Mick Cronin says Cincinnati hoops is considered an afterthought

[aurorix2]

Cronin spoke to SNY.tv last week while he was in New Jersey for a charity fundraiser (one of the best in the business, in fact). He thinks the moves by Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame and West Virginia amount to good news for Cincinnati.

I agree with him.

But he also thinks the Bearcats are too often overshadowed or disrespected.

That's where I'm not seeing his side.

“People say, ‘Well, the Big East isn't the same Big East.' That's good for Cincinnati,” Cronin [said].

...

But Cronin believes his team will never get the respect it's due as long as the Big East bluebloods remain.

“Even though you win and you finish ahead of Georgetown last year, you beat them twice, and in the final national poll they're ranked ahead of you,” Cronin said. “And then they get beat in the first round. But name-brand connotation, Big East basketball, what's the first thing that comes to your mind? Big Monday, Georgetown vs. Syracuse. It's nobody's fault, it just is what it is.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/blog/eye-on-college-basketball/20361890/mick-cronin-says-cincinnati-hoops-is-considered-an-afterthought

[MHettel]

If only I cared about Cronin. Or UC.

[bleedXblue]

Guy cant open his mouth without bitching and crying about something.

[Cheesehead]

Well this all due to the fact that UC is now a football school. Everyone knows that!

[CinciX12]

I don't know why UC fans tolerate him. I really don't.

I actually don't think many do. They are just not vocal enough.

[Masterofreality]

F*&%K!!

All we've heard for years is that the fact that SucKS plays in the Big Least makes their program relevant. That was because of schools like Syracuse, WVA and Pitt. Now that they leave, it's better? What?

If the Jaundiced Leprechan thinks that they're being overshadowed now, just wait until he's playing in a semi-relevant league after the raids are over. Besides their crap non-conference schedule, they'll be playing directional schools in their league like Central and South Florida. NO ONE will care.

Nobody wants the Borecats, and nobody likes YTG.

[waggy]

Cincinnati hoops isn't considered an afterthought; it's considered a cesspool. Cronin is just wrong.

[paulxu]

If the Jaundiced Leprechan thinks that they're being overshadowed now, just wait until he's playing in a semi-relevant league

Just wait until Presbyterian handles them again. The best part is they paid PC to get blue-hosed.

[gladdenguy]

I would be thrilled if sUCks is not a top 5 seed this year come tourney time. They will be guard heavy but there are some definite questions inside.
I really can't determine if they will be a legitimate contender in the Big East or at the national level. I do know that after December they will probably be undefeated and highly ranked because they play nobody and will be in the preseason top 25s.

Kilpatrick and Wright will be one of the best guard tandems in the country. I just want this year over as quickly as possible and sUCks to lose in the first or second round.

[xlax]

Their schedule actually isn't half bad this year as opposed to previous years. Home games against bama and new Mexico who should be top 30 teams. An away game at Marshall who will be a tourney team. A preseason tourney where they can play some combo of Iowa state, Oregon and unlv.

its not filled with a bunch of perrenial powerhouse names, but its significantly better than what they have rolled out recently.

[blueblob06]

Their schedule actually isn't half bad this year as opposed to previous years. Home games against bama and new Mexico who should be top 30 teams. An away game at Marshall who will be a tourney team. A preseason tourney where they can play some combo of Iowa state, Oregon and unlv.

its not filled with a bunch of perrenial powerhouse names, but its significantly better than what they have rolled out recently.
It's pretty sad when a schedule containing those teams is significantly better than previous years.

[paulxu]

A grand total of ONE road game before conference play. That's a really strong schedule.

[xlax]

A grand total of ONE road game before conference play. That's a really strong schedule.

Unfortunately that has become the norm for teams in power conferences these days.

[nuts4xu]

When your basketball team averages 400 people per game, it is barely an afterthought.

Afterthought would be a little generous to describe their program.

[xubrew]

I wouldn't call UC's OOC schedule tough, but I wouldn't call it a cakewalk either.

Marshall should be pretty solid. They finished strong last year and weren't too far away from making the NCAA Tournament. They lost some starters, but were a deep team and they have some people who should be able to step up. Granted, the game isn't a true road game because it's in Charleston, but it's still not an easy game to win.

Iowa State is kind of a headscratcher. They were good last year, especially at the end, but lost some of their better players. Still, they could end up being pretty solid. They're not top ten, but they're not outside the top 200 either, which is who UC has typically played in the past.

I think UNLV is going to be really good. If they play them, it will be in Vegas. It won't be on campus, but it will be an extremely pro UNLV crowd.

New Mexico should be strong again.

Alabama is pretty good.

Everyone knows about Xavier.

Only half their schedule is against crap. That's a big improvment. Virtually their entire schedule outside of X used to be crap. I think this actually falls under the category of being a reasonably decent OOC schedule.

[danaandvictory]

I guess I don't understand why Mick would make these comments. UC just had an excellent season and made the Sweet 16. They are in a position to be at the top of the Big East this year and in the future. Why not pump up your program's accomplishments instead of making it about your grievances? I'll never understand that attitude.