Yes, I said I was going to turn it off and yes, I ended up watching anyways. The biggest difference IMO was Mick sticking the same 7-8 guys and letting them play. What happens when he does that? We're capable of going on an actual run, players get more involved and excited...

The first half had a lineup at one point of Biggie, Thomas, Dixon, Davis, and Parker. I understand that coaches will yank a starter to send a message. I understand they will yank their entire 5 as well. Mick wasn't doing either. Biggie was in a couple separate times and so was Davis. These weren't messages being sent IMO, it was him tinkering WAY TOO MUCH. You can say, well he was trying different things to see what worked. Ok, well he was wrong. It didn't work. Biggie had no points and 1 RB, Davis had big fat zero once again.

Look, I'm happy they won. I'm even happier I decided to watch the 2nd half but I'm still befuddled by whatever he thought he was doing. You think I'd be used to his patterns, or lack thereof, but last night was one of the worst. It just makes no sense. None. I have to wonder if his subs last night were worse b/c he was trying to "outcoach" Pitino.

You can disagree with my complaining but the proof is the pudding. His subs did not work and when he stopped playing the people I was griping about we looked like a new team. Mick's got a solid team. They rebound and play D well, especially when they're amped up. If he just would let these kids get some minutes strung together...

Am I wrong here? What has he been, is he thinking? I don't get it.

Looking back at the seasons under Mick Cronin, I've collected a few pieces of information that are interesting to look at in terms of wins and losses, in light of the criticism aimed at Mick.

Side note: How many of the following players do you actually remember? :confused:

2006/07 Wins over XU, Lousiville and WVU
Roster contained players with a total of 4 basketball letters:
Ronald Allen, Connor Barwin, Timmy Crowell, Marvin Gentry,Adam Hrycaniuk, Walter Lewis, Cedric McGowan, Branden Miller, Marcus Sikes, Deonta Vaughn, Jamual Warren, Mike Williams, John Williamson

2007/08 Wins over Syracuse, Villanova and Pitt
Roster with 7 letters
Kenny Belton, Rashad Bishop, Larry Davis, Marvin Gentry, Adam Hrycaniuk, Anthony McClain, Branden Miller, Alvin Mitchell, Marcus Sikes, Deonta Vaughn,
Jamual Warren, Darnell Wilks, Mike Williams, John Williamson

2008/09 Wins over Miss St, Georgetown (2), Notre Dame and WVU
Roster had 10 letters:
Kenny Belton, Rashad Bishop, Larry Davis, Dion Dixon, Yancy Gates, Anthony McClain, Branden Miller, Steve Toyloy, Eddie Tyree, Deonta Vaughn, Darnell Wilks, Mike Williams, Cashmere Wright

2009/10 Wins over Vandy, Maryland, UCnn (2), Notre Dame, Louisville and ...?
Roster had 14 letters:
Rashad Bishop, Larry Davis, Dion Dixon, Alex Eppensteiner, Yancy Gates, Sean Kilpatrick, Anthony McBride, Anthony McClain, Jaquon Parker, Lance Stephenson, Ibrahima Thomas, Steve Toyloy, Eddie Tyree, Deonta Vaughn, Darnell Wilks, Cashmere Wright

2010/11
Assuming all eligible players return this roster will have 21 letters

what you think?

If the Bearcats lose tonight to WVU, have they done enough to get back into the good graces of the selection committee?

In several of my articles, I've said the 'Cats dreams of making the NCAA's was dead several games ago. But the L'Ville win - 2nd win in a row - coupled with the two UConn wins, the win over Maryland (#2 in the ACC) and the win over Vandy (high up in the SEC), its seeming more plausible to me that they could start being mentioned.

What do you guys think? Of course, a win over WVU is the only want to secure anything, but I'm interested in what might happen if we don't pull off a second straight upset.

NO, I'm not talking about running the BET table and securing the automatic bid.

I'm talking about the feeling in March that we experienced so often. It is hard to describe, but it is a combination of anxiety, excitement, hope and fear (some might get these feelings for other reasons....:confused:).

While the season has not worked out as we all thought after Maui, we have a pulse in March. We're now 18-14 (7-11). I think we need to advance to the BET finals to receive an at-large bid, but we have a chance.

Every game is an elimination game. Every game could be our last. We're fighting for our lives.

This was apparent when Yancy picked up his 3rd foul with 12 minutes remaining in the game and Mick pulled him out against Yancy's wishes. Yancy was out of the game for about 30 seconds then re-entered. I would guarantee that Mick told him he had 3 fouls and we need him on the floor to win, so be smart and don't commit stupid fouls.

That's desperation. That's playing with abandonment. That's the do or die attitude we all love. We may lose, but we're going to lose with our best on the floor. I love that attitude.

As it even needs mentioning, huge game tonight against our former coach and WVA. We can put ourselves back into the discussion with a win. Effort, energy and concentration.

Win or lose, I'm glad to have a pulse in March again.

Is anyone else surprised that Bishop has not been missed at all? Wilks is making the most of his opportunity for minutes. I have not been a Bishop fan, but I must admit that he had shown improvement this year.

