If UC played basketball in the woods, would they make a sound?

[PM Thor]

UC basketball had an exhibition tonight. I think. I thought I saw some video of some guys running around on a court and some of them were wearing UC colors and emblems, but the stand were virtually empty.

Is UC basketball dead? Does the local media even show up for their games anymore? Is there ANYONE who saw this exhibition? It looked like 20 people were in the stands, and half of them were there because it was warmer than outside. Can the UC fanbase get more embarassing?

I HATE dayton.

[Cheesehead]

Well, they are a football school now. Haven't you heard?

That's certainly working out well for them. I actually started laughing when I walked thru the room and heard the boos birds over the TV on Saturday vs. Syracuse. Then I looked up and saw that Nippert was mostly empty. It brought a smile to my face.

[coasterville95]

According to the game write up - they drew 3,426 fans last night. As we all know, the published attendance is tickets sold, not fans through the doors. Pretty soon maybe we can rent Schmidt Fieldhouse to UC so they can advertise to their recruits that "We play in front of a packed arena"

Now let it sink in further, that means including season tickets, single game sales, and students - they totalled 3,426. Which puts the season ticket base sub 3,000?

Our game tonight probably won't sell out, but we have what 7,000-8,000 season ticket holders alone before single game and students?

Oh, that football game had 32,000 at some point, but I imagine around the start of the 4th quarter tons of people decided to "try to beat the traffic home", or at least head to the bars for group therapy.

[principal]

Are you saying UC wouldn't win the A-10 in attendance?

Never gets old.

[Masterofreality]

Leprechaun Basketball.

Catch the Excitement!!!!

[surfxu]

Are you telling me UC wouldn't win the Big Canada conference? I saw that attendence figure and thought the same thing. Their season ticket base MUST be under 3,000. That is beyond terrible. Wow!

[xu05usmc]

I was in the arena last night (UC grad student, free tickets, it's basketball). My guess is probably about 2,000 to 2,500. From what I've heard they've had trouble selling season tickets but they have a special ticket package that sells the Big East games plus XU game that is doing better. Then again based on their non-conference home schedule, who would want season tickets when that other package is available?

[GetUp5]

This brings a smile to my face. Just like this one -----> :)

[muskiefan82]

Then again based on their non-conference home schedule, who would want season tickets when that other package is available?

Because the OOC games (minus Xavier, of course) are likely the only ones they might win.

[Kahns Krazy]

Are you telling me UC wouldn't win the Big Canada conference? I saw that attendence figure and thought the same thing. Their season ticket base MUST be under 3,000. That is beyond terrible. Wow!

I think Mick Cronin is jealous of Nancy Pelosi's approval rating. Nobody likes that munchkin anymore.

[Cheesehead]

I personally don't know a single UC fan with an ounce of approval for the Mickster. He is great for X but just killing UC's program. If it wasn't so sad, it would be funny as hell.

No wait...it is funny as hell.

[Masterofreality]

9,280 for the XU exhibition last night. SucKS has less than 3,000.

Who owns that town?

[SixFig]

If UC played basketball in the woods, Mick Cronin would be scooped up by a hawk or something because he got mistaken for a small, furry, woodland rodent.

[xu05usmc]

I personally don't know a single UC fan with an ounce of approval for the Mickster. He is great for X but just killing UC's program. If it wasn't so sad, it would be funny as hell.

No wait...it is funny as hell.

You must not know many UC fans. I am a phd student at UC, worked as a T.A. last season. Mick has just as many supporters as detractors. It is like Obama. Obama still has a lot of supporters but only the tea partiers get any publicity because they go out of their way to be loud about it. And really I wouldn't go so far as to say Cronin's killing the program. The program was dead when he got there. Anyone with common sense can see he is doing a decent job with the hand he was dealt.

Now comes the part where I get accused of being a UC fan...

[BandAid]

Now comes the part where I get accused of being a UC fan...

Gosh! Stop being such a UC fan!... :D

...I think "apologist" is more appropriate...or maybe "sympathizer"... :p

[DoubleD86]

Now comes the part where I get accused of being a UC fan...

Personally I agree with you. I don't like Mick, and really don't think he is the man to take them to the next level. But he did take them from the deathbed and actually bring some respect back to the program. He has made them formidable enough to actually do damage and started to bring some talent in. Still, I think this may be about as far as he can go, and for the good of the UC program, they probably need a change.

Still, you can't deny what he has done there, no matter how much you dislike the man. And I really dislike the man. Never seen someone complain, make excuses, and completely throw his own players under the bus so often....

[Power]

I personally don't know a single UC fan with an ounce of approval for the Mickster. He is great for X but just killing UC's program. If it wasn't so sad, it would be funny as hell.

No wait...it is funny as hell.

I am a UC fan and while Mick is frustrating at times. He raised my expectations. This program was in a bad bad place when he came in. The fact that people were complaining about not making the tournament after 3 years shows how quickly he turned around expectations.

[Power]

9,280 for the XU exhibition last night. SucKS has less than 3,000.

Who owns that town?

Xavier is having the greatest run in its programs history. UC is in one of the deepest valley's. When both programs are strong it isnt even close.

[_LH]

When both programs have been strong in the last 20 years the programs are about equal. Whether UC can ever recover, remains to be seen and it probably won't happen under Cronin.

Problem is, where does UC go if they let Cronin go? They could end up like DePaul with a revolving door of never ending coaching changes.

[Power]

Your right. If UC decides to let Mick go the next hire is ciritically important. I dont think that will be an issue though.

When both programs are strong I don't believe they are about even.

[powerofX]

Xavier is having the greatest run in its programs history. UC is in one of the deepest valley's. When both programs are strong it isnt even close.

I don't like your username!

[Power]

Ha. Sorry....

[coasterville95]

Life is full of additional chances though, UC could go out and find a quality basketball coach. They can start with much smaller aspirations.. I'm told they have an exhibition game tonight, they have another chance to show us they are still relevant with the local fan base.

BTW - In exhibition 2 we raised the bar to 10,015.

[Power]

With what? The attendance tonight? UC will not have a 4000 tonight.

UC will win their exhibition game though. Does that make us relevant or does having 9000 fans come and boo your team?

EDIT

(There was none*) ha

[_LH]

Your right. If UC decides to let Mick go the next hire is ciritically important. I dont think that will be an issue though.

When both programs are strong I don't believe they are about even.

They were indeed about even in the 20 years both programs were strong. While UC may have had more preseason accolades their poor showings in March precluded them from being anything other than slightly more successful than XU.

You don't think it will be a problem replacing Cronin? Why not? It is not like coaches were beating down the door when they hired Cronin and the program is worse off now than before.

[boozehound]

Xavier is having the greatest run in its programs history. UC is in one of the deepest valley's. When both programs are strong it isnt even close.

I would be curious to hear your fact-based explanation for this, outside of a few deep runs 15 years ago they have been pretty even for the last 10-15 years.

I also think that UC has a loooonnnnnnggggg way to climb to even be near the top. They have no leadership, recruiting has sucked, and the kids don't respect the coach. I don't think you are being fair to how bad UC is. They are going to need another 2-3 years post firing Cronin to have a chance at relevance again. Nobody thinks he is the guy. I don't think I have talked to a UC fan in the last 2 years who thinks that Cronin is a good coach. He simply is not.

Meanwhile, Xavier continues to bring in excellent recruiting classes, so it doesn't look like we are falling off any time soon.

[Power]

Im sorry, I meant that I don't believe UC will let Mick go after this year.

A Big East school with a strong history will definately be appealing to coaches. In UC's worst years they have still been able to recruit 4 and 5 stars.

[_LH]

Im sorry, I meant that I don't believe UC will let Mick go after this year.

A Big East school with a strong history will definately be appealing to coaches. In UC's worst years they have still been able to recruit 4 and 5 stars.

Mick will be canned if they don't make the NCAA's. The longer they wait the worse off they will be.

Being in the BE is overrated. DePaul, South Florida, Providence, Seton Hall, St. John's are all BE schools that struggle to find good coaching. UC's tradition is lost now. They have been irrelevant for far too long. Few care about a 17 year old Final Four and even less care about National Title from 50 years ago.

[Juice]

Mick will be canned if they don't make the NCAA's. The longer they wait the worse off they will be.

Being in the BE is overrated. DePaul, South Florida, Providence, Seton Hall, St. John's are all BE schools that struggle to find good coaching. UC's tradition is lost now. They have been irrelevant for far too long. Few care about a 17 year old Final Four and even less care about National Title from 50 years ago.

I would leave St. John's out of that now. Steve Lavin is cleaning up in the recruiting world right now but overall yes they have struggled.

[_LH]

I would leave St. John's out of that now. Steve Lavin is cleaning up in the recruiting world right now but overall yes they have struggled.

While Lavin might finally be the answer, let's see what they do on the court before making a final judgement. Like Power said, UC has killed in recruiting too but all the matters is production on the court. I don't know if they players UC got were overrated or if Cronin is that bad of a coach but either way it is another black eye on the program.

[Power]

UC hasn't recruited well? Look at the who we signed recently

UC: HOW THEY WERE RATED COMING IN

Lance Stephenson (Top 15 player)
Yancy Gates (top 25 player)
Cashmere Wright (Top 70 player)
Biggie McClain (Top 50 players)
Darnell Wilks (Top 50 player)

UC recruiting has not been the issue. Some players haven't lived up. Our recruiting sucked in Mick's first year.

Last years roster had 2 five star players (X has never had a single 5 star).

UC has been to FF's and has a much bigger alumni base. UC is in a conference that there has been many national champions.

X is a solid program but if you dont see the glass ceiling that is on this program you are insane.

X will always struggle to get great Big men. Save the Michael Chandler because he wanted to go to the Big East but we they don't allow partial qualifiers.

[_LH]

UC hasn't recruited well? Look at the who we signed recently

UC: HOW THEY WERE RATED COMING IN

Lance Stephenson (Top 15 player)
Yancy Gates (top 25 player)
Cashmere Wright (Top 70 player)
Biggie McClain (Top 50 players)
Darnell Wilks (Top 50 player)

UC recruiting has not been the issue. Some players haven't lived up. Our recruiting sucked in Mick's first year.

Last years roster had 2 five star players (X has never had a single 5 star).

UC has been to FF's and has a much bigger alumni base. UC is in a conference that there has been many national champions.

X is a solid program but if you dont see the glass ceiling that is on this program you are insane.

X will always struggle to get great Big men. Save the Michael Chandler because he wanted to go to the Big East but we they don't allow partial qualifiers.

UC has killed in recruiting but all the matters is production on the court. I don't know if the players UC got were overrated or if Cronin is that bad of a coach but either way it is another black eye on the program.

