBall

[Justin Register]

I really hope that is not true, or it's very sad. All along people have said "UC will always be #1 before former coaches. I would hope that UC fans don't go to the Shoe and pull for the other, in-conference team just because their coach used to be at UC.....that would be pathetic.

[jon b]

All right Cat, let's bet. I win you pay me the remaining $25 you owe me and if you win, we call it even. :D

You have been one of the biggest Huggins supporters, who are you rooting for when they come to play? There may be a Jarr or two in the arena who are former UC fans who might root against UC, but let's be clear there will not be any UC fans cheering for WVU. They might wish Huggins well, but you are not a fan if you root against your team.

Now as far as WVU bringing some folks, they will bring some, but even if they have 1000 in the Shoe, I don't think that constitutes a home game for them. It is very likely this game will headline packages that are sold and it will sell out thus making it harder for WVU to get tickets. Probably similar to this past year's Xavier game.

[qsilvr2531]

They might (and I stress might) get a quasi home game next year. I can't imagine it will last longer than that. I think the comparison to last years Xavier game will end up being pretty accurate, at least for next year. And that wasn't even close to a "home game" for Xavier.

[jkwuc89]

I was at the KSU/XU game last season and I can say that the crowd there was about 50/50 with regards to the fan split. I don't expect anything close to this at 5/3 Arena. I expect Coach Huggins to get a warm reception but once the ball gets tipped, this will become a UC home game.

[Josh Rexhausen]

I can't agree more Kieth and Jon, I look forward to cheering for Huggins when he is anounced as the coach, or when he walks out onto the floor. After that my healing will be complete and I will continue to root for my Cats to beat our once loved coach. I hope the game plays out just like the Xavier game last year, more fans than you would expect rooting for the other team, a loud, energized crowd and a win.

-Josh Rexhausen

[jon b]

That's me too, Josh. I will cheer loudly for Huggins, but hope he never wins another game at the Shoe. I won't cheer for WVU.

[mlb]

I definitely think Huggins coming back to coach at the shoe will do a lot of healing. It certainly can't hurt, because I won't be rooting for WVU to win the game. It would be nice to see UC do something to honor him before that game, just a recognition that things didn't go down as they should have when he left and an olive branch of peace offered between him, his fans, and UC.

[jon b]

They can rename the Men's lockerroom after Bob. Then if UC loses, the first thing Mick can do is throw them out. :D :D

[Catmandu]

duplicate post

[Catmandu]

All right Cat, let's bet. I win you pay me the remaining $25 you owe me and if you win, we call it even. :D


You have been one of the biggest Huggins supporters, who are you rooting for when they come to play? There may be a Jarr or two in the arena who are former UC fans who might root against UC, but let's be clear there will not be any UC fans cheering for WVU. They might wish Huggins well, but you are not a fan if you root against your team.

Now as far as WVU bringing some folks, they will bring some, but even if they have 1000 in the Shoe, I don't think that constitutes a home game for them. It is very likely this game will headline packages that are sold and it will sell out thus making it harder for WVU to get tickets. Probably similar to this past year's Xavier game.

For the record everyone.. he didn't win the $25 in a bet with me... ;)
Stop by anytime.. haven't seen you in a while.. I'll get your $25 to you.. BUT.. no bet!

I never said I would root for WVU,, I do know that it will be a game I will want to attend and that when Huggins comes out he will get applause not boos.... I think that will be the extent. It may be UC's only sell out.

[Bearcat_DF]

I am of the same opinion. I will greet Huggins warmly, but after the ball is tipped - Go Cats!!

This change certainly makes my bet with Al more interesting. When I made the bet, I assumed Huggins would will a championship in the Big 12 before Cronin would win one in the Big East. A larger factor in that judgment was the strength of the BE over the Big 12. Now it is on equal footing - same conference, no excuses.

It may be a while before we get a winner to this one. WVU and UC share a common status in the BE - neither has won a championship in basketball.

If I had to guess, I would guess that U of L wins a BE championship before either, but it will be hard to move pass the top three - U Conn, Syracuse, and Georgetown.

Go Cats!
DF

[jon b]

DF, I forgot about the bet. Wow, this makes it very interesting now.

[Josh Rexhausen]

I assumed Huggins would will a championship in the Big 12 before Cronin would win one in the Big East.

Dude you lost that bet, I don't think Huggs will coach a game in the Big 12 again.:D I think a revision to the bet might need to be made.

And now it's a little harder for Huggs, Cronin has a year under his belt, already has only players he recruited, playing close to the way he wants to play. Huggs has no players he has recruited, a team playing a style that doesn't match his. I do wonder if having shooters might change his prefered type of player, if he can get them to play his kind of D, it could be an interesting team.

Back to the Cats, I am really looking forward to my second Deveroes summer game, I hope the Cats look better together this year than last.

[Bearcat_DF]

Josh,

The bet is who will win a championship first - Huggins or Cronin?
(I actually hope I lose the bet.)

I think people underestimate Huggins as a coach. Over the years, I've seen him use different strategies depending on the personnel he had. Granted, he recruited a specific type of player. Still, he coached to his personnel.

It will be interesting to see what he does with a team that won the NIT. I think if anyone has the edge between Huggins and Cronin, it is Huggins.

I'm curious about a program comparison. A while back, Jerry made an observation with which I am not sure I agree. He observed that Huggins had every ingredient to compete at the highest level. I've always disagreed because of the conference affiliation.

Recently, I've had an additional thought - WVU may have an advantage over UC in terms of fan support. UC is located in a region that has divided loyalties - in Cincy and in the state there are XU, OSU, and UK fans. At Huggins' press conference - the governor of the state was present! UC doesn't get that kind of support.

I don't know if WV has as deep of talent as Ohio does, but going forward, I imagine it will pretty hard to get a top rated recruit out of WV given all of the connections supporting WVU.

On the other hand, UC has to fight XU for local kids and OSU for in-state kids, and UK and U of L for regional kids.

It seems like a significant difference to me.

Another difference is that in 2004-5 WVU had a $39 mil AD budget and UC only had a $25 mil AD budget.

Go Cats!
DF