Cronin

[richard l. kandell]

Just back from listening to Coach Cronin for about 2 hours.  If he can recruit back to his days at UC and UofL, and coach as well as his 3 years at Murray seem to indicate, concededly 2 very big "ifs,"  he will be a very fine representative for UC basketball and UC athletics as a whole.

He had a variety of interesting things to say - I'll just mention that his current take on this year's team is they will be competitive if Adam H. and Hernol H. are declared eligible, with a chance to be really good next year when Mike Williams, whom he is very high on (expects him to be a star at UC), becomes eligible.  If the 2 big guys are not ok to play it will be a long season, and damage next year as well (lack of playing time this year for them).

He discussed in detail his reasons for leaving UC for UofL, parts of his recruiting philosophy, given his druthers and players, what kind of offense and defense he'd like to run, etc., etc.  He is articulate and personable - and keeps saying he wants to be at UC for at least the next 20 years.  I think he will be if he wins, and he admitted that to win takes players, so he has to go out and get them - his work ethic for recruiting reminds me of Huggins in his early years at UC.

Finally, he did mention that Goins had a study done for a facility to replace Shoemaker - they know exactly where it will go - it will be on campus - it is a question of getting the money out of the legislature for building the building.  One of the primary movers is that they could sell 40 more luxury suites at $15,000-20,000 a pop - and he conceded what we all know, 5th/3rd is a lousy place to watch a basketball game for most of the attendees (except for the really big givers in the down stairs side seats).  However, any new building is at least 5-7 years away.

Richard K.

PS - He commented that the recruiting rules are so complex that recently he had 3 recruits in his office and Oscar stopped by to say hello to him, and they had to report Oscar's contact even though all he did was smile at the 3 guys in Cronin's office.