Hofstra, NIT 3/18 2:00 pm ESPN+

[leo from jersey]

Of course there will be negativity from time to time. We are all diehard fans and can spot shortcomings of our team in real time. That said, I agree with Corporateballa, the negativity surrounding the program is palpable. I'll admit, I am perpetuating that with my posts. Its good to be called out from time to time!

We have no choice but to back this CWM and this team 100%. Just like we did with Huggs and Mick. That's the only way to will this program back to the big dance. Winning the NIT would be a great start.

I wish we would talk about the Cats and not the posters. Misplaced frustration at best, seeking of power and control or following the leader at worse. Now let us talk of the cats please. I think ODY has really developed. I think teams have figured out how to defend Skillings. Where is Reed? Will he and Hensley be gone? Even CWM sat a player down due to needing to go inside instead of jacking up 3s. He basically said that in the newspaper. I think that was constructive criticism. The only way to go to the big dance is by fundamentally sound unselfish hustle by the cats and good in game coaching adjustments as we saw yesterday. This NIT has been a joy to watch and the Cats needed this-- as did us fans

[Bearcat1996]

Of course there will be negativity from time to time. We are all diehard fans and can spot shortcomings of our team in real time. That said, I agree with Corporateballa, the negativity surrounding the program is palpable. I'll admit, I am perpetuating that with my posts. Its good to be called out from time to time!

We have no choice but to back this CWM and this team 100%. Just like we did with Huggs and Mick. That's the only way to will this program back to the big dance. Winning the NIT would be a great start.

[leo from jersey]

Yes, Kenyon was the player of the year and the leader of the team. However, when he got hurt in the conference finals, it was all over for that team. So, in the NCAA Tournament, they were not competitive. That was the most disappointing year of my lifetime.

My point was that the negative posts make believe that UC has been on top of the world until Coach Miller took over. I am tired of the negativity and let's just get behind this team now even though it is the NIT. Many teams that have done well in the NIT have gone on to be in the NCAA the following year. Next year in the Big 12 will be the toughest in UC history and we should be solidity behind this team going into that.

They beat UNC-Wilmington in the tourney the year Kenyon was hurt. I was disappointed, but I happened to live 10 miles away from, Wilmington, so my season was made. Plus I got to see Kenyon destroy DePaul in Chicago. I thought it was a great year. It is all perspective including how you define negativity as if you have the sole truth or even its meaning. So why don't you lead by example and not by posts about posters and not the cats. I don't bow down to forum bullies who want control and everything to please them. Personally, I thought UC was on top of the world until JB took over. I don't expect as Natty every year, but in my youth, that was normal. Go Cats-- BTW we don't know what next year will bring. As long as they show fundamentally good ball, effort, heart and not selfishness, I am with them regardless of record. I also got to see the victory over Duke while living in NC/ Those were great years, although the early 60s were hard to beat as were the Cats on the Court.

[bearcatbret]

The 2000 team was ranked #1 and the favorite to win it all until Kenyon got hurt.
The 2012 team was also really good, the win against FSU in the NCAA was epic. They were also the only team to beat Syracuse when Fab Melo was in the lineup.

Yes, Kenyon was the player of the year and the leader of the team. However, when he got hurt in the conference finals, it was all over for that team. So, in the NCAA Tournament, they were not competitive. That was the most disappointing year of my lifetime.

My point was that the negative posts make believe that UC has been on top of the world until Coach Miller took over. I am tired of the negativity and let's just get behind this team now even though it is the NIT. Many teams that have done well in the NIT have gone on to be in the NCAA the following year. Next year in the Big 12 will be the toughest in UC history and we should be solidity behind this team going into that.

[coach]

This is a REALLY negative group. I sometimes think it’s a bunch of Eggsavier guys. Didn’t use to be this way.

I’m not sure half the folks realize that was a road game in the other team’s gym. Lol. Give Hofstra credit the reason they kept it close in the first half was they shot the ball really well, particularly from deep. There is a reason they went in and beat Rutgers at their place and it’s because they’re a good team. All you have to do is look at the tourney right now and see there isn’t a big disparity and it’s likely as much portal related as anything. A lot of these smaller schools have veteran kids. It’s an advantage they didn’t used to enjoy. 3 coaches in 4 years and two April hires are not easy to work around. It takes time and work.

