gaines vrs player who i will boo at st johns

[Joco45215]

I will probably get told I'm stupid and my posts are horrible yet again by a certain source. But i think Gaines will be ok, great defense as far as shot blocking last season, a couple of years banging on Gates. Tall and long. If he can give me 6 pts, 7 rebs, a block or two a game. I'm good with that. Maybe shaq can help in the high post, but **** these are the cards we are playing so let's enjoy some winning!

[red_n_black_attack]

Originally Posted by Joco45215

I will probably get told I'm stupid and my posts are horrible yet again by a certain source. But i think Gaines will be ok, great defense as far as shot blocking last season, a couple of years banging on Gates. Tall and long. If he can give me 6 pts, 7 rebs, a block or two a game. I'm good with that. Maybe shaq can help in the high post, but **** these are the cards we are playing so let's enjoy some winning!

You are right on the money! We need to support the players who choose to be here and work hard for the University of Cincinnati. I cannot fault Mick for attempting to bring in an immediate impact talent and know that we have a pipeline of big guys who can show their improvement to fill Gates role. Gaines and Shaq will step up.

[KY Bearcat]

Couldn't agree more. I've always been high on Gaines and I believe he is capable of doing everything for us that Obekpa may have done.

[Joco45215]

Originally Posted by KY Bearcat

Couldn't agree more. I've always been high on Gaines and I believe he is capable of doing everything for us that Obekpa may have done.

That's what it sounds like, I don't see much of an upgrade from what ive seen or read. We just need post presence for defense and rebounding. Looks like Gaines can run so maybe some put backs and lobs?

[JDBEARCAT]

Originally Posted by red_n_black_attack

You are right on the money! We need to support the players who choose to be here and work hard for the University of Cincinnati. I cannot fault Mick for attempting to bring in an immediate impact talent and know that we have a pipeline of big guys who can show their improvement to fill Gates role. Gaines and Shaq will step up.

Both of you guys are what our program needs. Fans that are positive & believe in what Mic, the staff & players are doing. Gaines will be a very
good player. Defense 1st then the offense will come around. I'm excited
about our team. Can't wait for the season to start.

[BCat 4Ever]

I said during the suspensions last yr that Gaines will be a factor on this team. If he works hard he can be dominant, whether Obekpa came or not.
I've stated it more than once that I have supported Mic throughout his career but a little concerning we keep losing guys to St. John's (Gods Gift and Obekpa). We have not one recruit from the top 100 this year and I agree w/Mic not using a scholarship just to use it but if we can't get any top recruits we're going to continue to have extra scholarships every year (we did last yr too). Have to have a couple of big recruits to win a Big East and National Championship. I love the experience we have w/guys that weren't 4 or 5 stars but it's hard to win with inexperienced 3 star guys and guys that rode the bench last yr.
Not being negative just a little concerning.....all in all I think we're going to be real good this coming year. I didn't see anyone mention Titus coming....I think he'll help a lot.

[bearcat18]

Originally Posted by BCat 4Ever

I said during the suspensions last yr that Gaines will be a factor on this team. If he works hard he can be dominant, whether Obekpa came or not.
I've stated it more than once that I have supported Mic throughout his career but a little concerning we keep losing guys to St. John's (Gods Gift and Obekpa). We have not one recruit from the top 100 this year and I agree w/Mic not using a scholarship just to use it but if we can't get any top recruits we're going to continue to have extra scholarships every year (we did last yr too). Have to have a couple of big recruits to win a Big East and National Championship. I love the experience we have w/guys that weren't 4 or 5 stars but it's hard to win with inexperienced 3 star guys and guys that rode the bench last yr.
Not being negative just a little concerning.....all in all I think we're going to be real good this coming year. I didn't see anyone mention Titus coming....I think he'll help a lot.

UC accepted Cheikh's commitment before God's Gift visited campus. We had 1 scholarship remaining and it was basically first come first serve. Cheikh visited before God's Gift, committed on his visit, and God's Gift never had a chance.

[Thegreatone]

I saw Gaines at a football game last year and he looked like dwight howard. Big shoulders and towered the other bball players.

