Does all the James White Video bother any one else?

[MST83]

I hate seeing it because to me James White's lack of maturity along with Mr. Deadlocks cost the team a likely NIT Championship. The two of them stopped going to class and could not play against the ultimate winner (USC) resulting in a close Quarterfinal loss.

I cannot stand to see him!

[BearcatAlum1]

It's the NIT..........not too concerned about it.

It doesn't bother me at all.

[JimmyHubbardLove]

It's the NIT..........not too concerned about it.

It doesn't bother me at all.

Am I wrong or doesn't winning the NIT have something to do with your chances of going to the NCAA tournament the next year? Winning an NIT championship is a much bigger deal than you are making it.

[BearcatAlum1]

It was not indicative for the future success of the program......at that time.

Kennedy was not being retained. He had not been recruiting (at least much) for UC.

We were graduating a plethora of impact seniors and didn't have much else on the roster.

I would be more troubled if the two were underclassmen and returning for the next season, rather than two seniors that didn't give a shi*.

I understand your argument, but don't think it applies in this case.

The NIT can be a great learning tool to help a young team that is unfamiliar with post-season play for the NEXT season.............and we all know how the next season turned out.

[bacsidoan]

I hate seeing it because to me James White's lack of maturity along with Mr. Deadlocks cost the team a likely NIT Championship. The two of them stopped going to class and could not play against the ultimate winner (USC) resulting in a close Quarterfinal loss.

I cannot stand to see him!

The interim coach should have been blamed as much as the players.

[Bearcat Revival]

Thing that pisses me off about the Great "Flight White" video is that he sucked compared to all the hype we heard before he was eligible. He was very underwhelming in his UC career. Outside of dunks, he was painfully average IMO.

[CincyEngGrad02]

The interim coach should have been blamed as much as the players.

haha what was AK supposed to do, physically make them go to classes? Some of you live in a dream world.

I couldn't care less about the NIT. Its a loser's tournament.

[BearcatAlum1]

Thing that pisses me off about the Great "Flight White" video is that he sucked compared to all the hype we heard before he was eligible. He was very underwhelming in his UC career. Outside of dunks, he was painfully average IMO.

I thought he was a very solid player.

Good passer, handled well for a guy 6'6"-6'7", shot the ball well, solid defender, etc.

He was very skinny and got muscled sometimes on the boards, but he was a very, very solid player, IMO.

I would absolutely LOVE to have Flight on this team.

[nolte50uc]

normally, i wouldn't be to excitied about an NIT championship, but that year would have been really nice to have that. with all the drama going on at the time, that would have been great. i remember the NIT games at the Shoe having an electric vibe to them.

oh - and what videos are you referring to?

[ucgrd]

oh - and what videos are you referring to?

I was wondering the same thing...:confused:

[BearcatRob33]

normally, i wouldn't be to excitied about an NIT championship, but that year would have been really nice to have that. with all the drama going on at the time, that would have been great. i remember the NIT games at the Shoe having an electric vibe to them.

oh - and what videos are you referring to?

I think he's referencing the intro video before the game starts. It doesn't bother me that he's on there so much, but there's probably others that could be featured that are missing.

[Helicopter]

The interim coach should have been blamed as much as the players.

Your right Coach should've told them to go to class. Not sure why he didn't....

[chrislewis]

I think he's referencing the intro video before the game starts.

I haven't been able to make it to a game yet this year (an 8 month old will do that to you) but do they still have the Donald Little shot vs. Marquette on the intro? I would think that would be more upsetting than seeing James White considering the circumstances that initiated Donald's departure.

I was at that Marquette game too. As soon as he shot it quite a few of us yelled, "No. No. No." And when it went in we all went nuts. I knew he had that jumper in him. :)

[Not Guilty]

haha what was AK supposed to do, physically make them go to classes? Some of you live in a dream world.

I couldn't care less about the NIT. Its a loser's tournament.

He could have not played them if they weren't going to class. That is generally a good enough wake up call for players not going to class, especially one with pro aspirations like White. Are you really going to act like you wouldn't blame Mick if this happened while he was at UC?

These two greatly contributed to the serious academic problems UC faced when Cronin was hired...