UC has been to one final four in 17 years and the others were 50 years ago. Basically, they are meaningless in attracting recruits or a new top notch coach.

The BE membership is also overrated if your program is a bottom half of bottom third BE program, which UC is.

XU does not have a glass ceiling as this is college basketball not football. Butler was one shot away from winning it all last year. XU can and has competed at the highest level and because of the way college basketball is structured, they will continue to do so.

Now, UC may or may not. See DePaul.

[Power]

UC has killed in recruiting but all the matters is production on the court. I don't know if the players UC got were overrated or if Cronin is that bad of a coach but either way it is another black eye on the program.

UC has been to one final four in 17 years and the others were 50 years ago. Basically, they are meaningless in attracting recruits or a new top notch coach.

The BE membership is also overrated if your program is a bottom half of bottom third BE program, which UC is.

XU does not have a glass ceiling as this is college basketball not football. Butler was one shot away from winning it all last year. XU can and has competed at the highest level and because of the way college basketball is structured, they will continue to do so.

Now, UC may or may not. See DePaul.

i agree with a ton of this post.

Butler is a fine example but can you please tell me the last non BCS school to win the basketball title? UNLV? Before that? So it happens 1 time every 30 years? The ceiling is there.

The difference between the Big East schools are they can recruit the big men.

[Power]

And XU has been to the last 3 sweet 16's. What did UC do? NOTHING!

I am not question if X is good. They have been but to say they are just out recruiting people is not true. They are exploiting a lot of loopholes that UC and other big schools are not allowed too.

[_LH]

i agree with a ton of this post.

Butler is a fine example but can you please tell me the last non BCS school to win the basketball title? UNLV? Before that? So it happens 1 time every 30 years? The ceiling is there.

The difference between the Big East schools are they can recruit the big men.

The ceiling is not there. As anyone can see, more and more non BCS teams are knocking on the door. This is not 1992 anymore no matter how much you as a UC fan would like it to be.

[_LH]

I am not question if X is good. They have been but to say they are just out recruiting people is not true. They are exploiting a lot of loopholes that UC and other big schools are not allowed too.

UC takes any player with a pulse and does not care what their poor histories might be on or off the court. UC has been and continues to be one of the worst offenders out there, so don't try to play the "we can't take those kinds of players at UC" card. Hell, no other program in the country wanted Stephenson and UC took him.

XU has done quite well recruiting and again, either UC's players have been overrated or Mick is a really bad coach.

[boozehound]

I am not question if X is good. They have been but to say they are just out recruiting people is not true. They are exploiting a lot of loopholes that UC and other big schools are not allowed too.

Yeah, UC recruits nothing but class.

What about Stephenson? Nobody really wanted him at the end of the recruitment. Rumors were it was between UC an Kansas, but Kansas didn't really seem to want him. He fell into UC's lap because Mick was willing to take him. Then he had a mediocore season, got drafted in the second round, and beat the living crap out of his baby-mama and threw her down the stairs. He's definitely a 5-star a-hole.


Say all you want about partial qualifiers but Xavier recruits either leave with a degree or a guaranteed NBA contract. Lately they also leave with at least 1 Sweet 16.

I also would be careful about taking the moral high ground regarding partial qualifiers. That is a Big East rule, not a UC rule. If UC was allowed to take partial qualifiers Cronin would be all over them like Huggins at a buffet table.

[powerofX]

Yeah, UC recruits nothing but class.

What about Stephenson? Nobody really wanted him at the end of the recruitment. Rumors were it was between UC an Kansas, but Kansas didn't really seem to want him. He fell into UC's lap because Mick was willing to take him. Then he had a mediocore season, got drafted in the second round, and beat the living crap out of his baby-mama and threw her down the stairs. He's definitely a 5-star a-hole.


Say all you want about partial qualifiers but Xavier recruits either leave with a degree or a guaranteed NBA contract. Lately they also leave with at least 1 Sweet 16.

I also would be careful about taking the moral high ground regarding partial qualifiers. That is a Big East rule, not a UC rule. If UC was allowed to take partial qualifiers Cronin would be all over them like Huggins at a buffet table.

Of course, if XU was in the Big East, we wouldn't have to worry about partial qualifiers...the recruits would be deemed eligible. Lyons and Martin had the grades and test scores to be eligible but there was an issue with class content. Lyons was recruited by Uconn and Martin was a UofL verbal. If they went to those schools, there is no doubt in my mind the NCAA would have cleared them to play.

[Masterofreality]

The difference between the Big East schools are they can recruit the big men.

Uh, ever hear of "power forward U ."? I think "power forwards" are big men.

And, Oh yeah.

-Nancy Gates is a real find.
-Ibrahima Thomas is a real find.
-Biggie McLain is a real find- and now he's a bloated blimp.

[Power]

Uh, ever hear of "power forward U ."? I think "power forwards" are big men.

And, Oh yeah.

-Nancy Gates is a real find.
-Ibrahima Thomas is a real find.
-Biggie McLain is a real find- and now he's a bloated blimp.

No? Is that what you call yourselves? I have never heard that in my life and I very very seriously doubt anyone else has outside of this board. People don't know how to pronounce your schools name. They certainly don't know you as "power forward U". haha

You guys can rip Yancy all you want but he has averaged double digit points and you all were begging for him to go to X 3 years ago.

[_LH]

No? Is that what you call yourselves? I have never heard that in my life and I very very seriously doubt anyone else has outside of this board. People don't know how to pronounce your schools name. They certainly don't know you as "power forward U". haha

You guys can rip Yancy all you want but he has averaged double digit points and you all were begging for him to go to X 3 years ago.

You continue to live in 1992. Do some research. XU has had plenty of great and quality big men over the last 20 years. The really, really good big men don't go to UC, anyway. They were going pro right out of high school and now they go to OSU for a year and get to play in one or two NCAA games.

Yancy is a head case that would not have started at XU until this year and maybe not even then if McLean does not get hurt. XU recruited him for a time but I don't think there is one XU fan that would want him on our team.

[boozehound]

No? Is that what you call yourselves? I have never heard that in my life and I very very seriously doubt anyone else has outside of this board. People don't know how to pronounce your schools name. They certainly don't know you as "power forward U". haha

You guys can rip Yancy all you want but he has averaged double digit points and you all were begging for him to go to X 3 years ago.

We have been referred to as Power Forward U a few times by the media. I believe that one of the times may have been during the NCAA tournament over the past few years. I can see how you would have missed that though, UC fans haven't really had a reason to watch the NCAA tournament for a while...

[BandAid]

Sorry to interrupt the discussion, but I would like to nominate this thread for best thread title of the year...

Ok, now we can go back to Power trying to justify UC's existence and everyone else telling him he's off his rocker.

[Masterofreality]

No less than Reggie Miller called Xavier "Power Forward U." when he was talking in reference to David West on an NBA telecast a couple of years ago.

Here's a quote from Chris Mack as he was talking about Jordan Latham:

"Jordan should hold a special place in the heart of Musketeer fans. He does in mine. After committing to the previous staff, Jordan decided to open up his recruitment during the period of time in which there was not a head coach in place. Ultimately Jordan felt that there wasn't a better fit in the country than Xavier University for his academic and basketball future. Jordan has the size, quickness and toughness to cement his place at a program that former NBA great Reggie Miller once deemed "Power Forward University". Most importantly, Jordan is a winner. As a junior and a senior, Jordan won Maryland State Championships under Coach Mike Daniels at City College High School."

[Juice]

4,083 at UC's home opener. Yikes.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/uc/2010/11/15/not-a-very-impressive-opener/

[xeus]

“If you play like that in the Big East,” said forward Yancy Gates, “DePaul will beat you.”

I love that UC is reduced to talking smack about DePaul. That would be like X picking on Fordham. Sad.

[waggy]

Huh? DePaul's gonna kick UC's ass. And no one in the woods, or anywhere else for that matter will care.

[Kahns Krazy]

4,083 at UC's home opener. Yikes.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/uc/2010/11/15/not-a-very-impressive-opener/

That is amazing to me. There's a lot of suck going on in the Shoe, but I thought they had more than 4k true die-hards. Maybe they all died.

[Masterofreality]

It won't be too much longer before XU basketball will outdraw SucKS football.

Someday, maybe SucKS football and basketball combined.

[Flyer1407]

I'm excited to see US Bank Arena with about 4k Dayton fans and 1k UC fans next weekend. Of course there will probably more blue in the stands at 5/3 during the crosstown shootout.

[xu05usmc]

4,083 at UC's home opener. Yikes.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/uc/2010/11/15/not-a-very-impressive-opener/

I'm not sure that is the accurate number. I was at the game Monday and it looked to be more than that. It was not a packed house, far from it, but I'd say most of the bottom section was full, student section probably about 70 to 80% full and There were some spread throughout the upper deck. I'd put it closer to 6 or 7 thousand. Granted that isn't much, but still.

[Kahns Krazy]

Seems hard to believe that UC would publish a number that was that far off. The 4,083 number is from the boxscore, and the pictures in the photo gallery certainly don't show a full lower bowl.

http://www.gobearcats.com/sports/m-baskbl/stats/2010-2011/uc111510.html

[Masterofreality]

Seems hard to believe that UC would publish a number that was that far off. The 4,083 number is from the boxscore, and the pictures in the photo gallery certainly don't show a full lower bowl.

http://www.gobearcats.com/sports/m-baskbl/stats/2010-2011/uc111510.html

Yeah, usually teams are padding the house with more not less attendees.

But it is SucKS. They are arithmetically challenged over there.

[xu05usmc]

There weren't a lot of ticket takers, I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't account for students. I didn't have a ticket, went to the ticket window to get one with my student id and they just told me to go in. But trust me on this. It didn't look that pathetic in the arena. It was better than I thought it would be.

[PM Thor]

There weren't a lot of ticket takers, I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't account for students. I didn't have a ticket, went to the ticket window to get one with my student id and they just told me to go in. But trust me on this. It didn't look that pathetic in the arena. It was better than I thought it would be.

Isn't that more pathetic, that they don't even ask for an ID or ticket to get into the game?

They fully know they won't even come close to capacity, so they let people walk up with no way to prove they should get in, then let them in?

That's pathetic. Truly UC.

I HATE dayton.

[RealDeal]

I think UC needs to follow the Tribe's lead to try to increase attendance:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Cent_Beer_Night

As the game progressed, more fans ran onto the field and caused problems. Ranger Mike Hargrove (who would manage the Indians and lead them to the World Series 21 years later) was pelted with hot dogs and spit, and at one point was nearly struck with an empty gallon jug of Thunderbird.

[Masterofreality]

SucKS beat IPFW by 6.

Attendance n/a.

Does "n/a"mean "no attendees'?

[PM Thor]

SucKS beat IPFW by 6.

Attendance n/a.

