Re: Cronin II

[richard l. kandell]

Wow - all that typing and Jon finds exactly one thing interesting.

As to Downey - what I can recall is that Cronin felt the Christmas
experience was almost to be expected.  UC had an outstanding freshman who
quite likely might want to leave considering the coaching situation.  As to
the return, while he commented that he understood he was dealing with an 18
year old who had dealt with a difficult situation, it was "too late" for a
couple of reasons.  One he had already recruited to compensate for Downey's
leaving, and second, what kind of message would that send to Dave Odom who
had gotten the commit from Downey, what kind of message would that send to
the kids Cronin had recruited to replace Downey, and finally, even though he
may have been a confused 18 year old, the whole process with Downy was
beginning to leave a bad taste in Cronin's mouth concerning Downey's
character; i.e., the XMas thing, backing out on UC, especially after
announcing he was staying (and going on recruiting visits as he was telling
Mick he would stay), then backing out on Odom.  Better to end it.

Richard K.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jonathan Breiner" <address@hidden>
To: "UC Basketball Forum" <address@hidden>
Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 10:41 AM
Subject: Re: [UC Basketball] Cronin II


> Interesting about Downey.  I wonder why if Cronin felt he got terrible
input
> from the adults around him, he was unwilling to take him back when Downey
> asked?  There were some other well-documented exceptional circumstances to
> Downey's freshman year at UC, I am surprised Mick would have passed this
> opportunity up.
>
> Jon
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "richard l. kandell" <address@hidden>
> To: <address@hidden>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 10:22 AM
> Subject: Re: [UC Basketball] Cronin II
>
>
> More from Mick's talk:
>
> Downey - was actually on recruiting visits at Christmas during freshman
> year - will be denied, but Cronin has great recruiting ties and that's
what
> he was told, and he believes it.  Would be starting point for UC had he
> stayed, got terrible input from some adults around him, and yes, he did
ask
> to come back, but by that time too late.
>
>
> Richard K.