RE: Depth+Tough Schedule=Deep NCAA Run

[Gary Rowe]

We may not struggle to make the tourney, but I don't think making the tourney is a "slam dunk" this year. Let me put it this way, I think this year (making and succeeding in the tourney) will be a bigger challenge than any of the past several years and most likely the next several. The issue continues to be a lot of young improving players that may or may not consistently produce this year. I really thought we were on the right track after Oregon, but then our offense against Clemson was just terrible. 

But then again, I may be wrong. My track record on a per game basis this year is horrific. I thought we would beat Dayton, Xavier, and really blow away Clemson, but get absolutely buried by Oregon.



-----Original Message-----
From: Darryl Gilliam [mailto:address@hidden
Sent: Friday, January 03, 2003 4:33 PM
To: address@hidden
Subject: RE: [UC Basketball] Depth+Tough Schedule=Deep NCAA Run



I know that I have been spoiled over the past 11 years with the consistency of the cats but do you all really believe that we will struggle to make the tourney this year??...Contrary to Huggins I think that it is great that we are losing early if nothing else but to keep the cats humble, motivated, and hungry througout the season.  
If history has any predictive value.  Cincy performs better during the tourney when their backs were against the wall during the regular season.  
I believe that Huggs could have started the most talented team at the beginning of the season in order to win but instead he has chosen to teach the young players a lesson about what it means to be a Bearcat.  This team will be
 "Richmond, Dean" <address@hidden> wrote:I am not saying we will make the elite 8 either, but tell me.... Who was the
'defined leader' on our last elite 8 team. Answer... no one. A true team...
solid defensively, deep, disciplined, mentally tough, no Super-Stars. That
sounds a little like this year's team. We will see, but I would say that a
Conference Championship and the Sweet 16 would be a very good achievement
this year. The Elite 8? well, we can dream.

Next year? Let's just say that there may be problem because there is only
one ball and only five can play.

BTW. I know that many criticized our schedule this year, but it now looks
pretty good. The non-conference portion is better than expected and top to
bottom it looks like CUSA will have it's best year yet. Our RPI SOS was at
14 before last nights game. That is strong! Unlike some (Marquette, Duke,
Pittsburgh, etc.) we are playing solid competition with no REAL patsies. If
we finish the regular season 18-9 (my prediction) with a SOS 25-35 we will
be a lock for an 'at large' NCAA bid. I believe that our chances of winning
the Conference tourney are better than chances of winning the regular season
title. If we just continue to improve we will be fine. 

Dean Richmond



-----Original Message-----
From: Gary Rowe [mailto:address@hidden
Sent: Friday, January 03, 2003 2:00 PM
To: address@hidden
Subject: RE: [UC Basketball] Depth+Tough Schedule=Deep NCAA Run


IMHO and elite 8 run this year is highly unlikely. We have depth in several
positions only because nobody stands out...case in point...center. We are
highly inconsistent and really don't have a defined leader on the team.
There is no KMart, Nick, Steve... I wish I believed otherwise but I will
consider this year a coaching success story with a strong Conference USA
showing, a tournament bid and a first round victory.

As for next year I completely agree that we should be a top 5 team, and,
IMHO have a real shot at all the marbles. With all the talent we will have
next year, there may be issues with playing time, some discontent, but that
is the kind of problem we WANT to HAVE.

Gary

-----Original Message-----
From: Darryl Gilliam [mailto:address@hidden
Sent: Friday, January 03, 2003 10:51 AM
To: address@hidden
Subject: [UC Basketball] Depth+Tough Schedule=Deep NCAA Run



I know most of you will not agree with the subject line but I believe that
this years team may make a deep run in this years NCAA tourney for the
following two reasons:

Depth

This is the first Bearcat team in a VERY long time that could go 8-9 players
deep. 

This may at first appear to be a negative because there arent 5 very good
players on this team but I am a firm believer that teams with deep benches
go further in the tourney than teams with 5 good players but no bench help.
Not to mention the fact that this team will drastically improve over the
next two months. There arent a lot of teams in the country that could go
two deep at 4 of the 5 positions.

Schedule Strength

The non-conference schedule was tough but not nearly as tough as C-USA will
be this year. Louisville, Marquette, Memphis, and yes even East Carolina
will be very good this year. This will be the first time since the
inception of C-USA could end the season with four ranked teams. While this
may be the end of Cincy's long run as conference champs, this will help us
tremendously in the tourney. 

Over the past 5-7 years our problem has been lack of competition. There
were periods of stretches where we did not have to get up for our opponents
because they simply were not good. This is in stark contrast to the NCAA
tourney where you have to get up for every single game. Our adversity early
in the season and throughout C-USA play will make this team tough to beat
during the tourney.

Bottom Line: Look for an Elite Eight bid this year and a pre-season top 5
ranking this year.



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