Does "n/a"mean "no attendees'?

They finally figured out how to count over at UC.

Apparently, they had an attendance of 4,491. Yeah, I believe that one.

So, X had 9,949 for the same level of competition. UC can't even get half the amount of fans to the game, and the X game was during a miserable raistorm too.

I HATE dayton.

[xu05usmc]

SucKS beat IPFW by 6.

Attendance n/a.

Does "n/a"mean "no attendees'?

For anyone who didn't watch, UC's offense was absolutely horrendous in the second half. IPFW played very physically, fouling a lot, and that did enough to limit UC's offensive production. If they are getting bullied around by IPFW then it doesn't say much for their prospects this season.

[coasterville95]

I watched from inside the Shoe. I know they were having trouble with the ticket barcode scanners at the door, but I did walk through a turnstile, so they should have some idea on attendance. Maybe they are just too embarassed to reveal what it was.

Let me tell you attendance was PATHETIC - student sections were the band and maybe one section on each side, maybe. Lots of empty seats in the Whine and Cheese section. The most crowded areas were in the upper level. I guess that's where the die hards have season tickets and don't want to make the donations to sit better. In my ticketed seat, as opposed to where I really sat, I could have had an entire row of seats to myself!

I walked up to the ticket window and asked what my ticket options were, and the guy at the window said "Buy the cheap seat and sit wherever you like" For real. ($10, that's what we charge for our #5 ranked WOMEN's team!)

I'm not sure if the collapse you saw in the second half is nothing more than the typical 2nd half Cronin choke. Sparring Helmet dude got I think 3 or 4 points and a slew of fouls. Seriously for the minutes the kid plays, what is his role on the team. Is it, "freak the other team out as they try to figure out how to deal with the sparring helmet". I noted today he had a pre game chat with an official about the equipment, One thing that helped, was I think they shot 65% if what I heard in the concourse during halftime is correct. (They pipe the radio broadcast halftime commentary into the concourse) If it weren't for that the game would have looked more like ours Tuesday.

I'm not sure I saw any recent vintage games in the pre game "get you pumped up intro video"

[Masterofreality]

Matchup of the year "Sparring Helmet Dude" (thanks Coaster) vs Nancy Gates.

Hell, those guys going against each other should have been good to get another 3 or 4 fans in the building.

[An X Fan]

So, X had 9,949 for the same level of competition. UC can't even get half the amount of fans to the game, and the X game was during a miserable rainstorm too.

It was a Tuesday night rainstorm vs. a nice Saturday afternoon. Just piling on.

[coasterville95]

I didn't come up with Sparring Helmet Dude - it was born in Live Chat during that game.

[Masterofreality]

Another huge throng of 4,116 last night at the numbered bank gymnasium. Those crowds fit comfortably into Schmidt.

By the way, is it 5th or 3rd?

[coasterville95]

I gave a UC fan grief - told them we would rent them Schmidt so they could say they sell out. He admitted that is close to the truth.

Piling on - our WOMEN's team drew 3,461 tonight. If they keep up being a top 5 team and all, could our women's team start out drawing their men's team?

[Ascended~1]

There's a lot of negativity regarding that program and considering the potential at the start of their last season, I can see why fans would be tired of supporting a team that continually gets so far into things and then just turns to crap. That said, currently, regardless of the crowd they draw, they are fairing better than X is.

[Lamont Sanford]

That said, currently, regardless of the crowd they draw, they are fairing better than X is.

"They are fairing better than X is"?!? I should hope so...Savannah State, IPFW, Florida A&M, Mt. St. Mary's, Utah Valley, Georgia Southern...what, was The Little Sisters of the Poor not available this year?!? UC's out of conference schedule is worse that Ohio State's and that's saying a lot.

Come back in February/March when UC is 12th or 13th in the Big Least standings.

[Ascended~1]

"They are fairing better than X is"?!? I should hope so...Savannah State, IPFW, Florida A&M, Mt. St. Mary's, Utah Valley, Georgia Southern...what, was The Little Sisters of the Poor not available this year?!?



I'm sorry, but X should have lost to IPFW. There's a difference between being a fan and being develope mentally challenged.
They didn't need an OT to beat IPFW, we did.
Life's many truths may leave a salty taste in your mouth but you have no choice but to swallow it.

And need I remind you the division they play in could mop the floor with the A10 right now or have you just not been watching this season? Dayton survived Savannah State, FAMU mopped the floor with them and UC mopped the floor with FAMU.
I have seen both teams play, in their last game X was not on par.
Sorry but that's just the situation we're in now. Take it or leave it.

[_LH]

UC is bad. XU is a work in progress. XU has played better teams so far. We will see over the next few months how each adapt.

[Masterofreality]

=That said, currently, regardless of the crowd they draw, they are fairing better than X is.

Me smell SucKS troll.

A Xavier grad and supporter would have known that the proper spelling is "Faring".

"Fairing" would be attending a carnival, which, come to think about it, is what Borecat basketball is- with YTG as the Barker.

[SixFig]

"Fairing" would be attending a carnival, which, come to think about it, is what Borecat basketball is- with YTG as the Barker.

I suspect YTG would be the midget clown in that scenario. Maybe him and Brian Gregory could do one of those bits where they fit a bunch of clowns into one small car.

[Masterofreality]

6,016 "attendees" at US Bunk Arena last night for a game between two Mythical Miami Valley Conference schools. We could have rented out Schmidt for a lot less money and accomodated.

I guess the "Flyer faithful" don't travel so well and the Borecats' affiliates don't travel at all.

Meanwhile further north in town- over 9,500 at Cintas. Who rules this town now?
__________________________________________________ ________________________

Oh, requiste football slam- SucKS will not be bowl eligible. Lost 4 of the last 5. That's getting your team to improve during the year Jones.

Their game against Pitt IS their postseason.

[coasterville95]

Two problems, I thought Schmidt only held 3,000, and 2 - where would we park their cars remember we had 9,500+ at Cintas.

[Masterofreality]

Two problems, I thought Schmidt only held 3,000, and 2 - where would we park their cars remember we had 9,500+ at Cintas.

Nah. With bleacher stands set up at both ends, and the extended bleacher stands that they would install for the student section on the south end floor you could get 6,000 in Schmidt.

There were a little more than 3,000 permanent seats .

[Kahns Krazy]

I was at the game Saturday. No way we had "9,500+" in that place. I'd guess "8,000+", but I wouldn't bet any money on it.

[Kahns Krazy]

The center court lower bowl section tonight might be half full at the shoe tonight. It appears the last 4 years of failure have done some damage to the bandwagon.

[X-band '01]

4 years of failure and a shitty OOC will do that. They'll probably get closer to 8-9K once Big East play starts.

[Juice]

UC has averaged 4,583 in their home games so far this season

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/uc/2010/12/15/why-are-fans-staying-away-from-fifth-third-arena/

This is pretty funny

[Lamont Sanford]

Did anyone catch the article in yesterday's Enquirer? For whatever reason, the Enquirer is openly asking why UC still isn't ranked yet when they were 8-0 at the time (prior to beating Ga Southern down last night). Are you serious!?!? Dayton is the only decent team they have beaten to-date and they are up-and-down this year. UC's OOC schedule is a freaking joke this season and folks think they should now merit a ranking?!? Puuuuhhhhlease!

[CinciX12]

UC is still undefeated at 9-0. One of 3 big east teams to do so.

Their RPI is not in the top 100.

Their strength of schedule is 333 out of 345.

Perhaps those last two stats have something to do with not being ranked.

[smileyy]

Well, many parts of Cincinnati and the Enquirer still haven't seemed to move out of the 1990s, so I can understand why they might think a 9-0 team that has played The Little Sisters of the Blind deserves to be ranked.

[xu05usmc]

Overall, I will say I read the article differently than the other people on here. That article was a backhanded compliment at best. But I'll give the team credit they seemed to get it in the article:

“I would have to say it’s because we haven’t played anybody that’s been ranked,” said senior forward Rashad Bishop.

“People may think that we haven’t played enough teams yet that are good enough,” said sophomore point guard Cashmere Wright.

Said UC coach Mick Cronin: “I choose to focus on things that matter. I understand that the media and fans care about rankings and the schedule and this and that but that has nothing to do with who we are and what we’re trying to become.”

[bearcat65]

It seems Bishop and Wright understand why they aren't ranked. I understand as well. I am pleased however that they are beating these teams by margins that one would expect which was certainly not the case last year. Once the Big East schedule starts we will see how if this team is improved from last year.

[CinciX12]

Overall, I will say I read the article differently than the other people on here. That article was a backhanded compliment at best. But I'll give the team credit they seemed to get it in the article:

“I would have to say it’s because we haven’t played anybody that’s been ranked,” said senior forward Rashad Bishop.

“People may think that we haven’t played enough teams yet that are good enough,” said sophomore point guard Cashmere Wright.

Said UC coach Mick Cronin: “I choose to focus on things that matter. I understand that the media and fans care about rankings and the schedule and this and that but that has nothing to do with who we are and what we’re trying to become.”

See I would argue that Mick doesn't get it at all. His OOC resume will be pretty important when he has 6-7 wins in the Big East.

[Lamont Sanford]

The magic number to get into the NCAA Tourney isn't 20 wins like it used to be. RPI and SOS weigh in the ultimate decision-making process when it come time to select the non-automatic bids. Mick and his vertically challenged cousin at UDump fail to recognize this and continue to pad their schedules with the Georgia Southerns and Coppin States year after year.

UC will be exposed for the frauds they still are once Big Least play begins in the New Year.

[coasterville95]

Just overheard an interesting theory as to why UC regresses their scheduling each season to now feature a slate of Junior High CYO teams at home.

First a quote from YTG:

Said UC coach Mick Cronin: “I choose to focus on things that matter. I understand that the media and fans care about rankings and the schedule and this and that but that has nothing to do with who we are and what we’re trying to become.”

In this case the "things that matter" ahead of rankings, schedule, and fan opinion is, in fact, Cronin's own job! By now he surely has read enough press clippings, read enough of the UC fan boards, and probably gotten an earfull from alumni and others that may give him the impression his seat is roasting hot with flames about to shoot out.

Cronin needs to show UC's AD, Board, and heavy donors that he is, in fact, bringing constant improvement to the basketball program. Think back to pre-season, remeember that article that heaped accolades on UC because "We have gotten more wins each year that I've been here" Well, YTG can't do much about the Big East schedule, that BEast is set in stone by the conference office, and has its challenges built in. The only way YTG can pad more wins into the schedule and thus be able to demonstate 'constant improvement' is to progressivley load up the OOC part of the schedule with the worst dregs of D1 basketball he can find. Next year he won't have Oklahoma to worry about, so thats another junior high freshman team he can bring in. Heck, he might try to get us off his schedule, but I think he knows better than to go after that political landmine.

