Re: Rating the Cronin hire

[Dan Marshall]

I really do expect Cronin to do a good job here.  I Like his enthusiasm and
work ethic.

However, it isn't even close to what we had or what we were told we would
get. 

-----Original Message-----
From: address@hidden
[mailto:address@hidden On Behalf Of dfairchild
Sent: Sunday, April 02, 2006 12:46 PM
To: UC Basketball Forum
Subject: [UC Basketball] Rating the Cronin hire

Keith wrote: "I think it is a good hire."

I believe others have stated - Mick is a great hire.  Another, Mick is the
best hire given the circumstances.

I think the only thing we can honestly say is that Mick is a hire.

3 points:

1) There was an attempt on the forum to develop 11 criteria for the coaching
position.  Mick ranks as well on those as Karl Hobbs and AK.  All 3 do not
have a proven recorded on the ability to graduate players!  Mick's one clear
advantage is his recruiting connections in the UC and midwest area.

2) Many on this board stated they would not be satisfied with an up and
comer from a mid major.  I think it is fair to say that Murray State,
playing in the OVC - the 22nd rated conference according to www.kenpom.com,
is a low major.  From my perspective, their are only 6 high major programs,
there are about 10 mid major conferences, and the rest are low-mid majors or
low majors.  I think a low major is a conference that never has a chance of
getting an at large bid to the NCAA.

3) In 1989, UC after 12 bad years was able to attract and hire an up and
coming coach from the OVC (thanks to Al for pointing that out, I would have
assumed Akron was in the MAC at that point).  In 2006, after 15 successful
years, numerous Conference and tournament championships, a final four, 14
straigth NCAA appearances, a perenial top-25 program, entrance into the Big
East - UC is able to attract and hire an up and coming coach from the OVC.

I say this not to knock Mick Cronin.  Rather, I say it to say that it is
understandable that some UC fans are disappointed or atleast cautious about
the hiring, because the program had made signifigant advances over the past
15 years, but our ability to attract a head coach appears to be about the
same.

Maybe we should develop criteria now to judge Mick's hire in 6 years (the
length of Mick's contract).

I can think of 7 criteria:
1) NCAA tournament success - what is the benchmark - 4 appearances in 6
years?  A sweet sixteen?
2) BE conference success - Conference championship in 6 years?  Finish over
.500% 4 of 6 years?
3) BE tournament success - tournament championship in 6 years?
4) regular season record - 70% over 5 years?  60% over 6 years?  50% over 6
years?
5) graduation of players - 60% of  recruits from his first 2 years?
6) character of players - < 1 off court incident/year; <4 off court
incidents over 6 years; <2 off court incidents over 6 years?
7) national ranking - ranked in final top 25 3 of the next 6 years?

It seems reasonable to set up some clear expectations for results to judge
whether Mick is a great hire, a good hire or a poor hire.

What are your expectations?

Go Cats!
DF




-----Original Message-----
From: address@hidden
[mailto:address@hidden Behalf Of Keith Wedinger
Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 11:08 AM
To: UC Basketball Forum
Subject: Re: [UC Basketball] don...mick recruiting


Don,

I think the issue some folks have, myself included, is that most of your
posts regarding the coaching change assume an immediate return to the "dark
days of Yates" with no hope of returning.  I will grant you that next season
(2006-07) will be a struggle because the roster will be somewhat thin.  But,
Mick Cronin's coaching and recruiting history suggests that this downturn
will be short and it may not be as drastic as some originally thought.

There is nothing in Mick Cronin's coaching history to suggest that he will
fail at UC.  He has demonstrated good recruiting abilities at UC and at
Louisville.  And, he is demonstrated that he can coach based on his success
at Murray State, an arguably difficult place to win.

Right or wrong, the current UC adminstration chose to make a change and I
don't want to rehash that mess once again.  That horse has been beaten to
death multiple times, was buried multiple times, dug up multiple times and
buried again multiple times.

Coach Huggins has moved onto Kansas State where I hope he is very
successful.  Coach Kennedy has moved onto Ole Miss and I hope he is very
successful.  Mick Cronin is our coach now.  I think it is a good hire.  And
I plan on giving him and the Bearcats all of my support.

On 3/30/06, address@hidden <address@hidden> wrote:
> In a message dated 3/30/2006 7:43:20 AM Central Standard Time, 
> address@hidden writes:
>
> i see no  reason Cronin can't pull in one great recruiting class and 
> turn the UC program  back into winners
>
>
> Turning UC BACK into winners is what I'm upset about. It didn't have 
> to happen. I know UC can get back but will they? I agree negative 
> comments get old but I can't see much good coming out of all this. Try 
> this. I think UC will get a great class next fall and be in the top 10 
> in 08 and 09 season. How about that!  If reading things like that 
> makes you feel good okay. But do you really believe it?  Don


--
Keith Wedinger
Bearcatnews.com
Sciotofootball.com

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