Re: Cats Win -- Cats Win -- Cats Win

From: zahid javaid
Date: 02 Mar 2003 - 01:39 AM EST

A few other things (like you aren't sick of me already) is that I know Huggs HATES to lose, that is strength, but that is also why he won't sacrifice a win for improving down the road, why he won't play freshman as much and why he recruits a few too many juco's. Also, it may be why he doesn't play a stronger schedule. I think it would help him more too, to match wits with better coaches, even if he has to do a 2 for 1 away / home every couple years with a really good program. The other thing, and I know many of you won't like that last and next comment, but: Huggs has this dream of coacing in the NBA, and he doesn't know when the right job will open, and he doesn't want to miss it by having a down year while he takes a freshman recruit over a juco, etc. (= down year = not the hot name when NBA jobs come open) (IMHO).
Zahid

From: "zahid javaid" <address@hidden>
Reply-To: address@hidden
To: address@hidden
Subject: Re: [UC Basketball] Cats Win -- Cats Win -- Cats Win
Date: Sun, 02 Mar 2003 01:23:52 -0500

So many good things and bad this year:
The thing is with the CATS, is b/c of their up and down play, you can't expect a string of wins. However, on the bright side: we are still good enough that we could squeak out 2 NCAA wins (Huggs has to get credit here), which is better than most of the last few years. On the dim side, we could lose nearly every game. My whole "negativity" in my posts is just that I want more from this program, and honestly expected much more, as I have been following the CATS since ~ 1984. Especially after Huggs over-achieved with all those teams in his early years, I really thought once he got talent (we won't debate if he has talent or not this year) we would be Sweet 16 or final 8 locks 3/4 years. Didn't we all feel that way and talk about, if Huggs had Steve Fishers talent, etc., etc. It has been too many years of offensive offense. One year it's: can't ball handle, another it's can't solve a zone, another it's can't shoot. In general it has been: hard nosed players, playing hard, great D, rebounding, etc., etc. Plus, very average offense for a program of our stature. I agree with Huggs comments tonight about: the old teams would always beat the teams they should beat. That is his strength. We always do that, and his goal is gettign a good seed in the tourney with all those regular season wins. I would say, sacrifice more regular season wins if you have to while you develop your bench and players, get a slightly lower seed and take your chances. WHat I disagree with that Huggs said tonight was about "making shots". It is not a coincidence that we never make shots. He doesn't like to make excuses, so I don't know why he does on that point, b/c the people under him (coaches and players) start to believe it ("we'll win if we just make shots"). I think Dan Peters or Andy Kennedy even said it on the pre game show (b/4 L-ville). They did make shots that day, but they are acting as if their offense is perfect, and it is just bad luck that you don't score. BTW, very classy of Huggs ( I am not surprised) about the bowtie and speaking to the ill Larry Finch. My prayers go out to him.

I do feel everyone plays hard come tourney time, so one advantage we have in regular season (playing hard), is less of one in the tourney. That is where our defense can't overcome bad offense. Huggs also does beat the teams he should, which may give us an actual, overrating. however, I love the big wins! I don't care that OkSt. was not tall and it helped that they ran a slow paced game, and that Oregon was overrated and L-ville had their problems, I was darn glad to beat those top teams. I guess I'd trade a Depaul loss for a win vs. top 5 team/team ranked ahead of us anyday. SO, I guess things are not as bad as I thought.
Zahid

From: "Michael and Phyllis Pickens" <address@hidden>
Reply-To: address@hidden
To: <address@hidden>
Subject: Re: [UC Basketball] Cats Win -- Cats Win -- Cats Win
Date: Sat, 1 Mar 2003 23:57:34 -0500

I think college basketball is down in general this year. However, I think
Memphis has a good interior game and a good exterior game. They have some
good athletes and some good rebounders. I think they are the best team in
Conference USA. UC always kills itself with bad shots but we still stay
close. We have shot horribly this year and still won some games. We lost
to X by 6 points and shot only 30%. I do think Memphis is the best team I
have seen this year. However, I don't watch much basketball outside of the
Cats. So in my limited exposure I stand by that they are the best team I
have seen this year. I definitely think they are better than Louisville and
better than Marquette. We will see though.

I will agree to disagree about Barker it just drives me crazy that people
think he is a good point guard.

I wish this team had more heart. I wish this team had better players. They
are what they are a, bad team that though great coaching has found a way to
win. That is the only way I can explain that this team is 16-9. At best
they should be 13-12. How do you explain a team with no interior or
exterior game with 16 wins. They play good defense and that is about it. I
even sometimes think that College basketball is full of a lot of bad
shooters right now and that is why our defense is where it is. I'm not
gonna give up on them but I am not gonna expect them to be more than what
they are either. My expectations are set low and if they exceed them then
great if not ohh well there is always next year. My suggestion is stay the
course with an eye on next year.

M!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brett Pappas" <address@hidden>
To: <address@hidden>
Sent: Saturday, March 01, 2003 11:38 PM
Subject: Re: [UC Basketball] Cats Win -- Cats Win -- Cats Win

> Do you really think Memphis is the best team you have seen this year?? I
> think we beat ourselves in the second half, Memphis did nothing as far as
> stepping up their game, we just looked clueless on offense.
>
> We didn't lose by 19 because of how well Memphis played, we lost by 19
> because of missed dunks, missed jump shots, the inability to hit a few
stick
> backs off of some rebounds.
>
> Oh yeah, who is this Tony Barker guy? I am all for playing the freshmen
> more. Despite Chadd's defense (giving up wide open threes), I would still
> like him out there for 10-12 minutes a game just to change the pace on
> offense. As for Barker, I would rather not beat a dead horse and drag up
> that topic again. There are plenty of other things to complain about.
>
> --Brett
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Michael and Phyllis Pickens" <address@hidden>
> To: <address@hidden>
> Sent: Saturday, March 01, 2003 11:16 PM
> Subject: Re: [UC Basketball] Cats Win -- Cats Win -- Cats Win
>
>
> > Andy that's a little harsh. Memphis is the best team I have seen all
> year.
> > I really do think they are very good and we are not. I knew after the
> back
> > to back highlight real type dunks they were a much better team than we
> are.
> > Tell me who on our team you would start over someone on there team? I
> don't
> > think it is a lack of heart but a real lack of talent. We all have been
> > waiting for this season for a long time. We are truly spoiled with Bobs
> > teams. I just hope we beat UAB and I think that locks up our NCAA bid.
I
> > kinda of wish Bob would play the freshmen more though to see if they can
> be
> > any help next year. If I were C. Moore I would transfer. If your not
> gonna
> > let me play with Tony "No offense" Barker around your not gonna let me
> play
> > with Nick Williams, Bobbit, Field, J. White, Kirland around.
> >
> > Michael
>
>
>
>

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