I can see it now if the rumored UK/UC game comes to fruition, "Sorry Xavier, but we already had a full slate of (elementary school teams) to play and just last night Calipari offered us the chance of a lifetime to play at Rupp Arena. (At a guarantee price the UC Athletic epartment couldn't refuse given their deficit), so I'm afraid we're gonna have to sit out on the Crosstown this year. Oh, this was your year to host at Cintas, sorry bout your luck."

[Power]

The magic number to get into the NCAA Tourney isn't 20 wins like it used to be. RPI and SOS weigh in the ultimate decision-making process when it come time to select the non-automatic bids. Mick and his vertically challenged cousin at UDump fail to recognize this and continue to pad their schedules with the Georgia Southerns and Coppin States year after year.

UC will be exposed for the frauds they still are once Big Least play begins in the New Year.

Name the last Big East team that won 22 games and didn't get in.

If you keep talking we are going to beat you by that much more. UC is vastly superior to X this year. UC is beat terrible teams by 40. X is beating wofford with miracle tip ins and 3 OTs. Losing to Miami OH. Barely beating IPFW.

I hope there are 5000 X fans there to witness that game. UC by 25. It won't be close

[_LH]

Name the last Big East team that won 22 games and didn't get in.

If you keep talking we are going to beat you by that much more. UC is vastly superior to X this year. UC is beat terrible teams by 40. X is beating wofford with miracle tip ins and 3 OTs. Losing to Miami OH. Barely beating IPFW.

I hope there are 5000 X fans there to witness that game. UC by 25. It won't be close

He said 20 wins was not the magic number, not 22. I'd be surprised if UC got to 22 wins before Selection Sunday but they sure scheduled enough cupcakes to get close even if they are not a very good team.

UC might win against XU this year but a 25 point win for either team is rare over the last 2 decades. Pay attention!

[Power]

He said 20 wins was not the magic number, not 22. I'd be surprised if UC got to 22 wins before Selection Sunday but they sure scheduled enough cupcakes to get close even if they are not a very good team.

UC might win against XU this year but a 25 point win for either team is rare over the last 2 decades. Pay attention!

Actually your right. I expect it to be close until the last 7-10 minutes.

[_LH]

Actually your right.

Just leave it at that and call it is day.

[PMI]

Name the last Big East team that won 22 games and didn't get in.

If you keep talking we are going to beat you by that much more. UC is vastly superior to X this year. UC is beat terrible teams by 40. X is beating wofford with miracle tip ins and 3 OTs. Losing to Miami OH. Barely beating IPFW.

I hope there are 5000 X fans there to witness that game. UC by 25. It won't be close

That's an intelligent comment. I'm curious, what position do you play for UC? Or are you the little ginger gnome that roams the sidelines?


Actually your right.

This in and of itself proves your idiocy.

Look, I'm impressed that UC still has a fan and all, but haven't you learned your lesson by now? UC has had a better start to the season with their CYO schedule. Awesome. Clearly that means they'll easily win the Crosstown Shootout. You are very knowledgeable about this rivalry and college basketball in general. And you concede to LH. You are a real winner.

[danaandvictory]

It's pretty simple. UC has scheduled this absolute joke of a non-conference slate for two reasons: (1) because Cronin is absolutely desperate to save his job, and (2) because when they go 7-11 in the Big East, they'll raise a hue and cry about how unjust it is for a Big East team with 21-22 wins to miss the Tournament, even if nine of those wins were against the Lakota Freshman School.

This is because UC under Cronin is an utterly pathetic, cloying embarrassment to that school and the city as a whole. And that will remain the case regardless of the result on January 6.

[Power]

It's pretty simple. UC has scheduled this absolute joke of a non-conference slate for two reasons: (1) because Cronin is absolutely desperate to save his job, and (2) because when they go 7-11 in the Big East, they'll raise a hue and cry about how unjust it is for a Big East team with 21-22 wins to miss the Tournament, even if nine of those wins were against the Lakota Freshman School.

This is because UC under Cronin is an utterly pathetic, cloying embarrassment to that school and the city as a whole. And that will remain the case regardless of the result on January 6.

UC was suppose to play Duke but ESPN replaced UC with Butler and gave UC the Oklahoma game instead. UC didn't realize Dayton and Xavier would be so poor. We thought it would be Duke(Neutral), X(Home), Dayton (Neutral), Miami OH (Away). That isn't too shabby. But why let facts get in the way.

None of this matters once Jan 6 comes.

[_LH]

UC was suppose to play Duke but ESPN replaced UC with Butler and gave UC the Oklahoma game instead. UC didn't realize Dayton and Xavier would be so poor. We thought it would be Duke(Neutral), X(Home), Dayton (Neutral), Miami OH (Away). That isn't too shabby. But why let facts get in the way.

None of this matters once Jan 6 comes.

Even with Duke, UC's schedule OOC would be a joke. The selection committee will see this come March.

And while I love beating UC almost yearly, the only thing that matters to XU fans is what the team does in March but since UC sucks in March I can understand you marking January 6th down.

[PMI]

UC was suppose to play Duke but ESPN replaced UC with Butler and gave UC the Oklahoma game instead. UC didn't realize Dayton and Xavier would be so poor. We thought it would be Duke(Neutral), X(Home), Dayton (Neutral), Miami OH (Away). That isn't too shabby. But why let facts get in the way.

None of this matters once Jan 6 comes.

Yea, why let facts get in the way? UC plays three local OOC teams, "tries to get Duke," and then schedules a bunch of little sisters. That's really going after it with the schedule. The fact is, it is very shabby. Very, very shabby competition. You're lucky you have X on the schedule. That is going to be your only acceptable loss out of conference this season. Do you honestly support little Mick or are you just doing your duties as a Clifton troll? Either way, you sound foolish.

Jan 6, you will take your annual ass-kicking at the hands of the relevant team in Cincinnati and you will like it. You'll then thank us for it and for the right to play us every year, even though we typically like to schedule real competition to prepare ourselves for the time of the year where we're still playing, and Mick is doing what he does best - bitching about how it's everyone's fault besides his own. Look forward to it.

[CinciX12]

UC was suppose to play Duke but ESPN replaced UC with Butler and gave UC the Oklahoma game instead. UC didn't realize Dayton and Xavier would be so poor. We thought it would be Duke(Neutral), X(Home), Dayton (Neutral), Miami OH (Away). That isn't too shabby. But why let facts get in the way.

None of this matters once Jan 6 comes.

Did you really just imply that ESPN changed UC's schedule? What are you on? I'd like some of it.

[DoubleD86]

I don't like to join in on bitching contests, but I just want to point this out to Power:

UC 9-0 RPI 104 (one below Wofford and 4 below Dayton). Do you know how bad your schedule has to be to be 9-0 and have that bad of an RPI? The next closes undefeated team is UCF at 8-0 with a 53 RPI.

Meanwhile, even though XU is 6-2, their RPI is 28.

Now, I know RPI doesn't mean nearly as much this early, so lets look at SOS ranks:
XU: 40
UC: 334

334 out of 348 D-I teams.

Now, UC may very well beat XU, and they have certainly looked better in the few games I have seen, but XU has been getting better. Most importantly, who is the better team means so very little in the Crosstown Shootout.

As for wishing there are 5000 XU fans at the game, I would be careful because that would be more than the average UC attendance figure, and I don't think you want more XU fans in the Shoe than UC fans do you?

[SixFig]

I don't like to join in on bitching contests, but I just want to point this out to Power:

UC 9-0 RPI 104 (one below Wofford and 4 below Dayton). Do you know how bad your schedule has to be to be 9-0 and have that bad of an RPI? The next closes undefeated team is UCF at 8-0 with a 53 RPI.

Meanwhile, even though XU is 6-2, their RPI is 28.

Now, I know RPI doesn't mean nearly as much this early, so lets look at SOS ranks:
XU: 40
UC: 334

334 out of 348 D-I teams.

Now, UC may very well beat XU, and they have certainly looked better in the few games I have seen, but XU has been getting better. Most importantly, who is the better team means so very little in the Crosstown Shootout.

As for wishing there are 5000 XU fans at the game, I would be careful because that would be more than the average UC attendance figure, and I don't think you want more XU fans in the Shoe than UC fans do you?

Spot on.

Cintas South will be rockin!

[coasterville95]

Question is - lets say the game has 10,000 fans - Will the 5/3 arena traffic cops, parking attendants, ticket sellers, ticket scanners, program sellers, ushers, food vendors and maybe most importantly :) beer vendors be able to handle such a large crowd after getting used to nice easy 4,000 person games.

Friendly advice: whatever you do, don't order the cheeseburger at 5/3rd Arena, I think a McDonalds kiddie burger would be a BIG step up in quality. If you find yourself in a must eat situation, go for the pizza, oh yeah from the ONE pizza stand in the whole building.

[bearcat65]

Did you really just imply that ESPN changed UC's schedule? What are you on? I'd like some of it.

Actually he's correct on that. ESPN swapped UC with Butler after the NCAA title game last season. They talked about this during the game last night on ESPNU.
While I do see UC's schedule as weak I don't necessarily fault them for doing it. UC will have plenty of opportunities to play quality teams in conference play. UC use to have to schedule tougher competition OOC due to the conference they played in. The opposite is true now. Cronin is using the OOC to try to build confidence and get them ready for the conference schedule. If they perform well in conference play they will make the tournament. If they go .500 or lower in conference play then they wouldn't deserve a bid regardless of who they played and beat OOC.

[_LH]

Problem is, if and when UC goes 8-8 in BE play with wins over Seton Hall, Providence, South Florida, DePaul and St. John's, he will be telling everyone that his team belongs in the NCAA tournament.

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

Problem is, if and when UC goes 8-8 in BE play with wins over Seton Hall, Providence, South Florida, DePaul and St. John's, he will be telling everyone that his team belongs in the NCAA tournament.

Their fan base is living on cloud 9. This is surreal. I've now seen fans clamoring about how UC is a potential final four team. Hilarious

[Power]

Their fan base is living on cloud 9. This is surreal. I've now seen fans clamoring about how UC is a potential final four team. Hilarious

Who??? I have not heard 1 UC fan even talked about 2nd round of the tournament. We have done what we should have so far. UC is playing good team ball right now. Cronin has these guys playing together.

It will be interesting to see how the Bearcats play against Miami OH who beat Xavier. Add that UC will be just getting back from a long road game.

[X-band '01]

UC had some halfway decent throwbacks last night - were those for the 1960s teams or the late 80s-early 90s?

But in the meantime, we'll see how they manage the classic trap game up at Miami of Oxford.