[McMickenKid]

haha what was AK supposed to do, physically make them go to classes? Some of you live in a dream world.

I couldn't care less about the NIT. Its a loser's tournament.

This has nothing to do with losing the NIT. Its about the realization that White and Jihad Muhammed are degenerates who should not be celebrated.

[bearcated]

Doesn't bother me. he was a good player.

[ZCat]

Flight was a very good player. That is why he was on 1-2 (or a few?) NBA rosters. I know he didn't play much or long. Everyone wants Herb Jones or NVE or KMart. He wasn't that but I'll take a player of his caliber evrey year.

I see Jihad from time to time. He is actually a very quiet and nice guy. I never asked about the going to class thing as I don't know him well, but if I see him again I'll ask him if he wants to comment on it. I am sure they feel bad about it. Let it go. There are many players whom have made mistakes which didn't help us or them (Players going pro early like KSat, Dontonio, players with DUI's whom made us look bad, D Little).

[BearcatAlum1]

This has nothing to do with losing the NIT. Its about the realization that White and Jihad Muhammed are degenerates who should not be celebrated.

I buy that argument. I didn't look at it that way, but you raise a valid point.

Off with their heads!

[ZCat]

This has nothing to do with losing the NIT. Its about the realization that White and Jihad Muhammed are degenerates who should not be celebrated.

Man, tell me, Mr McMicken, you ever miss class?? I am sure if they knew they would be ruled ineligible they wouldn't have done it. Basketball is their life. They made a mistake. Someone in compliance or the staff has to held accountable too.

[BearcatRob33]

I haven't been able to make it to a game yet this year (an 8 month old will do that to you) but do they still have the Donald Little shot vs. Marquette on the intro? I would think that would be more upsetting than seeing James White considering the circumstances that initiated Donald's departure.

I was at that Marquette game too. As soon as he shot it quite a few of us yelled, "No. No. No." And when it went in we all went nuts. I knew he had that jumper in him. :)

I can't recall whether they have that in there, but I know they used to have a lot of Corey Blount footage, and that they took it all out once he got arrested for drug trafficking.

[PakMan]

Man, tell me, Mr McMicken, you ever miss class?? I am sure if they knew they would be ruled ineligible they wouldn't have done it. Basketball is their life. They made a mistake. Someone in compliance or the staff has to held accountable too.

Actually, Andy Kennedy was VERY aware of them not going to class as was most of the athletic department and many students. And while I can't say that AK condoned it, he definitely didn't do much to remedy it.

AK found out early on that he wasn't getting the job on a permanent basis, so he did very little to help anyone outside of himself. And really, I can't say that I'm mad at him for that, I might have done the same thing.

But let's not make these guys out to be renegades or troublemakers, or anything like that.

[dp3113]

I hate seeing it because to me James White's lack of maturity along with Mr. Deadlocks cost the team a likely NIT Championship. The two of them stopped going to class and could not play against the ultimate winner (USC) resulting in a close Quarterfinal loss.

I cannot stand to see him!

who care about the NIT? The NIT is a joke. Celebrating an NIT tournament championship is like celebrating winning a consolation bracket. Honestly, I would prefer if any and all NIT banners in Shoemaker were taken down- you celebrate excellence, not mediocrity- and that is all the NIT is.

[BearcatRob33]

who care about the NIT? The NIT is a joke. Celebrating an NIT tournament championship is like celebrating winning a consolation bracket. Honestly, I would prefer if any and all NIT banners in Shoemaker were taken down- you celebrate excellence, not mediocrity- and that is all the NIT is.

I would argue that the winner of the NIT could on most years beat a good many of the NCAA tournament teams, so I would classify them as bit more than mediocre.

[Jmac84]

who care about the NIT? The NIT is a joke. Celebrating an NIT tournament championship is like celebrating winning a consolation bracket. Honestly, I would prefer if any and all NIT banners in Shoemaker were taken down- you celebrate excellence, not mediocrity- and that is all the NIT is.

I agree that the NIT is a complete joke now, but taking down NIT banners is a little silly. Most of us know that at one point it was THE premier tournament, but it has lost most of it's luster in the past 20 years. Now "name" teams that don't make the NCAA tourney are the first ones invited, not the next best teams.

