Maui

[Rufus]

Leo, I seen that also. And I don't know what to think of it. I remember some rumblings years ago about Mick not being tough on some kids and others not respecting him, he trying to be friends with players and not a coach. Like I said I don't know what to think of CWM and JD giggling on the baseline so I'm not going to insinuate anything. All I know is this group is not gelling together. Eleven pts. in a half one time and only two assists team wide in another entire game is not playing for each other.

[GangstaTakester]

I've been at a loss all day. I must admit that I am typically a defender of coaches and status quo. However, I was stunned by how embarrassing the NKU and OSU losses were. The team last night did not look good at all. No movement on offense ( the announcers were mocking the fact that we had no assists until the 2nd half), completely out-physicalled (we should not be touting the monster factory; this is the most timid UC team I ever remember), lack of floor leadership (DeJulius, Nolley, and Davenport were non-factors for making things better), poor defense (no fast break points on a team that prides itself on speed and transition), and no noticeable coaching changes at half or any time during the game. I love Skillings and Reed. I love the effort Lahkin brings to the game and has shown dramatic improvement. I love that we are bringing in a higher quality recruit. However, watching this team today is as frustrating as watching any UC team I can remember. I would shorten the bench and make players earn their time. They have shown flashes of being able to score, but it is so random. Fortunately, we are a football school now!

[leo from jersey]

Although there are only a few that remain from the last regime, they actually played harder then than what they do now. If a player is not performing to the staffs expectations, then you bench him, regardless of f his stature. You play the people who are going to operate as your teaching.

It is hard to bench someone when your actions is rubbing his head on the sideline.

[leo from jersey]

The lack of creativity and movement on offense continues to be stunning. Way too much dribbling, 1 vs 1, with an occasional pick and pop or roll thrown in. You cannot be successful long term (not just a hot shooting night from JD or Nolley) when playing basketball. I will say as hard as this team was to watch, the thing I noticed last night was that Skillings tries to get to the basket and that was encouraging. Reed also seems to not settle for bad shots and looks to attack. Vik is also coming along, and his teammates need to utilize him more frequently. We lost both games because we allowed way too many easy FG's for our opposition, and we create very, very few. Wes knows a lot more than me, but we absolutely need to overhaul the offensive tendencies of JD to jack up early 3's, or DD to over dribble and then fire up a difficult step back. Long season, time to turn it around.

I saw Vik do a pick and roll but by the time MAW saw it and reacted it was too late and the opportunity was missed - as was MAW's shot

[Rufus]

Although there are only a few that remain from the last regime, they actually played harder then than what they do now. If a player is not performing to the staffs expectations, then you bench him, regardless of f his stature. You play the people who are going to operate as your teaching.

[Black and Red Attack]

The lack of creativity and movement on offense continues to be stunning. Way too much dribbling, 1 vs 1, with an occasional pick and pop or roll thrown in. You cannot be successful long term (not just a hot shooting night from JD or Nolley) when playing basketball. I will say as hard as this team was to watch, the thing I noticed last night was that Skillings tries to get to the basket and that was encouraging. Reed also seems to not settle for bad shots and looks to attack. Vik is also coming along, and his teammates need to utilize him more frequently. We lost both games because we allowed way too many easy FG's for our opposition, and we create very, very few. Wes knows a lot more than me, but we absolutely need to overhaul the offensive tendencies of JD to jack up early 3's, or DD to over dribble and then fire up a difficult step back. Long season, time to turn it around.

[GoBearcats31]

Is now a bad time to mention that NKU is taking home 8th place in the Gulf Coast Showcase (with losses to FGCU, UT Arlington, and Toledo)?

So that is 2-4 with wins over UC-Clermont, and UC-Uptown.

[Rufus]

Between DDJ, Nolley, JD, and MAW you have to have one to come out to be the leader/ floor general of the group, to corral everyone in, take a breath and to get refocused. DDJ is the logical choice but I'm afraid He's more focused on his grad year numbers for his resume now that he's playing off the ball. JD has been that person in the past but he's relented to Nolley taking over the job, as he is the teams leading scorer. To JD the team leader in scoring is the logical choice for team lead. MAW is not going to be a vocal team leader and Nolley seems to be content to be the leader by example as to not overstep some boundaries. We have a team that's not playing coordinated ball, only playing to showcase themselves. You watch them play and it's Helter skelter and that's on the coaching staff. Miller once said that as the coach at UNC Greensboro it took him a few years to figure out we what works and what don't. So we have this to look forward to until he figures things out again.

[GoBearcats31]

KenPom #s mid-afternoon yesterday: Cincinnati 67, Louisville 138

KenPom #s this morning: Cincinnati 81, Louisville 154

UC is outside the top 100 in adjusted defensive efficiency (111)

[BearKatz]

I would hope we win, but? at this point I do not feel confident to call any game a sure thing.

[leo from jersey]

ESPN.com showing UC a 7.5 favorite tonight. Need the win/can't lose.

The Cardinals won't bully inside as the Buckeyes did .tOSU held a 42-29 edge in rebounding and outscored UC 27-16 in second chance points. I don't see U of L capable of doing that although I could be wrong.

[GoBearcats31]

ESPN.com showing UC a 7.5 favorite tonight. Need the win/can't lose.

[red_n_black_attack]

Some of our bloggers suggest that UC has a bunch of mid-major players. I disagree. Most of the players on this team can go to other high-major programs and fit in. They may not start, but they would probably play. What we have at UC is a MID-MAJOR COACHING STAFF. The systems that they have in place are NOT working. What is more puzzling is that either they are not aware that their systems are NOT working, or they are in denial. They expect to get different results by doing the same thing over again. Is that NOT insane or what? If something is NOT working, try something else. I really do not understand what Wes Miller's strategy is. What the %$#& is the guy doing? Think about this for a minute: Ohio State, with a bunch of freshman players, blew Cincinnati out by 28 points. Wes Miller is NOT a big-time college basketball coach. Maybe one day he will get there, but right now he is a long way off. Enough said.

Our players go into lulls/skids and we don't have that one great player who can stop a skid and turn their teammates around a bit. We have a team full of good players, great supporting cast members if we had that one dynamic great player. Keith Williams was supposed to be that player his senior year. I think Wes hoped Nolley or DeJulius would be that player this year, and they simply aren't. The one player who shows flashes of that is Vik. If he could develop a near automatic 8-10 foot jump shot to compliment his drive and down low hook shots, he could be a 20 point per game player next year. Unfortunately, we don't have that player ready to be "The Guy" this year, and that is only partially on coaching development. The scheme and coaching is not the problem. Mick left this program better than he found it, and Brannen did not. Wes is recruiting better and really, this is his year one since he joined in late spring last year.

[leeraymond]

I am as critical, or more, than anyone who follows Cincinati basketball. I am kind of selfish. I want them to win every game. So far, Maui has been somewhat disappointing. Nevertheless, the basketball team still has one more game to play. Let's all think positive. They should be, at least, ONE point better than Louisville. Let's hope that they are.

[leo from jersey]

Can Jizzle James reclassify and play now.