[CinciX12]

Actually he's correct on that. ESPN swapped UC with Butler after the NCAA title game last season. They talked about this during the game last night on ESPNU.
While I do see UC's schedule as weak I don't necessarily fault them for doing it. UC will have plenty of opportunities to play quality teams in conference play. UC use to have to schedule tougher competition OOC due to the conference they played in. The opposite is true now. Cronin is using the OOC to try to build confidence and get them ready for the conference schedule. If they perform well in conference play they will make the tournament. If they go .500 or lower in conference play then they wouldn't deserve a bid regardless of who they played and beat OOC.

ESPN cannot change schedules, I don't understand why they would have said that. ESPN might have told both schools they wouldn't broadcast to ifluence the decision, but they aren't changing the schedules around on people. It's not like it was an ESPN sponsored tournament or something and they gave out invitations.

You're one of the people that don't fault the school for the schedule though huh? Someone must have picked up the phone on Mike Thomas' desk while he was out and made phone calls to schedule the games. Maybe the cleaning staff at night did it.

Beating the teams in a pathetic OOC schedule and then beating the bottom dwellers of the Big East is not a successful year. I can't wait until you come back and tell us how it was.

[bearcat65]

ESPN cannot change schedules, I don't understand why they would have said that. ESPN might have told both schools they wouldn't broadcast to ifluence the decision, but they aren't changing the schedules around on people. It's not like it was an ESPN sponsored tournament or something and they gave out invitations.

You're one of the people that don't fault the school for the schedule though huh? Someone must have picked up the phone on Mike Thomas' desk while he was out and made phone calls to schedule the games. Maybe the cleaning staff at night did it.

Beating the teams in a pathetic OOC schedule and then beating the bottom dwellers of the Big East is not a successful year. I can't wait until you come back and tell us how it was.

Just repeating what was reported and Cronin reportedly also stated this pregame last evening. I'd have to take your word that you know more about it than them.
Yes I'm one of them. Most years Dayton isn't the push over they were this year, they still have Xavier coming up, and most years Oklahoma wouldn't be considered an easy game. I think I posted that a .500 or under conference record would not be tourney worthy IMO and if they do wind up over .500 in conference than they have done more than beat the bottom dwellers. Hell, I'd be pretty tickled to see them beat the bottom dwellers, be a change from recent years.

[_LH]

However, Mick Cronin will be calling for UC to be an at large team with 18 or more wins against garbage teams.

[bearcat65]

However, Mick Cronin will be calling for UC to be an at large team with 18 or more wins against garbage teams.

If he does it wouldn't be the first time he would have said something foolish.

[_LH]

That's true but some UC fans will believe him and echo his comments and I then have to hear it.

[Power]

However, Mick Cronin will be calling for UC to be an at large team with 18 or more wins against garbage teams.

Of coarse he is going to say his team should be in. What do you really expect?

Great thing about all of this is that we will get to say UC play Xavier in 2 weeks.

[_LH]

I expect him to understand how college basketball works and how selections are made for at large teams. You don't schedule half of the GCL in the OOC portion of your schedule and then complain when the committee or experts say you played/beat no one and don't deserve an at large bid.

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

Who??? I have not heard 1 UC fan even talked about 2nd round of the tournament. We have done what we should have so far. UC is playing good team ball right now. Cronin has these guys playing together.

It will be interesting to see how the Bearcats play against Miami OH who beat Xavier. Add that UC will be just getting back from a long road game.

Well, technically no one verbally. But multiple people on Cincinnati.com stories. This latest 10-0 story, some of the comments are:

"I think we'll go undefeated or lose 1 game in big east play"

"Potential final four team"

"We are better than Ohio State"

"God is inspiring this team"

"Ohio State and Xavier wish they were this good"

etc

[Power]

Well, technically no one verbally. But multiple people on Cincinnati.com stories. This latest 10-0 story, some of the comments are:

"I think we'll go undefeated or lose 1 game in big east play"

"Potential final four team"

"We are better than Ohio State"

"God is inspiring this team"

"Ohio State and Xavier wish they were this good"

etc

Well I apologize on behave of any "uc fan" who made any of those statements. That is not the general feeling around the UC fan base. But you got to take the source into consideration, these are the same people who will leave 150 comments killing UC for winning.

Most UC fans are cautiously optimistic about the start. I think most are hoping for a 10-8 Big East record and a total of 22-23 wins. I do think that would get us into the tournament but that isn't worth debating right now.

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

Well I apologize on behave of any "uc fan" who made any of those statements. That is not the general feeling around the UC fan base. But you got to take the source into consideration, these are the same people who will leave 150 comments killing UC for winning.

Most UC fans are cautiously optimistic about the start. I think most are hoping for a 10-8 Big East record and a total of 22-23 wins. I do think that would get us into the tournament but that isn't worth debating right now.

Gotcha. I realize most of the posters on Cincy.com are idiots but I wasn't sure what the real fan base was thinking. I think you have the right attitude. Cautiously optimistic.

At Miami will be reasonably tough(but I think UC should win)
Seton Hall will be tough(Again I think UC should win)
Depaul and St Francis should be cakewalks


So going into the Xavier game, I think UC will be 14-0 and top 25.

So xavier in the coming games has another opportunity to get a quality win with the rise of UC. Gonzaga, Florida, and UC.

UC will have an opportunity for a quality win vs X(The first top 100 team they have played all year). This game is much more important for both teams than in past years. Should be good!

[_LH]

10-8 in the BE may or may not get UC in. It depends on who the actually beat in BE play as one can easily pick up 6-9 wins without beating anyone of consiquence. UC plays St. John's and DePaul twice.

[PM Thor]

Tonights Games...

UC vs conference foe Depaul (6-7).
Score 76-60.
Depaul RPI 272.
Depaul SOS 280
Attendance (supposedly) 7,795

Xavier vs UAlbany (7-7).
Score 88-64.
UAlbany RPI 251.
UAlbany SOS 332
Attendance 10,004

Lets call the opponents a wash as it is right now, even though UC is playing a conference foe, and X is playing a team out of the AEC.

But how does an undefeated UC fanbase explain how X is outdrawing them, not by a little, but by a TON on the season?

UC fans. The Detroit Lions fans of the NCAA.

I HATE dayton.

[Masterofreality]

Tonights Games...

UC vs conference foe Depaul (6-7).
Score 76-60.
Depaul RPI 272.
Depaul SOS 280
Attendance (supposedly) 7,795

Xavier vs UAlbany (7-7).
Score 88-64.
UAlbany RPI 251.
UAlbany SOS 332
Attendance 10,004

Lets call the opponents a wash as it is right now, even though UC is playing a conference foe, and X is playing a team out of the AEC.

But how does an undefeated UC fanbase explain how X is outdrawing them, not by a little, but by a TON on the season?

UC fans. The Detroit Lions fans of the NCAA.

I HATE dayton.

THATS funny stuff. Good work, P.

Oh. All Big Greased games are monster games, aren't they?

[Power]

THATS funny stuff. Good work, P.

Oh. All Big Greased games are monster games, aren't they?

Yes. All Big East games are monster games. You wouldn't understand.;)

[PM Thor]

Yes. All Big East games are monster games. You wouldn't understand.;)

That UC fans don't attend, nice fanbase!

I HATE dayton.

[coasterville95]

Let's just hope UC shows up for Seton Hall. That would really be a buzzkill to lose to a team that has practically become an 'honorary' member of the A10 with the following results:

11/12/10 - @Temple - they lost - 62-56
11/21/10 - #Xavier - they lost - 57-52 (Paradise Jam) Playing 5 on Tu Holloway at that!
12/11/10 - @UMass - they won! - 104-79 (note to self: UMass must really suck this year)
12/22/10 - Dayton - they lost - 69-65 (Gulp: that means UD won)
12/26/10 - Richmond - they lost - 68-61

That's 4-1 against the A10 - Remember that should UC lose and we hear YTG proclaiming from the rafters: "Are you telling me Seton Hall wouldn't win the A10!"

Every Big East game is a monster game - PUH-LEEZE

BTW: I heard that UC Marketing is good, but I didn't realize they had gone and started to sell Coach Mick Cronin action figures!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5046/5305080117_e1268ddc10_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/coasterville/5305080117/)
YTG? (http://www.flickr.com/photos/coasterville/5305080117/) by Coasterville (http://www.flickr.com/people/coasterville/), on Flickr

[ReturnOfTheMack]

I expect him to understand how college basketball works and how selections are made for at large teams. You don't schedule half of the GCL in the OOC portion of your schedule and then complain when the committee or experts say you played/beat no one and don't deserve an at large bid.

As a Man of Moeller I kindly ask you not to insult the GCL.

[Eastside_J]

He said 20 wins was not the magic number, not 22. I'd be surprised if UC got to 22 wins before Selection Sunday but they sure scheduled enough cupcakes to get close even if they are not a very good team.

UC might win against XU this year but a 25 point win for either team is rare over the last 2 decades. Pay attention!

Interesting thread - I read through and had to laugh at how it has changed in tenor and substance since PM posted it in the beginning of November.

LH, You are right about 25 being rare in the last twenty shootouts. Neither team has had a margin of victory that large.

And in the last twenty games X certainly has gotten the best of the series with 11 wins to UC's 9.

But when it comes to average margin of victory over those twenty games, the race has not exactly been a close one. UC's average margin of victory is 12.1 Pts with all games decided in regulation- Xavier's is 5.4 pts with three wins coming in Overtime.

What does it mean for this year? Perhaps nothing. I have no clue and am not going to speculate. Obviously X has proven themselves capable of losing to anyone, even a d2 squad. And yet X has some positive qualities and have one player, Holloway, has become a truly become a multi-faceted, dangerous player.

UC on the other hand has handily beaten all the teams they have played but still haven't played a truly high quality team yet (and won't until Villanova on the 9th). The cupcakes were a bit too light and airy and it would have been really nice if Dayton and Oklahoma could have held up their end of the quality OOC game bargain.

But as we all know all this talk is for crap. The shootout is not a regular game, these guys have played against each other and seen each other too often and know way too much about each other to enter a game with the usual relative vacuum of game tape preparation. Its an anomaly, and an emotional game for both sides, for that reason anything can happen and often does.

But if the last two decades of history holds true, a win for X is likely to come at a small margin, if not in overtime. If UC is successful it is likely to be a double digit beat down.

So in sum, you are wrong LH, as usual.

Please pay attention.

