How many teams do the Bearcats have to beat before they start getting some respect. The fans here in Cincinnati are getting tired of hearing how (insert Big East team here) suffered a bad loss to UC.
So far this conference season all they've done is win against practically every big name coach and big time program that has stepped in the gym with them. The ones they lost to barely escaped with the W.
I'll have more on this later but I just had to get that off my chest.
GO BEARCATS!!!!!!!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Things Can Change
Things can change and how quickly they do sometimes. One short month ago many were passing off our Kansas State victory as nothing special other than the complete shut down of Michael Beasley. BTW- Jason Love owns Michael Beasley! And now 30 days later they have won 10 out of 11 games with an absolute huge win last night over in state rival Jayhawks. People KU owned the Wildcats on a level that is hard to understand. Before last night KU had won the previous 19 played in Manhattan. Imagine UD beating X 19 straight times in Cincinnati, or Louisville winning for that many years in a row at the Shoe. It is just mind boggling. Hard to even call it a 'rivalry'. Well guess what: none of that matters this morning. KU's undefeated season is ruined and the Wildcats are moving up the rankings. And I appreciate all their hard work and take back some of the bad things I have said about Frank Martin in the past. It is amazing what winning will do for perspective. Talk to a UC fan today? They are seeing the sun shine again. Talk to them last week, not so much. We lose to Lasalle this weekend and the sky will be falling over on Victory Parkway. Keep working and you never know what could happen.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Beginning of a Rivalry? UC - WVU preview
I spent the last couple days trying to come up with a good way to approach the Huggs vs. UC angle of the game tonight. I've seen what everyone else is saying and wanted to come at it differently. The Huggins Part of this is important Im not disputing that. What I am saying is that it is only one piece of what will make this game the beginning of a big time rivalry for years to come.
First the easy ones.
West Virginia is a neighboring state. If you've ever taken route 32 east across Ohio you know that there is nothing but small towns between Cincinnati and the State line. They are in the same conference. I know, I know thats kind of a lame one but what better way to start a rivalry than being forced to play each other every year.
Now on to Mick.
There is no shortage of Mountaineer fans who have a genuine dislike of Mick Cronin. Last years loss to UC might have kept them out of the Tournament. Micks Antics during that game had to be the most(read only) memorable moments of the conference season. Who can forget his jumping, cussing, and running on to the court as time expired. And that was AFTER he'd been T'd up earlier in the game.
The Recruiting trail.
Its no secret that both coaches like the same type of players. Tough Defensive minded guys who play HARD. Its also no secret that Bob likes to recruit in the same places he did while at UC. If he can get guys from Cincy to follow him to Kansas St. He can get them to Morgantown. Mick hangs his hat on recruiting though and was the man behind some of the best players at UC during Huggins tenure. It will b interesting to see how many guys end up with both schools on their short list.
And Finally the Huggins connection.
Bob Huggins didn't exactly leave town on a parade float. Though he wont admit it I would guess that he cant wait to stick it to the powers that be at UC namely Nancy Zimpher. And lets not forget that when Mick left to go work for Rick Pitino, Huggins took it personally and they weren't speaking for a long time.
There you have it folks. My take on what should be a great rivalry for years to come. Oh yeah I almost forgot. Tonight I think the Mountaineers will win it in a close game. The Road is a tough place to play in the Big East.
First the easy ones.
West Virginia is a neighboring state. If you've ever taken route 32 east across Ohio you know that there is nothing but small towns between Cincinnati and the State line. They are in the same conference. I know, I know thats kind of a lame one but what better way to start a rivalry than being forced to play each other every year.
Now on to Mick.
There is no shortage of Mountaineer fans who have a genuine dislike of Mick Cronin. Last years loss to UC might have kept them out of the Tournament. Micks Antics during that game had to be the most(read only) memorable moments of the conference season. Who can forget his jumping, cussing, and running on to the court as time expired. And that was AFTER he'd been T'd up earlier in the game.
The Recruiting trail.
Its no secret that both coaches like the same type of players. Tough Defensive minded guys who play HARD. Its also no secret that Bob likes to recruit in the same places he did while at UC. If he can get guys from Cincy to follow him to Kansas St. He can get them to Morgantown. Mick hangs his hat on recruiting though and was the man behind some of the best players at UC during Huggins tenure. It will b interesting to see how many guys end up with both schools on their short list.
And Finally the Huggins connection.
Bob Huggins didn't exactly leave town on a parade float. Though he wont admit it I would guess that he cant wait to stick it to the powers that be at UC namely Nancy Zimpher. And lets not forget that when Mick left to go work for Rick Pitino, Huggins took it personally and they weren't speaking for a long time.