Next year the Cats lose Vaughn and Toyloy - I for one think this team is better without Vaughn. I love what he has done for this program, but he seems to have lost athleticism. Who plays a bigger role next year - Wilks or Bishop?

Look out Cronin and the Cats are back! Time for Cronin to show Huggins why he was fired and why Cronin is the future of the city of Cincinnati. Big game tonight, any predictions?
I say Toyloy goes off for 10 & 10 and Parker finishes with 19 points, game winning 3 at the buzzer. Stephenson not a very good game but he'll be ready for the next one.

I am sure a lot of you have noticed that I've closed or delete a lot of threads whose titles are too generic. When you start a thread, put in a title that makes the subject of the thread very clear. One word titles are never good and will get the thread deleted.

I've been saying all year that Steve Toyloy does NOT deserve major minutes...and I think the Louisville game helped confirm this. Despite being a somewhat effective rebounder (and apparently hard practicer), he absolutely KILLS us on the defensive end (too slow to guard anybody) and brings next to nothing on offense. Why it took Mick until the second round of the BE Tourney to realize this baffles me. IMO, the minutes he takes up are much more valuable if spread across more effective players like Wilks (how well did he play against UL?) or going with a smaller lineup of guards like Cash, JP, or Dixon. The fact that Bishop was suspended for the Louisville game only bolsters this argument. Having said that, I'm not implying he should never see the floor. When Gates or Thomas get into foul trouble or need a blow, he can definitely give a few valuable spot minutes...but playing him major minutes like Mick has for a majority of the 2nd half of the season (and allowing him to start several of those games) was just absurd, IMO. Kudos to Mick for finally making the adjustment.

Why does Mick Cronin never clap on the sidelines or even Praise his players

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It seems to me he wants to be a yeller and a screamer during games. Why can't he be positive and smile and enjoy it and clap and smack players on the butt. That will motivate them and we will see more good plays. I can't stand to see MICK on the TV when they show him. He is always yelling and being mean. That approach isn't working. He needs to change.


I took this quote from some clown who posted it earlier...I DVR'ed the UL game and sir...if you watch the game...Cronin goes nuts every possession and is constantly clapping and supporting his players.

i've been shot down for my dislike for wilks not getting more playing time, see marquette little guys scoring at will with him not hitting the court, but does it not appear that this team has fed off of his energy in these two games? with the exception of ls, he's the first guy this year who has shown some serious enthusiasm out there. maybe his extended minutes have boosted his confidence but gifts come in strange packages. his dunk and foul and the chest bump with stephenson were a glimmer of hope in what has been a dark year. thanks dw.

by the way, it doesn't help he's made some shots. ha ha!

This is how I felt at halftime.......... Did anyone else feel this???? I felt like good things were going to happen because louisville shot like 7-10 from the 3 pt line. I mean that was incredible!! I thought to myself there is no way they can do that in the 2nd half (even if they are wide open) Jay bilas and Bill raferty kept saying Louisville helped cincy out in the 2nd half...... Well what they didn't mentioned was that Louisville nailed a ton of 3 pointers!!

I think you got a nice glimpse of 2010-2011 tonight.

Loved the Cash, JaQuon, Lance, Thomas, Yancy lineup.

Need Dion and Kilpatrick to be contributors as well as Wilks.

Those 2 guys played great!!!! Wilks takes the ball to the rim hard! he doesn't try to lay it in.

Putting VAUGHN in at the end of the game almost cost us the win when he turned it over.
I can't believe im gonna say this but "great coaching move by keeping vaughn out of the game late"

Mick not trying to "outcoach" Pitino in the 2nd half. Get your 7-8 guys in check and quit dicking around every few minutes. Anybody have a Biggie, Dixon, Davis sighting in the 2nd half? Nope. Let the damn kids play. Quit being cute. The time for what we saw in the 1st was in Nov-Dec. I almost think the stage these kids are playing on is elevating their play IN SPITE OF THE COACH. Come at me all you want, that's what I see. Be smart Mick, run the 7 man lineup you ran tonight on the 2nd half for the entire game tomorrow.

Subject says it all.

Great comeback win. Bring on WVU.

"...they have the talent to beat teams; but they won't, because they have no fight, no heart, and no leadership."

This bluntly summarizes our once nationally prominent basketball program who used to thrive and be recognized specifically for its fight and heart.

When a nationally recognized and respected analysts who can even be considered a supporter of this program is saying this on national television, its not good.

I just wanted dibs on that title. Have at it......

I welcome anyone to tell me why this guy sees the floor, much less the minutes he's getting. He's an average defender at best, and that's being generous. Here's his stats over the last 4 games:

WVU---16min, 0 points, 0 asst, 1rb,
Nova---18min, 0 points, 2 asst, 5 rb
GT------15min, 0 points, 3 asst, 0 rb
Rutg---14min, 0 points, 0 asst, 0 rb

His numbers for the year: 13.7 mpg, 3.3ppg, .8 apg, 1.4rpg, .4 spg, 1.0 TOpg... He's shooting .257 from 3 and 30% from the field.

Can't we spread those 14 minutes he's getting around to other players? Why does Mick keep playing him? I can't come up with one reason. Look at those numbers in the last 4 games, it's absolutely pathetic. A whole lot of zeros.....