[xubrew]

Actually he's correct on that. ESPN swapped UC with Butler after the NCAA title game last season. They talked about this during the game last night on ESPNU.
While I do see UC's schedule as weak I don't necessarily fault them for doing it. UC will have plenty of opportunities to play quality teams in conference play. UC use to have to schedule tougher competition OOC due to the conference they played in. The opposite is true now. Cronin is using the OOC to try to build confidence and get them ready for the conference schedule. If they perform well in conference play they will make the tournament. If they go .500 or lower in conference play then they wouldn't deserve a bid regardless of who they played and beat OOC.

that sounds crazy. for starters, that game is set up by a third party, and this year it was finalized in may, which is still early when it comes to basketball scheduling. oklahoma was still looking for an opponent long after that. this is the first year espn has had anything to do with the game in the meadowlands. in the past it has been on cbs. it's my understanding that it wasn't until the game was set that espn went for it, so espn had absolutely nothing to do with setting it up. it's my understanding that cbs actually wanted it, but couldn't broadcast it on that date at that time (kentucky vs north carolina basketball, and the sec title game), but it was the only weekend date that would work for both butler and duke. from the sound of it the promoters went out of their way to accomodate those two schools, and never had any interest at all in uc. maybe uc contacted them to say that they were interested, but other than that i don't think they were highly consdiered. the two groups that organize those two events are completely different from one another, so it isn't likely that they would just swap one for the other.

[bearcat65]

that sounds crazy. for starters, that game is set up by a third party, and this year it was finalized in may, which is still early when it comes to basketball scheduling. oklahoma was still looking for an opponent long after that. this is the first year espn has had anything to do with the game in the meadowlands. in the past it has been on cbs. it's my understanding that it wasn't until the game was set that espn went for it, so espn had absolutely nothing to do with setting it up. it's my understanding that cbs actually wanted it, but couldn't broadcast it on that date at that time (kentucky vs north carolina basketball, and the sec title game), but it was the only weekend date that would work for both butler and duke. from the sound of it the promoters went out of their way to accomodate those two schools, and never had any interest at all in uc. maybe uc contacted them to say that they were interested, but other than that i don't think they were highly consdiered. the two groups that organize those two events are completely different from one another, so it isn't likely that they would just swap one for the other.

Again, it was talked about during the game by commentators who I assume are employed by ESPN and it was also talked about by Cronin. If you know more about it than they or have better info and could refute what they said by providing a link I would certainly appreciate it so I would know for sure they were incorrect.

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

I expect him to understand how college basketball works and how selections are made for at large teams. You don't schedule half of the GCL in the OOC portion of your schedule and then complain when the committee or experts say you played/beat no one and don't deserve an at large bid.

Sounds like _LH is dead on in his analysis. From Lance's blog:

CBS Sports
Cincinnati, which is 14-0 and has two Big East wins already, is way down at 69th in the RPI this morning. That's a stunning number. I've been tracking RPI since 1993-94 and could not find a 14-0 team that far down. The last undefeated team on New Year's Day that far down in the rankings was Texas A&M in 2006 (95th at 10-0).
When you play a schedule like that, you are basically saying that you intend to make your case for the tournament in conference. That means not just muddling through, but doing very well. Cincinnati probably needs at least 12 wins, and even that may not do it for them. They cannot afford to be anywhere near the bottom of the at-large pool with a non-conference schedule that bad.

[xubrew]

Again, it was talked about during the game by commentators who I assume are employed by ESPN and it was also talked about by Cronin. If you know more about it than they or have better info and could refute what they said by providing a link I would certainly appreciate it so I would know for sure they were incorrect.

those generally aren't the things that you can just link. here is the press release from may 3rd, so at the very least uc knew very early on that they weren't playing in it.

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/05/duke-rematch-vs-butler-set-for-meadowlands.html

i'm not saying that uc didn't want to play in it. i'm saying that it sounds very odd that they would be under the impression they were in it, then get booted and placed in another game in another city with another promoter on another date all before may 3rd.

like i said, that sounds crazy. i have no doubt that the commentators talked about it on tv, but that doesn't make it sound any less crazy.

[xubrew]

Sounds like _LH is dead on in his analysis. From Lance's blog:

CBS Sports
Cincinnati, which is 14-0 and has two Big East wins already, is way down at 69th in the RPI this morning. That's a stunning number. I've been tracking RPI since 1993-94 and could not find a 14-0 team that far down. The last undefeated team on New Year's Day that far down in the rankings was Texas A&M in 2006 (95th at 10-0).
When you play a schedule like that, you are basically saying that you intend to make your case for the tournament in conference. That means not just muddling through, but doing very well. Cincinnati probably needs at least 12 wins, and even that may not do it for them. They cannot afford to be anywhere near the bottom of the at-large pool with a non-conference schedule that bad.

if uc wins twelve big east games they'll be safely in. lance has a point, but he's way overstating it.

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

if uc wins twelve big east games they'll be safely in. lance has a point, but he's way overstating it.

I should have clarified my post. That was Jerry Palm not lance saying that. Lance is all aboard the "UC is the greatest team in the country" bandwagon

[danaandvictory]

I should have clarified my post. That was Jerry Palm not lance saying that. Lance is all aboard the "UC is the greatest team in the country" bandwagon

Lance knows fuck-all about basketball. He's an idiot.

[_LH]

Interesting thread - I read through and had to laugh at how it has changed in tenor and substance since PM posted it in the beginning of November.

LH, You are right about 25 being rare in the last twenty shootouts. Neither team has had a margin of victory that large.

And in the last twenty games X certainly has gotten the best of the series with 11 wins to UC's 9.

But when it comes to average margin of victory over those twenty games, the race has not exactly been a close one. UC's average margin of victory is 12.1 Pts with all games decided in regulation- Xavier's is 5.4 pts with three wins coming in Overtime.

What does it mean for this year? Perhaps nothing. I have no clue and am not going to speculate. Obviously X has proven themselves capable of losing to anyone, even a d2 squad. And yet X has some positive qualities and have one player, Holloway, has become a truly become a multi-faceted, dangerous player.

UC on the other hand has handily beaten all the teams they have played but still haven't played a truly high quality team yet (and won't until Villanova on the 9th). The cupcakes were a bit too light and airy and it would have been really nice if Dayton and Oklahoma could have held up their end of the quality OOC game bargain.

But as we all know all this talk is for crap. The shootout is not a regular game, these guys have played against each other and seen each other too often and know way too much about each other to enter a game with the usual relative vacuum of game tape preparation. Its an anomaly, and an emotional game for both sides, for that reason anything can happen and often does.

But if the last two decades of history holds true, a win for X is likely to come at a small margin, if not in overtime. If UC is successful it is likely to be a double digit beat down.

So in sum, you are wrong LH, as usual.

Please pay attention.

I am far from wrong. UC will probably win this year due to the location and issues at XU but I think it will be a very close game. I also think UC has to win a lot of BE games to get an at large as the selection committee will not be impressed with their OOC wins or wins over bottom third BE teams.

[xubrew]

I should have clarified my post. That was Jerry Palm not lance saying that. Lance is all aboard the "UC is the greatest team in the country" bandwagon

i thought that comment sounded a little too intelligent for lance.

okay, so jerry palm has a point, but i think he's overstating it. if they go 12-6 (.667) in big east play, i think they'll be more than safe. they did themselves no favors scheduling so weak because if they end up 9-9 or even 10-8, they have nothing to fall back on. 12-6 should be more than enough, though. depaul, seton hall, south florida, rutgers, and providence only account for six of their big east games. in order to win twelve, they'll have to beat some good teams to do it.

[PM Thor]

Compare and contrast tonights home games for both teams.
X played a 9-5, #74 RPI team, drew 9,832.
UC played a 6-11, #125 RPI team, drew 6,201.

X won by 29. UC won by 8.

Hmm. So I heard that UCs attendance would ramp up in conference play (whose doesn't?), and the fans would show up.

I guess the talking heads have no clue. They have added maybe 2500 to their home games in conference or so. 6-7 thousand, just above half full.

Congratulations UC fans. You are an embarassment. Laughable.

I HATE dayton.

[Juice]

Compare and contrast tonights home games for both teams.
X played a 9-5, #74 RPI team, drew 9,832.
UC played a 6-11, #125 RPI team, drew 6,201.

X won by 29. UC won by 8.

Hmm. So I heard that UCs attendance would ramp up in conference play (whose doesn't?), and the fans would show up.

I guess the talking heads have no clue. They have added maybe 2500 to their home games in conference or so. 6-7 thousand, just above half full.

Congratulations UC fans. You are an embarassment. Laughable.

I HATE dayton.

Mo Egger tweeted this last night:

MoEgger1530 Mo Egger
After 13,176 a week ago, there might be 3,000 people at Fifth Third, ten minutes before tip.

[Power]

Compare and contrast tonights home games for both teams.
X played a 9-5, #74 RPI team, drew 9,832.
UC played a 6-11, #125 RPI team, drew 6,201.

X won by 29. UC won by 8.

Hmm. So I heard that UCs attendance would ramp up in conference play (whose doesn't?), and the fans would show up.

I guess the talking heads have no clue. They have added maybe 2500 to their home games in conference or so. 6-7 thousand, just above half full.

Congratulations UC fans. You are an embarassment. Laughable.

I HATE dayton.

Whats your point? We worked X over. The embarrassment was Frease trying to guard Yancy or Mack trying to coach with Mick. Both were *** kickings.

[Juice]

Whats your point? We worked X over. The embarrassment was Frease trying to guard Yancy or Mack trying to coach with Mick. Both were *** kickings.

It's not about the teams, it's about the fan bases. Yours is pathetic, ours not so much.

[boozehound]

It's not about the teams, it's about the fan bases. Yours is pathetic, ours not so much.

Yeah. You've got to love the last few remaining UC fans getting some kicks at Xavier's expense while they can. I certainly can't blame them. They have become what they used to make fun of us for. This win will be the crown jewel of their season. They aren't going to beat anybody good in conference. They still have a lame duck head coach who doesn't know how to win and the fans aren't coming to games. Wait until their annual conference play melt-down. They will be giving away tickets.

As a Xavier fan, I hope that Cronin gives them just enough hope to get another year.

[Juice]

Daugherty makes a pretty lame excuse for UC fans:


UC is nice to watch, for lots of reasons. But the fans still aren’t representing. Part of it is, there is no Guy. When Huggins was here, he almost always had a Guy. Van Exel, Fortson, Kenyon, Logan. Even Levett and Ruben Patterson were Guys. People went to games to watch them. They were the face of the team.

As decent as these Bearcats are, they are faceless. There is no Guy.

They come at you in waves, yes. But tell me the difference between Dion Dixon and Larry Davis, win fabulous prizes. Both good talents, but not players you’d pay your $12 to see.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/daugherty/2011/01/13/the-computer-nervous-breakdown-line-11311/

He obviously doesn't understand the appeal of college sports. It's about the program, not individual players. Does having exciting players make it more fun to watch? Sure. But I don't like XU basketball because TU Holloway is playing well this year.

[X-band '01]

Lance Stephenson was a Guy but look what that got UC last year.