[longtimefan]

Btw, we have not been competitive since Nick Van Exel. Get over yourselves.

The 2000 team was ranked #1 and the favorite to win it all until Kenyon got hurt.
The 2012 team was also really good, the win against FSU in the NCAA was epic. They were also the only team to beat Syracuse when Fab Melo was in the lineup.

[bearcatbret]

I am not sure why many on here are so bitter towards the program. I also think those same people were against Mick. Look at some things that happened this year. North Carolina is the first preseason number one that did not make the tournament. Purdue is the second number 1 seed to fall in the first round. The system is stacked against non-power 5 programs where the power 5 were awarded nearly all of the at large bids and look at how many of them fell this weekend. The teams in the NCAA tournament are awarded mega bucks which works against the rest of the non-power 5 teams. UC is still playing and we should be happy for that. Yes, there were 4 or 5 games that we should have won. Yet, this team is still showing improvement.

Btw, we have not been competitive since Nick Van Exel. Get over yourselves.

[Rufus]

"We are going to miss Nolley and David next year".

It is my understanding that Nolley has a year of eligibility left. So He may return. And yes we will miss DDJ and his ability to general the floor next season.

[Pharmfam]

With the win, the Bearcats are #49 in KenPom. Last season, they finished #106, and in 2021, #116. This is demonstrable of excellent progress. This team is a far cry from that disaster at NKU.

It took Huggs three years to get to the Dance. It took Mick five. I'm happy where this is headed.

Excellent points. We are showing marked improvement over the past few years

[swilsonsp4]

With the win, the Bearcats are #49 in KenPom. Last season, they finished #106, and in 2021, #116. This is demonstrable of excellent progress. This team is a far cry from that disaster at NKU.

It took Huggs three years to get to the Dance. It took Mick five. I'm happy where this is headed.

[bearcatbret]

Rufus, Dan and Terry called them out on that "out of the postage zone shot" with most of the shot clock remaining. Yes, these guys do fall back into their bad habits but overall, they are playing within themselves and the system. We are going to miss Nolley and David next year.

At least they did not blow the lead like a Mick Cronin team against Nevada. UC holds lead until very end, falls to Nevada 75-73 (wlwt.com)

[Rufus]

I wouldn't be necessarily call it negativity as much as making critical observations. Bearcat Bret quoted Dan and Terry as saying these last two games were the best the 'Cats have played all season. With a double digit lead and instructions from CWM to run as much clock as possible on each possession we still have starters bringing the ball up the court and hoisting NBA distance threes with 66% of the time clock still remaining. It's that type of inattention that cost us ball games in the past and this past season. CMW often preaches about everyone getting better everyday. I don't believe calling out these type of bone headed blunders is considered negative. I'm glad we won and get to advance but the leader of the team making these type of mistakes, at this point in the game, this late in the season is almost inconceivable but yet there it is.

[leo from jersey]

This is a REALLY negative group. I sometimes think it’s a bunch of Eggsavier guys. Didn’t use to be this way.

thanks for you negativity -- you belong here my friend.--- by the way I missed any comment about the game from you . What did you think about the game. I thought it was groovy as the Cats rebounded like a bunch of bearcats.

[bearcatbret]

UC was a 1.5 favorite in this game so for those that say we beat a team that we were supposed to beat, the experts had questions. I listened to the game called by Dan and Terry and they were saying that the last two games have been two of the best games this year by the team. They criticized when it was warranted and they also pointed out the great effort of a few of the guys. I think that with the exception of the last 5 minutes of the first half, this was a really good game. Hofstra has a couple of guys that can score and we kept them in check.
Game recap: Bearcats Roll Past Hofstra on Road, 79-65, in NIT Second Round - University of Cincinnati Athletics (gobearcats.com)
Team Stats: Cincinnati vs. Hofstra - Men's College Basketball Team Statistics - March 18, 2023 | ESPN

[Pharmfam]

This is a REALLY negative group. I sometimes think it’s a bunch of Eggsavier guys. Didn’t use to be this way.

I agree. A lot of naysayers on here anymore.