It's going to be a long day. I can hardly wait for tipoff, but as the last game of the day (9:40 pm) it's going to be a long wait. It's going to be a tough game, but I really like the Bearcats chances. Cincinnati has not been getting a lot of attention, even after their big win over Missouri, and are once again the underdog. That's fine with me. Mick Cronin and the players will use it as additional motivation. There's a great article about it on SI.com.
I'm curious to see how Cronin chooses to approach this game. Will the Bearcats sit back in their half-court defense, or will they press? Man-to-man or zone? I can't wait to find out. Here's some additional game previews to get you through the day from ESPN. Try this one and this one.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Bearcats get a great win over Mizzou
What a great game! I was worried about how Cincinnati would fare against Missouri's fast paced offense and full-court pressure, but they proved up to the task. The Bearcats came out with great intensity and played awesome defense to hold the #9 scoring team in the nation 18 points below their average on under 40 percent shooting. UC only turned the ball over 11 times against a press that forces an average of 18 a game. Mick Conin had this team ready to play and it showed. As the Bearcats gained control and then took the lead in the 1st half, some of the players looked possessed. Missouri was not prepared for the Bearcats tenacious defense or their physical play and the Bearcats outmuscled them inside offensively and on the glass. A great all around win.
Now UC faces UConn. The advantages of this matchup is that Cincinnati knows their opponent well and has extra incentive to avenge a regular-season loss. This disadvantage is that their opponent knows them. I had hoped that UC would avoid facing a Big East team early on, because most teams aren't used to the physical style of play characteristic of the Big East. UConn is hot right now and full of confidence. Hopefully the mental and physical drain of playing 5 games in 5 days will start to catch up to them. If UC comes out with the same intensity they showed last night, they can win.
Now UC faces UConn. The advantages of this matchup is that Cincinnati knows their opponent well and has extra incentive to avenge a regular-season loss. This disadvantage is that their opponent knows them. I had hoped that UC would avoid facing a Big East team early on, because most teams aren't used to the physical style of play characteristic of the Big East. UConn is hot right now and full of confidence. Hopefully the mental and physical drain of playing 5 games in 5 days will start to catch up to them. If UC comes out with the same intensity they showed last night, they can win.
Labels:
basketball,
Cincinnati Bearcats,
Connecticut Huskies,
march madness,
UC,
UConn
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Thoughts on UC as a 6 seed
When the brackets were announced on Sunday, I was happy and slightly surprised that UC got a 6 seed. I think they deserve a 6, but thought the committee would give them a 7. What I am not happy with is their matchup.
Missouri is no 11 seed. Their RPI isn't far behind the Bearcats and they went 0.500 in a major conference. They are more like an 8 or 9 in my opinion. The other 6 seeds are St. Johns, Georgetown, & Xavier, and they are matched up against Gonzaga, the USC/VCU play-in winner, & Marquette, repectively. One could argue that Xavier's draw is as tought as UC's, but I think Cincinnati's is just a little tougher, while Georgetown got the easiest of the bunch.
If the Bearcats can get past the Tigers, UConn potentially awaits. UConn beat UC this season at Fifth Third Arena and are red-hot and full of confidence coming off their Big East Tournament Championship. Hopefully they will be out of gas as well.
It's a tough draw to be sure, but one that UC can win if they come out with intensity and play smart basketball. In their first trip back to the dance since 2005, it sure would be nice to play two (or more).
Missouri is no 11 seed. Their RPI isn't far behind the Bearcats and they went 0.500 in a major conference. They are more like an 8 or 9 in my opinion. The other 6 seeds are St. Johns, Georgetown, & Xavier, and they are matched up against Gonzaga, the USC/VCU play-in winner, & Marquette, repectively. One could argue that Xavier's draw is as tought as UC's, but I think Cincinnati's is just a little tougher, while Georgetown got the easiest of the bunch.
If the Bearcats can get past the Tigers, UConn potentially awaits. UConn beat UC this season at Fifth Third Arena and are red-hot and full of confidence coming off their Big East Tournament Championship. Hopefully they will be out of gas as well.
It's a tough draw to be sure, but one that UC can win if they come out with intensity and play smart basketball. In their first trip back to the dance since 2005, it sure would be nice to play two (or more).
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Where will the Bearcats land
It's a foregone conclusion that the Bearcats will be included in this years NCAA tournament when the field is announced at 6 pm Sunday night. The only question is where UC will be seeded. They have a better record than many of the teams ahead of them in the polls. If the selection committee gives UC the same lack of respect as the pollsters, they could get a poorer seed than they deserve. If they take their strong finish to the season into account, they could get a better seed.