[_LH]

Whats your point? We worked X over. The embarrassment was Frease trying to guard Yancy or Mack trying to coach with Mick. Both were *** kickings.

Congrats on UC's first win in 4 years against a depleted XU team. Yes, Gates did out play Frease but Cronin can't out coach junior high coaches let alone Mack. Watch the next 14 games for UC and you will see how bad Cronin is. :p

[Kahns Krazy]

1/13/11 10:25 PM. I agree with _LH. Mark it down.

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

1/13/11 10:25 PM. I agree with _LH. Mark it down.


Sounds like _LH is dead on in his analysis. From Lance's blog:




I am far from wrong.

_LH has made some good points in this thread. Hopefully he continues that this trend and starts to come around on the positive developments going on downtown

[_LH]

I make good points in every thread I post in including those that are pro downtown but anti streetcar and yes, one can be anti streetcar and pro downtown/OTR.

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

I make good points in every thread I post in including those that are pro downtown but anti streetcar and yes, one can be anti streetcar and pro downtown/OTR.

Well, lets not get carried away. But you've been on point lately. I'm a fan of the _LH in this thread

[_LH]

Well, lets not get carried away. But you've been on point lately. I'm a fan of the _LH in this thread

Nothing to get carried away about. You should be a fan of me every where. Follow me on twitter. ;)

[PM Thor]

Whats your point? We worked X over. The embarrassment was Frease trying to guard Yancy or Mack trying to coach with Mick. Both were *** kickings.

My point is your fans suck. You are being outdrawn by a signifigantly smaller school, with a worse record, in a weaker conference.

Again, your fans suck. I could walk up to the window at the next UC home game and get a pretty good ticket for about $10. UC fans are a joke, and aren't showing up.

I HATE dayton.

[SixFig]

Somewhere Art Long just found his soulmate

Florida woman accused of slapping a police horse


After spending nearly 12 hours behind bars, accused of slapping a police horse, a Florida woman is out of jail Monday facing misdemeanor charges in the incident.

"A horse was literally right in my face all of a sudden," Stephanie Six told CNN affiliate Bay News 9. "So I put my hand up into his face as a reaction."

[Xman95]

I've always thought the title of this thread should have just been "If UC played basketball" - that's it.

[coasterville95]

Looky there - UC may get another sell out - according to their email (benefit of buying crosstown tickets) - they have only 100 left for tomorrow night. Of course who knows if people are coming to see UC or Huggins.

Even funnier in that email is the way they treat the Rutgers win like they had just knocked off Duke. "Yesterdays EXCITING victory!"

[X-band '01]

Looky there - UC may get another sell out - according to their email (benefit of buying crosstown tickets) - they have only 100 left for tomorrow night. Of course who knows if people are coming to see UC or Huggins.

Even funnier in that email is the way they treat the Rutgers win like they had just knocked off Duke. "Yesterdays EXCITING victory over a BIG EAST opponent!"

Finished it for you Coaster.

[PM Thor]

Xavier Attendance: 9,824
UC Attendance: 6,404

How can UC fans look themselves in the face? They can't outdraw an X team that is playing inferior teams. UC fans are a pretty sad bunch.

I HATE dayton.

[Juice]

Xavier Attendance: 9,824
UC Attendance: 6,404

How can UC fans look themselves in the face? They can't outdraw an X team that is playing inferior teams. UC fans are a pretty sad bunch.

I HATE dayton.

And the fact that UC's fan base is exponentially larger than XU's

[Eastside_J]

Yeah. You've got to love the last few remaining UC fans getting some kicks at Xavier's expense while they can. I certainly can't blame them. They have become what they used to make fun of us for. This win will be the crown jewel of their season. They aren't going to beat anybody good in conference. They still have a lame duck head coach who doesn't know how to win and the fans aren't coming to games. Wait until their annual conference play melt-down. They will be giving away tickets.

As a Xavier fan, I hope that Cronin gives them just enough hope to get another year.

You do realize that beating St. Johns away would represent your best win of the year, by far. And the saddest part of the story is that you have no other games of comparable quality on the rest of your schedule.

To put it another way - you had a pretty decent OOC schedule and managed to lose to ALL the quality teams you played. Now even the BEST remaining games on your schedule are against teams that are marginal bubble teams at best.

I understand that you guys are feeling your oats not that you are deep in the comfort of the pillowy soft A-10 schedule.

But a little perspective is indeed in order. You are still the team that has been showing its a$$ from a basketball performance and player behavior perspective against tough competition all year.

That said - please continue winning. There is no hope for your RPI and SOS but to sink. But every win helps our which is great. :D

Best of luck.

[Juice]

You do realize that beating St. Johns away would represent your best win of the year, by far. And the saddest part of the story is that you have no other games of comparable quality on the rest of your schedule.

To put it another way - you had a pretty decent OOC schedule and managed to lose to ALL the quality teams you played. Now even the BEST remaining games on your schedule are against teams that are marginal bubble teams at best.

I understand that you guys are feeling your oats not that you are deep in the comfort of the pillowy soft A-10 schedule.

But a little perspective is indeed in order. You are still the team that has been showing its a$$ from a basketball performance and player behavior perspective against tough competition all year.

That said - please continue winning. There is no hope for your RPI and SOS but to sink. But every win helps our which is great. :D

Best of luck.

That's okay, the A10 bottom dwellers (Bonaventure and Fordham) already took care of St. Johns.

[PM Thor]

That's okay, the A10 bottom dwellers (Bonaventure and Fordham) already took care of St. Johns.

Boom. Try the veal.

Look at the numbers, UC is the WORST BE team in terms of RPI by a wide, wide margin. #137, next lowest is Rutgers by 60 points. So UC will benefit simply by playing, and losing to, their conference foes. Well done UC, you are in a tough conference, and benefit by hanging out with the pretty people.

Best part is Eastside has finally decided to come out of his cicadaesque disappearance, only to harp on Xs conference schedule.

Whereas the reality is, X can't control conference scheduling, but CAN control OOC scheduling, just like UC. And when it came to OOC scheduling, Xavier had a top 30 out of conference schedule, and UC had a 320ish type schedule. Aaaand UC can't get fans into the stands even in conference. For shame EJ. For shame.

I HATE dayton.

[Smails]

How many time does someone have to me made a fool of before they wave the white flag?

Congrats on the sell out on Saturday. The return of your morally bankrupt hero might just pump a little life into a program and athletic department that's currently dying on the vine.

[Juice]

How many time does someone have to me made a fool of before they wave the white flag?

Congrats on the sell out on Saturday. The return of your morally bankrupt hero might just pump a little life into a program and athletic department that's currently dying on the vine.

The worst part is that the UC fans are going to hoot and holler (because they are red necks) about the win on Saturday not knowing that WVU has about 8 players left.

[Power]

A couple things.

1. Why the hell do you care about our attendence? That is the type of trash talk that people start saying after they get beat by 20 because they can't say anything about on court preformance.

2. WVU is a top 20 RPI team and a tournament bound team. They played #21 really tough at Louisville. People didn't give a **** when UC had a depleted roster for Micks first 3 seasons and still use his previous record against him and say how awful that was.

3. Our SOS will end up better than X's because of the Big East. Playing Florida, UC, Gonzaga and Georgia is great. But if you lose all your top OOC games what good is that?

4. UC is still 20 points better than X. Beating A-10 garbage doesn't change that.

[blobfan]

A couple things.

1. Why the hell do you care about our attendence? ...
Because if you idiots actually spent time at the games you might be too busy to come trolling on XU message boards and posting smack on our news articles.


2. WVU is a top 20 RPI team and a tournament bound team. They played #21 really tough at Louisville. People didn't give a **** when UC had a depleted roster for Micks first 3 seasons and still use his previous record against him and say how awful that was.

I'm hoping they are strong enough to put a home court beat down on you. I've been rooting for UC success (aside from the shootout) but I've had about enough of the crap this season. You win a few cupcake games and the morons come crawling out of the woodwork ready to service the YTG, pretending he's the second coming of Huggins.


3. Our SOS will end up better than X's because of the Big East. Playing Florida, UC, Gonzaga and Georgia is great. But if you lose all your top OOC games what good is that?

I'll believe it when I see it. You have had too many late-season collapses with decent players to risk placing money on this.


4. UC is still 20 points better than X. Beating A-10 garbage doesn't change that.
One day dude. For a couple hours on one day UC was better than X. All teams have off days and we've had a tough year. One game does not the season make. Our team is going to keep fighting. We'll see who's still playing in March.

[X-band '01]

One more red dot to go Power. Keep drinking the Big East Kool-Aid and assuming all UC needs to do is get in the tournament on the BE's coattails.

[paulxu]

Didn't we have this same conversation last year, right before they went to the NIT and lost to an A-10 team who couldn't make it to the big dance?

[xu95]

Dance Card gives Xavier a better chance of making the Dance than UC.

xu95

[coasterville95]

Shouldn't Power and Eastside J be gearing up for that Big East rivalry game with Bob Huggins and his Mountaineers. I mean they did sell out, so it must be a pretty big game in Bearcat land.

I can't imagine on the eve of one of their biggest games of the season they would be hanging out on another teams board wondering what we are saying abut them.

I'd say hanging out on another schools board ranks higher on the scale than merely talking about the other school, on a Smack Thread that has become more running gag (their lack of attendance) than real full on smack. I mean this thread is like the punching bag in the corner, when we just need to dive in for a quick jab, we drop past here.

Why would we be talking about UC, well it IS Div 1 Basketball, it IS in Cincinnati, and we are professed basketball fans. We may not like you, but from the standpoint of being basketball fans, we at least keep tabs of the hoops action in our city.

[Filthy Chilean]

[QUOTE=Power;241408]A couple things.

1. Why the hell do you care about our attendence? That is the type of trash talk that people start saying after they get beat by 20 because they can't say anything about on court preformance.
QUOTE]

What is "court preformance?"

[OTRMUSKIE]

Can we get rid of UC basketball all together? They are giving the city of Cincinnati a bad name. What a joke of a program, oh wait they play in the big east, they are a premier team.

[Kahns Krazy]

It takes a rare event for me to root for anything from the city of Shittsburgh. When Pitt is playing UC is one of them. I'm looking forward to the Cats getting pummeled.

[Kahns Krazy]

There is some idiot in the front row at the UC game wearing that "BUCKEYE STATE" shirt. When UC drops this game and falls to 11th in the conference and 4-6 over their last ten, it will basically finish their hopes of an NCAA appearance barring some sort of miracle against UConn or Georgetown.

[Kahns Krazy]

Boy does UC suck. They just got called for goaltending on a ball that went in. They can't even cheat right.

[X-band '01]

At the rate they're playing, Daytona 500 qualifying is more compelling programming than UC basketball.

But thankfully there's Xavier pregame instead.

