optimism...

[KY Bearcat]

To put it simply, I'm tired of being a pissed off Bearcat fan and I have been trying desperately to be as optimistic as possible the last few days. My question is, do you honestly believe that this team was just a few missed free throws away from being a tournament team and finishing in the upper third of the BEast?

I'm thinking a lot about this, and I can't help but think about our numerous lackluster performances and meltdowns. I want to believe that this team is better than it's record, but I'm not so sure...

What is your outlook on this season and how it relates to our "progression" or lack there of? What makes you so sure that next season will be better when that's what we said going into this season?

[Thegreatone]

I will reserve judgement until after the season.

[shaunsimpson]

There is no doubt that there is progress in terms of results. Higher RPI, at least the same wins, postseason play in the NIT. It isn't what I wanted and not as much progress than I expected, but there was progress made. ASSUMING that one year under their belt will help the nerves at the line, getting the ball in bounds and improve their shooting.

We had more points scored by freshman than any Big East team. We have elder players, but they are not consistently contributers right now. I have optimism for sure, but a loss to a team I have never heard of in the NIT could hurt that. We need to get at least one win at home.

[Bearcat_NTS]

the fact that the 07 class flopped REALLY hurts the program, the '08 and '09 guys have been the team

[BeastUC]

To answer your first question,i don't honestly believe the team was a free throws made away from finish top 3rd in the conference,as there are plays that went our way in the end that could have also went the other way.
UConn,ND and Providence at home.
I was hoping the meltdowns was done,but we seen them in the Rutgers game and the WVU game.Almost in the UL game as well,but there was no foul on that final 3-point attempt.It was still not a good play in the end and could have been costly.

I see potential in the team,just as i did at the beginning of the season.
However,i also see potential in other conference teams as well and depending on who returns for those teams,it's gonna be very hard to move up in the conference.
We have a coach who is learning on the job in a big time conference which could be either good in the end or very costly and hurt the program even more depending on how long he's given to get it right.I'm hoping he gets it asap.

[shaunsimpson]

Free throws could have got us into the tournament. Being in the bottom 30 in the country is bad and there were at least 3 games that last minute FTs gave up leads.

[bearcat josh]

We just gotta hope and pray the light came on during these 3 games in the BEAST tourney. They played so hard that maybe they realize thats what its gonna take if UC wants to cement itself inthe upper tier of this conference.

[jlr1523]

Missed free throws and meltdowns at the end of games are what defines how good a team is. UC could have won many of the games they lost and probably should have. Faltering down the stretch is what separates the good teams from the bad. If you don't perform down the stretch (when a game matters the most), you're not a very good team. That is the way I view the Bearcats. Too many times they lost close games and not because they just missed out, but because they choked.

[coach]

i think despite the disappointment watching a team that isn't much better than us win the whole thing last night should be reason for encouragement. let's face it, butler made two absolute prayers to beat us and gtwn, and sometimes you need some luck. playing well in the nit would help this team for next year.

[bearcated]

Mick and the team have shown a flair for underachievement the past couple years. But, I'm looking at it as at least the key pieces are in place now (Gates, Wright, Stephenson). We'll see what happens next season.

[bearcated]

. playing well in the nit would help this team for next year. The NIT will help me determine if the effort in the BE tourney was a fluke, or if this squad has finally found their b@lls and is willing to play hard.