Anyway, this thread is ridiculous in my opinion. James White was a treat to have at UC. He averaged 16.3 points a game, 5.1 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and a block a game his senior year. He is one of the best dunkers of his generation and he was a leader on that team that should have gone to the NCAA's. Remember the heartbreak when we found out we didn't get in? And we didn't lift one finger working towards that. Imagine how the players felt. They worked their a$$es off to make the NCAA tourney, not the NIT. I'd also guess that they knew Kennedy was on his way out and the program was about to take a downward turn that could have been somewhat alleviated with a tourney trip. If I were them I certainly wouldn't have wanted to play in the NIT either.

[Jmac84]

Also I realize the NIT was not the premier tournament 20 years ago either, but it still had some significance until then, I feel like. Just wanted to clarify.

[CincyEngGrad02]

This has nothing to do with losing the NIT. Its about the realization that White and Jihad Muhammed are degenerates who should not be celebrated.

I'm fine with that.

[milfordcats]

While White may not embody the type of athlete we want here at UC, the pregame videos are designed to get players and fans pumped up right? And really his dunks are some of the best we have...so it serves his purpose

[CincyEngGrad02]

He could have not played them if they weren't going to class. That is generally a good enough wake up call for players not going to class, especially one with pro aspirations like White. Are you really going to act like you wouldn't blame Mick if this happened while he was at UC?

These two greatly contributed to the serious academic problems UC faced when Cronin was hired...

If I would blame Cronin for something like this, it would be in jest. I'm very adamant about coaches not being babysitters.

[dp3113]

I would argue that the winner of the NIT could on most years beat a good many of the NCAA tournament teams, so I would classify them as bit more than mediocre.

that might be true but that's not my point. is not in the NCAA tournament and its celebrating victory in a second rate tournament.

[Cincy_Line]

White is so awesome.

[Scheids21]

Just supposed to pump up the crowd with all his dunks...doesnt bother me

[david aka the TYZ]

I was very upset with White and Muhammed when they quit going to classes. In fact when White was in the college dunk contest a few weeks later, I was pissed to see him in a Bearcats jersey. He quit on this team and I didn't want to see him in our jersey anymore. I blame the coaches as much as the players if not more so. The coaches definately should've made sure they were in classes as they knew the ramifications. The players might not have, although as seniors I'm sure they did. Honestly at the time it soured me on Kennedy as well because he let it happen. As far as the NIT is concerned, yeah it's a consolation tournament, but I'd rather win it than lose in the quarterfinals. If you don't want to play in a "loser's" bracket, then don't accept the bid. Anytime you step on the court pride alone should make you want to win. White and Muhammaed let their teammates and fans down. Anyone who is fine with it solely because it was the NIT I just don't understand. We had a chance to prove the NCAA tourney committee wrong. Winning the NIT could've helped get slightly better recruits to want to come in. Could've made Devan Downey want to stay (probably not, but you never know -- his teammates quitting on him did piss him off and could've helped sour him on the university.) Who knows, winning the NIT could've changed the university's mind on Kennedy. They couldn't have been too happy with him not making sure his players went to class.

To get on the original topic of the thread, highlight videos don't bother me as much because they are just highlights and White had more than his share. But everytime I see or hear their names my mind immediately goes to my thoughts above and I just shake my head. I also find it funny that the commercial for basketball tickets has highlights of Kenyon on them. It's like their telling us "We know we're not as good as we were 10 years ago, but come spend your money anyway." I think when you promote this team you should show highlights of this team not immediately remind us of what we're missing on this team.

[ou_bearcat]

Flight White!!

[JGood]

I hate seeing it because to me James White's lack of maturity along with Mr. Deadlocks cost the team a likely NIT Championship. The two of them stopped going to class and could not play against the ultimate winner (USC) resulting in a close Quarterfinal loss.

I cannot stand to see him!

no james white was a pimp, yeah he messed up at the end, but you cant overlook what dude did here at the nati,...plus aint nothing like putting nba live 2010 for the 360 and signing james white, he is a baller.

plus it was the nit....