[Xpectations]

Typical Mick Cronin. Meltdown late in the season. Players thrown under the bus. Coach takes no responsibility.

Xavier is twice the team that played against UC. The Bearcats are half the team they were then. Night and day difference.

Every player on their team is playing worse. Cheekz, Dante', Kenny, Jamel, Robinson and Taylor are ALL playing far better than they were earlier.

We could play tomorrow in Mick Cronin's basement with his mom and dad as refs and we'd kick their ass by 15.

[X-band '01]

Typical Mick Cronin. Meltdown late in the season. Players thrown under the bus. Coach takes no responsibility.

Xavier is twice the team that played against UC. The Bearcats are half the team they were then. Night and day difference.

Every player on their team is playing worse. Cheekz, Dante', Kenny, Jamel, Robinson and Taylor are ALL playing far better than they were earlier.

We could play tomorrow in Mick Cronin's basement with his mom and dad as refs and we'd kick their ass by 15.

And they'd STILL be on the bubble. Reps on the way.

[BandAid]

Short answer: no, they wouldn't make a sound.

The better question is if a fat chick falls in the woods, do the trees laugh?





Yes, it comes in a t-shirt:
http://funnytshirts.savatoons.com/images/fatgirl.jpg

[Kahns Krazy]

UC reported attendance in the 7,300 range for yesterday's game. Critical game in February, and they sell a little over half of the tickets. Good work.

[PM Thor]

UC reported attendance in the 7,300 range for yesterday's game. Critical game in February, and they sell a little over half of the tickets. Good work.

On a Sunday afternoon with absolutely nothing else going on in Cincy either. Wow.

Hearing them boo Gates though was really awesome though. I don't see how that kid comes back next year, or Hell, makes it to the end of the season.

I HATE dayton.

[Ledgewood]

Is it true that the only two games they sold out was us and another Huggins return game?

[Kahns Krazy]

Is it true that the only two games they sold out was us and another Huggins return game?

This is true. Other than those 2 games, UC is averaging about 5,500 a game.

[Kahns Krazy]

On a Sunday afternoon with absolutely nothing else going on in Cincy either. Wow.

Hearing them boo Gates though was really awesome though. I don't see how that kid comes back next year, or Hell, makes it to the end of the season.

I HATE dayton.

Beerfest was yesterday! What are you talking about nothing going on?

[PM Thor]

Beerfest is every day in my neck of the woods.

I HATE dayton.

[Kahns Krazy]

A loss tonight might be the nail in the NIT coffin for Mick and the boys. I think because of the 20 point smackdown they laid on us this year, I'm enjoying the collapse more than usual.

Suck it, leprechaun.

[paulxu]

I HATE dayton.


Suck it, leprechaun.

I detect a common theme.

[coasterville95]

I happened to catch the sports report on the ten o clock news last night.

Somebody made the mistake of gving the Gnome a microphone.

He said (paraphrasing a little bit) - "We're still right in this, look at Villanova they are 7-5 in the Big East and ranked #15, we are 6-6 in the Big East, only one game behind them, they have the same overall record as us. I don't understand all the negativity"

Note: I presume they filmed that interview before the Villanova game last night, as they are now 8-5 Big East. Note also - Nova has played: UCLA. Tennesee, Temple - not exactly the pastry cart schedule UC played. Nova also just beat Seton Hall by only 3, FWIW.

[Ledgewood]

I happened to catch the sports report on the ten o clock news last night.

Somebody made the mistake of gving the Gnome a microphone.

He said (paraphrasing a little bit) - "We're still right in this, look at Villanova they are 7-5 in the Big East and ranked #15, we are 6-6 in the Big East, only one game behind them, they have the same overall record as us. I don't understand all the negativity"

Note: I presume they filmed that interview before the Villanova game last night, as they are now 8-5 Big East. Note also - Nova has played: UCLA. Tennesee, Temple - not exactly the pastry cart schedule UC played. Nova also just beat Seton Hall by only 3, FWIW.

Wow... that is just some of the most pathetic spin I've ever heard.

[coasterville95]

Their delusional fan base starts in the Head Coach's office.

Speaking of which - Where do they keep the telephone book in the UC Men;s Basketball head coaches office?

[xu2006]

UC reported attendance in the 7,300 range for yesterday's game. Critical game in February, and they sell a little over half of the tickets. Good work.

When is their GroupOn game? I about fell out of my chair laughing when I saw that deal. Buy one get one tickets to a men's basketball game? Really?

We'd have to have 22,000 seats in Cintas if we ran that deal.

[X-band '01]

That was the St. John's game - they were also adding vouchers for an even more pathetic UC women's basketball team to sweeten the pot.

Groupon ads are annoying enough as it is - frankly I'm never going to click on those links if that's the crap they're trying to sell.

[Kahns Krazy]

UC must lose tonight. I really want them to lose out so that they really aren't even on the bubble. C'mon Mick. I know you can do it!

[blobfan]

UC must lose tonight. I really want them to lose out so that they really aren't even on the bubble. C'mon Mick. I know you can do it!

I strongly agree but have to ask, why do we care? Really, why does it mean so much to us to see them fail? I really think some soul searching on this topic could bring to light some deep seated personal issues I and other UC-haters have.

Unfortunately I'm still revelling in X's destruction of LaSalle last night and salivating over the upcoming annihilation of the melonheads up the road. Personal growth will just have to wait for another day.
:D
:logo::logo::logo:

[Kahns Krazy]

This year it's because they thumped us, and I've been hearing about it all year. (Kahns Krazette is a UC grad). I really want Cronin to suck it up so bad down the stretch that even with the "good win" against us, they still miss the dance.

[blobfan]

This year it's because they thumped us, and I've been hearing about it all year. (Kahns Krazette is a UC grad). I really want Cronin to suck it up so bad down the stretch that even with the "good win" against us, they still miss the dance.
My regret over the thumping is far outweighed by my joy at the success X has had since. I think I'm allergic to people who use the media to whine and complain and throw 20 year old students under the bus. Or maybe I'm just susceptable to negative group think and spend to much time on this message board.

Naaaaaaahhhh!

[Masterofreality]

This year it's because they thumped us, and I've been hearing about it all year. (Kahns Krazette is a UC grad). I really want Cronin to suck it up so bad down the stretch that even with the "good win" against us, they still miss the dance.

This.

Tonight, SucKS. Epic Fail.

[Kahns Krazy]

Dammit. Dance card punched. The freaking leprachaun pulled it off.

Having said that, I watched the first half of that game last night. The way we are playing right now, we would have smoked both of those teams. That is some ugly basketball.

[Smails]

Cheer up KK. Look on the bright side..this year's pocket success for UC might lead to an extension for YTG. That would be glorious!

[boozehound]

This may be a good thing for X fans. A tournament appearance would quite likely get Cronin off of the hot seat (or hot 'booster' seat, or 'hot high chair' as the case may be). I fully support UC giving Cronin and extension.

[Eastside_J]

Dammit. Dance card punched. The freaking leprachaun pulled it off.

Having said that, I watched the first half of that game last night. The way we are playing right now, we would have smoked both of those teams. That is some ugly basketball.


I love this place!

We got our second 10 top 25 win in a week (including a road win) and you are talking trash after a nail biter versus FORDHAM and then beating LASALLE!!

So bizarre and yet so perfect, I love it, you are feeling your oats after beating LASALLE. Hahahaa!

Too funny.

Just dropped by and so glad I did, thanks for the laugh!

[boozehound]

I love this place!

We got our second 10 top 25 win in a week (including a road win) and you are talking trash after a nail biter versus FORDHAM and then beating LASALLE!!

So bizarre and yet so perfect, I love it, you are feeling your oats after beating LASALLE. Hahahaa!

Too funny.

Just dropped by and so glad I did, thanks for the laugh!

What's even funnier is somebody coming to the message board of a team that has made 3 straight Sweet 16's feeling his oats because his laughing stock of a basketball program is finally going to make the NCAA tournament again (after what? 5 years?)

Now that's funny...

[SixFig]

Not gonna lie I am impressed with the way Cronin has turned it around. I counted them for dead, but apparently I was mistaken.

[D-West & PO-Z]

What's even funnier is somebody coming to the message board of a team that has made 3 straight Sweet 16's feeling his oats because his laughing stock of a basketball program is finally going to make the NCAA tournament again (after what? 5 years?)

Now that's funny...

Word boozehound.

[Kahns Krazy]

Not gonna lie I am impressed with the way Cronin has turned it around. I counted them for dead, but apparently I was mistaken.

I don't know that I can say impressed. I will admit surprise.

[_LH]

What's even funnier is somebody coming to the message board of a team that has made 3 straight Sweet 16's feeling his oats because his laughing stock of a basketball program is finally going to make the NCAA tournament again (after what? 5 years?)

Now that's funny...

Seriously!

UC has to win one more game anyway to not feel nervous on Selection Sunday. Weren't they .500 in Kennedy's one year?

[Smails]

What's even funnier is somebody coming to the message board of a team that has made 3 straight Sweet 16's feeling his oats because his laughing stock of a basketball program is finally going to make the NCAA tournament again (after what? 5 years?)

Now that's funny...

Leave EJ alone! He's busy getting pumped up to watch UC and UCONN with 6200 of his closest friends at 5/3 this weekend. I hope UC wins...I hope Cronin sticks around.

I pray that the boondoggle that is UC's athletic department decides to look a this year's fool's gold and gives Mick an extension. I know how much those players love playing for Mick..he's such a personable players coach.

[blobfan]

Leave EJ alone! He's busy getting pumped up to watch UC and UCONN with 6200 of his closest friends at 5/3 this weekend. I hope UC wins...I hope Cronin sticks around.

I pray that the boondoggle that is UC's athletic department decides to look a this year's fool's gold and gives Mick an extension. I know how much those players love playing for Mick..he's such a personable players coach.

Wow, 6200 people? Can the facility management handle that size crowd? I imagine that's bigger than they are used to.

[PM Thor]

What? No sellout today either? UC fans should be ashamed....that is, if you can find one.

I HATE dayton.

[RealDeal]

What? No sellout today either? UC fans should be ashamed....that is, if you can find one.

I HATE dayton.

No sellout, even with the Groupon offer? Nothing says big time program like Groupon.

[PM Thor]

UC destroys a top 20 team at home and guess what didn't happen?

A Sellout.

I HATE dayton.

[waggy]

Even UC fans don't like Cronin. He sucks that bad.

[XUOWNSUC]

Even UC fans don't like Cronin. He sucks that bad.

Why not? He is the COY for the past FIVE years according to Bill Koch.

http://backtothevalley.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/kip.jpg

[CinciX12]

12,197 people total were in the building. I'm sure they were counting cockroaches at the end to get to that announced number.