Crazy leaping ability.

No basketball skill. You can teach that but it wont be easy.

[OCASCM07]

I remember back in March after we lost to that team up north that I said Gaines will be a huge impact player for us this year and it's okay if Obekpa sits the pine with a redshirt. I still stand by that prediction. Gaines will have a great summer of getting better and getting smarter when it comes to body positioning and reaction. He'll only be a sophomore also which means there will still be times when we will get mad at an ill-timed decision but hopefully those don't come in late game situations. As for Obekpa best of luck at St. John's but I hope Gaines and Jackson throw a block party for you.

[Lobot]

Originally Posted by OCASCM07

I remember back in March after we lost to that team up north that I said Gaines will be a huge impact player for us this year and it's okay if Obekpa sits the pine with a redshirt. I still stand by that prediction. Gaines will have a great summer of getting better and getting smarter when it comes to body positioning and reaction. He'll only be a sophomore also which means there will still be times when we will get mad at an ill-timed decision but hopefully those don't come in late game situations. As for Obekpa best of luck at St. John's but I hope Gaines and Jackson throw a block party for you.

Obekpa only shoots the ball off garbage rebounds and run outs based on his own video so block party might be a stretch.

[Bp4thebest]

Originally Posted by OCASCM07

I remember back in March after we lost to that team up north that I said Gaines will be a huge impact player for us this year and it's okay if Obekpa sits the pine with a redshirt. I still stand by that prediction. Gaines will have a great summer of getting better and getting smarter when it comes to body positioning and reaction. He'll only be a sophomore also which means there will still be times when we will get mad at an ill-timed decision but hopefully those don't come in late game situations. As for Obekpa best of luck at St. John's but I hope Gaines and Jackson throw a block party for you.

Its hard to take your "predictions" that you hold by serious because Obepka woulda been a juco transfer. Red shirting him would of been the most unheard of thing ever.

[Joco45215]

Originally Posted by Bp4thebest

Its hard to take your "predictions" that you hold by serious because Obepka woulda been a juco transfer. Red shirting him would of been the most unheard of thing ever.

Obepka would had been a true freshman.

On a side note if Gaines plays over seas again this season or practices with a low post coach, he's still a redshirt Soph. He could be relevant in a small part of the half court game. These are a lot of big if's It's hard to tell what kind a drive the guy has. I never heard Cronin say he works hard. But heck the light goes on in some players later. CM just didn't look to me like a big east caliber player last year. But like unsaid the light goes on in different times

[OCASCM07]

Originally Posted by Bp4thebest

Its hard to take your "predictions" that you hold by serious because Obepka woulda been a juco transfer. Red shirting him would of been the most unheard of thing ever.

That was also when we had Ellis and a deeper interior. Mick would've done that for Biggie if we would've had that depth when he was a freshman because of his offensive ineptitude.

[swilsonsp4]

Originally Posted by Joco45215

I will probably get told I'm stupid and my posts are horrible yet again by a certain source. But i think Gaines will be ok, great defense as far as shot blocking last season, a couple of years banging on Gates. Tall and long. If he can give me 6 pts, 7 rebs, a block or two a game. I'm good with that. Maybe shaq can help in the high post, but **** these are the cards we are playing so let's enjoy some winning!

When Gaines was signed, what I had heard was that he was a project. He probably still is. That's not to say I'm down on him, but he's not going to see more than spot play at this point; give someone else a blow, rebound, block shots and, probably, commit some fouls. I wouldn't look for much scoring in 2012-13.

The player who has to step us this year is Mbodj. He's likely to see more floor time than Gaines and should be beyond his junior season jitters, which he exhibited from time-to-time (not to mention his ouchy ankle).

[Joco45215]

It is tough when Mic has battles with other coaches, other schools, for not a top ten player and constantly for lack of a better term "out recruited" but let's face the facts he's not really won anything as a coach, or developed players for the next level. Kids want to play for proven commodities. The trip to the sweet 16 is a start, let's build on it. If the former coach hadn't went to the final 4 in 91-92, UC probably doesn't have the Danny Fortsons, Damon Flints, Kenyon Martins, Steve Logans, Bobby Brannen could have gone to X. That trip put UC in the top ten elite for 10 years. It's the same way with all programs, cept a few who are power houses year in and out.....Cronin still has a lot of upside as a coach, UC has a lot of upside left as a program. I like our chances as fans.

