Re: Cronin II

[Zahid Siddiqi]

You are correct about guarantees, as there are none in life with the sole expception of death.  I loved Coach Huggins and his teams.  However, it was frustrating to repeatedly "underachieve" in the NCAA tournament.  In my opinion, Huggins' teams were able to win due to defensive pressure causing turnovers or bad/tough shots while limiting their own turnovers.  That defensive pressure was largely ineffective against a disciplined offense, thus negating UC's advantage over many of its opponents.  On the other end of the floor, UC's offense was ineffective against teams that played disciplined defense, again negating any advantage UC may have had there.  Because virtually all teams in the tournament are fundamentally sound on both sides of the ball, UC's advantage was diminished, thus the relative lack of success.

Keith Wedinger <address@hidden> wrote:  I don't think Huggins' staying was going to guarantee:
1. A Big East championship
2. A national championship
3. OJ and Walker both coming to UC and delivering #2 above

Between 1996 and 2004, Coach Huggins got UC past the 2nd round of the NCAA
tournament just once. And, the one year that he did, I think UC benefitted
greatly from a very favorable 2nd round matchup against Kent State. I will
readily put an asterisk next to Kenyon's senior season due to his injury but
I'll be honest with you, before he went down with an injury, I was very
nervous about that team advancing due to repeated failures to get out of the
2nd round. Failing to advance once or twice is one thing. To do it year
after year after year establishes a pattern that is simply too long to
ignore.

With regards to UC's success in C-USA, I think UC's dominance can be
significantly attributed to the level of competition in that league. UC was
often the big fish in a pond full of medium to small fish. This is
certainly not the case in the Big East.

I certainly hope Coach Cronin is true to his word with regards to focus
being put on the offensive side of the floor. I will give Coach Huggins all
the credit in the world with regards to his teams' ability to defend. But,
I think a significant portion of the NCAA failings can be put squarely on
UC's inability to be a very good offensive team. If you look at many of
UC's 2nd round losses, I think you will find that UC's rather pedestrian
offense was at the root cause of many of those losses. And the excuse we
would often here is that UC's failings were due to bad team matchups or
simply bad luck (see tipped half court shot against WVU or the foul call at
the end of the Iowa State game).

Conference championships and conference tournament championships are
certainly good to have. But, I would have gladly traded some of these for
much better success in the NCAA tournament.

On 10/27/06, Dan Marshall wrote:
> Jon,...
>
> I agree now Mayo etc wouldn't be a good choice... I am talking about just
> wishing it were all back the way it was...
>
> Huggins with 2 more years on his contract... Big east, National
> Championship
> etc etc etc
>
> I know now it wouldn't be good, but I'm thinking of all that was thrown
> away... And for what? Old news.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: address@hidden
> [mailto:address@hidden On Behalf Of Jonathan Breiner
> Sent: Friday, October 27, 2006 11:42 AM
> To: UC Basketball Forum
> Subject: Re: [UC Basketball] Cronin II
>
> But what about after that one year? We would have 8 or 9 players all
> leaving the same year? Cronin needs to balance the classes and build for
> the long term. Maybe if either of these guys had a thought about going to
> UC it would be worth it, but they have had no interest in UC for quite
> some
> time now and why waste time recruiting people who don't want to be there
> to
> totally mess up your class distribution. And the question would be would
> one or both of these players make THE difference. Maybe, not sure. too
> big
> of a risk for too low of a percentage of a reward for me. I think Cronin
> will be able to build a solid-sustained program so I am willing to take a
> lump or two now instead of having to rebuild again in 2 years.
>
> Jon
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: 
> To: "UC Basketball Forum" 
> Sent: Friday, October 27, 2006 11:37 AM
> Subject: Re: [UC Basketball] Cronin II
>
>
> > I feel the same way...................one year is better then no year!!!!
> > Glenn
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Dan Marshall" 
> > To: "'UC Basketball Forum'" 
> > Sent: Friday, October 27, 2006 11:30 AM
> > Subject: Re: [UC Basketball] Cronin II
> >
> >
> > > I also hear Bill Walker cleared the clearing house for Kansas State...
> > I
> > > don't care if he is One and Done I would love to have him and mayo
> > > hear...
> > > :(
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: address@hidden
> > > [mailto:address@hidden On Behalf Of Mike Rucker
> > > Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2006 9:30 PM
> > > To: UC Basketball Forum
> > > Subject: Re: [UC Basketball] Cronin II
> > >
> > > N - No
> > > C - Cincinnati
> > > A - Athletes
> > > A - Allowed
> > >
> > > Isn't that the truth. Wasn't Thabeet just cleared to play for Uconn?
> Why
> > do
> > > I get the feeling that if Hernol or Adam played for.....say, Uconn that
> > they
> > > would be eligible and ready to go! It seems like UC ALWAYS goes
> through
> > > this crap. Very frustrating!!
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: 
> > > To: 
> > > Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2006 5:31 PM
> > > Subject: Re: [UC Basketball] Cronin II
> > >
> > >
> > > > In a message dated 10/25/2006 10:27:16 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> > > > address@hidden writes:
> > > >
> > > > I have a feeling that Adam and Hernol will not be eligible.
> > > > . . .and this is Mick's way of letting us down easy.
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > Mike Ryan
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Say it isn't so, if we lose both of them for the season we will be
> > forced
> > > to
> > > > endure another season of guards and forwards trying to overachieve.
> > > >
> > > > N - No
> > > > C - Cincinnati
> > > > A - Athletes
> > > > A - Allowed
> > > >
> > > > Logan
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > an
> > > >


-- 
Keith Wedinger
Vote No on 4, Yes on 5!
SmokeFreeOhio.org
Bearcatnews.com
Sciotofootball.com