So what do the "bracketologists" say? ESPN's Joe Lunardi projects the field with UC as a #7, playing Tennessee in the first round. After the Bearcats loss to Notre Dame, Lunardi had UC as a #6. Not sure what happened over night to change that. Jordan Schwartz at Foxsports has UC as #6 playing Utah State--a matchup I like. Jerry Palm at CBS Sports is the biggest surprise, with the Bearcats as a #5 playing Michigan.
Personally I think UC will be a 7, with an outside shot of a 6 or 8. I am really hoping for a 6 or better. The 7 & 8 seeded teams have tough first round matchups and then usually have to face a #1 or #2 seed. If the Cincinnati can get a 5 or 6 I think they have an excellent chance of advancing to the Sweet 16. We'll know in less than an hour.
So what do the "bracketologists" say? ESPN's Joe Lunardi projects the field with UC as a #7, playing Tennessee in the first round. After the Bearcats loss to Notre Dame, Lunardi had UC as a #6. Not sure what happened over night to change that. Jordan Schwartz at Foxsports has UC as #6 playing Utah State--a matchup I like. Jerry Palm at CBS Sports is the biggest surprise, with the Bearcats as a #5 playing Michigan.
Personally I think UC will be a 7, with an outside shot of a 6 or 8. I am really hoping for a 6 or better. The 7 & 8 seeded teams have tough first round matchups and then usually have to face a #1 or #2 seed. If the Cincinnati can get a 5 or 6 I think they have an excellent chance of advancing to the Sweet 16. We'll know in less than an hour.
Labels:
basketball,
Cincinnati Bearcats,
UC
Time to move on
After their crushing defeat versus Notre Dame on Thursday, its time for UC to forget it and move on. Notre Dame played a perfect game where all their shots were falling, while the Bearcats were not. In the first half Notre Dame shot the lights out from 3-point range to loosen up the UC defense. In the second half they used screens and back door cuts executed to perfection to get easy layups. The way Notre Dame played I thought they were a lock to win the Big East tournament and get a #1 seed in March Madness. But against Louisville their shooting came back to earth and they played just an average game and lost.
For the Bearcats there are two ways they could respond to this loss: They could question their play and their defense and come out flat and tentative in their next game, or they could re-focus and play determined to show everyone that they are a good team that plays great defense. I think the latter will occur. They need to move forward and put the ND game in their rearview mirrow, and just look forward to finding out their seed and matchup on Selection Sunday tonight, and start preparing for their opponent. It's been a fun season and its not over yet!
For the Bearcats there are two ways they could respond to this loss: They could question their play and their defense and come out flat and tentative in their next game, or they could re-focus and play determined to show everyone that they are a good team that plays great defense. I think the latter will occur. They need to move forward and put the ND game in their rearview mirrow, and just look forward to finding out their seed and matchup on Selection Sunday tonight, and start preparing for their opponent. It's been a fun season and its not over yet!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
The Bearcats are Hot
The Bearcats are on a roll. Following last nights 87-61 rout of South Florida, Cincinnati has now won 3 in a row and 6 of their last 7. UC dominated the Bulls defensively, and Yancy Gates had a stellar game. Still there has been little mention of UC's recent streak. On the major sports websites, I've seen a few feature articles on some of the top teams in the country, the up-and-coming teams, or the teams to watch out for. None have mentioned the Bearcats. But that's ok. That's the way Mick Cronin likes. Keep disrespecting us and we will keep winning to prove you wrong. Fine with me.
Tonight UC faces an equally hot Notre Dame team that is currently one of the darlings of college basketball. The writers seem to love Ben Hansbrough, coach Mike Breen, and the golden dome in general. UC lost at Notre Dame in January, and the Cincinnati Enquirer's Bill Koch gives a nice recap of that game on his blog. A win tonight would give UC a nice boost in prestige, respect, and possibly NCAA tournament seeding come Sunday. More on that later.
Tonight UC faces an equally hot Notre Dame team that is currently one of the darlings of college basketball. The writers seem to love Ben Hansbrough, coach Mike Breen, and the golden dome in general. UC lost at Notre Dame in January, and the Cincinnati Enquirer's Bill Koch gives a nice recap of that game on his blog. A win tonight would give UC a nice boost in prestige, respect, and possibly NCAA tournament seeding come Sunday. More on that later.
The blog is back
Ok, its been far too long since I've posted here and I've missed it. I've been so wrapped up in work crap, that I haven't taken the time to do the things I like. Life is for living. I love my Bearcats, so will post through the last couple weeks of the basketball season, and then pick it up when football starts. More to come.
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