[ucfan34]

Wall O' text warning!
I disagree with a lot of what you've said, so I'll politely counter.

Originally Posted by Joco45215

It is tough when Mic has battles with other coaches, other schools, for not a top ten player and constantly for lack of a better term "out recruited".

It is a bummer Mick has seemed to loose out on most of the high profile recruits, but I think it's safe to say that that the quality of his recruits has continued to improve. No reason to think that trend wont continue. Mick did land Lance S.

but let's face the facts he's not really won anything as a coach, or developed players for the next level.

Mick's teams have improved (in win total) every year he's been here, and I would also argue that most of the players on the team are showing noticable improvement from year to year as well.

I'm of the opinion that a coach developing players for the next level is overrated. If Mic lands top 10 recruits, we would expect those recruits to be one of the 10 best players of their class, and thus wind up in the NBA. I'd point back to my first rebuttle above on recruiting. As the quality of the recruit goes up, so does the likelyhood that a player will wind up at "the next level".

And I ask with complete sincerity, can you (or anyone) name a coach who consistantly devolops "next level" players that isn't at a traditional powerhouse?

Kids want to play for proven commodities. The trip to the sweet 16 is a start, let's build on it. If the former coach hadn't went to the final 4 in 91-92, UC probably doesn't have the Danny Fortsons, Damon Flints, Kenyon Martins, Steve Logans, Bobby Brannen could have gone to X.

I agree that kids do want to play for the proven teams, and the sweet 16 is an excellent start to getting the Bearcats back to being one of those teams. I'll agree that UC probably wouldn't have gotten some of the players you've listed without the 91-92 final four, but after 91-92 UC has only had 2 "better" seasons than the one we just had. The one we just had was also done with "lesser" players against better compitition.

That trip put UC in the top ten elite for 10 years.

Yeah, but they don't hang banners for top ten finishes.

Cronin still has a lot of upside as a coach, UC has a lot of upside left as a program. I like our chances as fans.

On this I 100% agree.

Also, I'm so glad Mick appears to be a lifer. I'm sooo pumped about the success that the football team has had, but I feel like it's only a matter of time before Butch moves on and UC takes a step back. Maybe not with the next coach or two, but eventually. They can't keep landing solid coaches forever. (I realize I'm all doom & gloom on this. I'm generally pretty optimistic, but this is my rainy cloud.) Mick / Basketball on the other hand feels like a cornerstone of UC athletics that will be around for some time.

Lastly, your sig!
Eric Hicks is my favorite Bearcat. If you look up words (figuritivly) like tenacity, hard work, or heart & soul you'll get Eric Hicks. I had a class with him (and a few other players) while I was at UC. He was as humble & down to earth as they come. The Eric Hicks of the world don't come around very often.

That being said, Yancy Gates had way more heart than he'll ever be given credit for (along with the rest of the team). No team without heart responds the way they did after the X debacle.

[Joco45215]

That signature has been on there for a few years, had Erik been blessed with Yancy's size Erik would have been the first pick in the NBA Draft....IMO

[OCASCM07]

Originally Posted by Joco45215

That signature has been on there for a few years, had Erik been blessed with Yancy's size Erik would have been the first pick in the NBA Draft....IMO

Agreed stated like that or reversed to say if Yancy had Eric's tenacity he would be a lottery pick.

[Bp4thebest]

guys.. Eric Hicks.. ERIC. Some peoples post make them seem like they are a first or second year basketball fan with not much knowledge of the college game back in high school

[BearCatMarcher]

Originally Posted by Bp4thebest

guys.. Eric Hicks.. ERIC. Some peoples post make them seem like they are a first or second year basketball fan with not much knowledge of the college game back in high school

And there'd be nothing wrong with that because new fans are good fans.