There you have it folks. My take on what should be a great rivalry for years to come. Oh yeah I almost forgot. Tonight I think the Mountaineers will win it in a close game. The Road is a tough place to play in the Big East.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Looking Ahead
Since the Musketeers are off until Saturday I thought it might be nice to peer ahead a bit. Lasalle is coming to town and we surely cannot afford a slip up there. To be frank I think a loss is not going to happen but if it did we wouldn't stumble to 'bubbleville' like many would like to believe. At times it is hard being a Musketeer fan in this town. (I said it and I am not taking it back). This year alone I have heard the 'haters' try and point out were mid major (Forbes Magazine and Mike Bobinski laid that argument to rest quite nicely), people questioned the team's toughness (19th overall in rebounding margin out of 341 teams which is a toughness stat if there ever was one), and they like to think we are not capable of beating quality teams if our 3's aren't dropping (see UMASS as exhibit #1). The accolades are coming from far and wide and we had the highest jump in the AP polls this week. The Sporting News is doing a piece on Stan's defense, ESPN will have Lavender on tomorrow afternoon taking questions, and it is just a love fest right now and deservedly so. All of this is nice but doesn't mean much if we don't win Saturday. Lasalle will be looking for a 'highlight' to their rather disappointing season. The worst loss in my years of being a Xavier fan was the absolute shellacking Skip Prosser and company endured in the late '90's to the Explorers. We were ran out of the Gardens that night. I am not one to say the league needs to kick out teams but if there was one program that should self evaluate and see if the A10 is the absolute 'best fit' is Lasalle. I struggle to think of any of their athletic programs that are successful in conference play. Their facilities are 'tired' for a lack of a better term and from a marketability standpoint being the third team from Philly in the league with only a NCAA title to tout from the early '50's doesn't give them or the league much 'stroke'. I recommend the Horizon League whose teams are featured in larger midwestern cities as a good alternative for the Explorers or the MAAC. Then the faithful to the program would have hope of an NCAA berth and an extended March, but let me get off the soap box now.
After that it's tons of fun going on the road to play Rick Majerus and the St. Louis Billikens who have been a particular thorn in our side since they joined the league. After reading about Rick's penchant for hanging out in the buff on road trips and having the players up to his room to talk strategy while he is doing so is creating alot of disturbing questions for me right now. I used to love Rick and his affable ways but gosh I hope those are just rumors. What is not a rumor is they are opening a beautiful on campus arena next year that should help them. Playing in the 20,000 seat Scottrade Center with about 5,000 faithful creates a cavern effect. We are like institutions and I know they like the rivalry between UD and X but I think the Missouri Valley would be a better fit for their program. Can they really afford to send the women's tennis team to such destinations as UMASS and George Washington year after year? Like us I think they are waiting for the much anticipated conference shakeup in a few years when the Big East revisits how football revenue is shared but there are no certainties there either. Liddell and Lisch preseason were one of my best backcourts in the A10 (no doubt I am a little partial to Danger Mouse and Hammer) and they have been disappointing thus far as they adjust to their new coach. They were absolutely embarrassed at GW and would love to get some pride back with our scalp next Wednesday. Even though this is a road game I think the team continues to put it's road woes behind them. This will be a very close game throughout but one we should win.
Oh yeah some guy named Huggins is coaching against UC Wednesday night. Anybody ever hear of him?
After that it's tons of fun going on the road to play Rick Majerus and the St. Louis Billikens who have been a particular thorn in our side since they joined the league. After reading about Rick's penchant for hanging out in the buff on road trips and having the players up to his room to talk strategy while he is doing so is creating alot of disturbing questions for me right now. I used to love Rick and his affable ways but gosh I hope those are just rumors. What is not a rumor is they are opening a beautiful on campus arena next year that should help them. Playing in the 20,000 seat Scottrade Center with about 5,000 faithful creates a cavern effect. We are like institutions and I know they like the rivalry between UD and X but I think the Missouri Valley would be a better fit for their program. Can they really afford to send the women's tennis team to such destinations as UMASS and George Washington year after year? Like us I think they are waiting for the much anticipated conference shakeup in a few years when the Big East revisits how football revenue is shared but there are no certainties there either. Liddell and Lisch preseason were one of my best backcourts in the A10 (no doubt I am a little partial to Danger Mouse and Hammer) and they have been disappointing thus far as they adjust to their new coach. They were absolutely embarrassed at GW and would love to get some pride back with our scalp next Wednesday. Even though this is a road game I think the team continues to put it's road woes behind them. This will be a very close game throughout but one we should win.
Oh yeah some guy named Huggins is coaching against UC Wednesday night. Anybody ever hear of him?
Monday, January 28, 2008
Daves "Reasons for the loss" post- edition 1
Reason#1 Boneheaded freshman mistakes. At what point will they start playing like they know whats going on?
Reason#2. Not playing defense. What the hell was that crap on the inbounds pass by Setan Hall at the end of the game? newsflash!!! you have to foul quickly or the clock keeps running.
Reason#3. Adam H. The guy is just soft. I don't know how many times he has missed a two footer this year just because he can't/won't take it up strong. I am tired of hearing about his "soft touch". He's soft period.
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