Houston 2/27 7:00 ESPN2

[sedz]

And as soon as I said it, Dan kind of took over. John didn’t have his shot, but as usual played his butt off. I’m still optimistic about the last three games, and the league tournament.

It was Newman's third worst game of the year by net points (Texas and at UCF were worse). The late run by Skillings made it an average game for him.

[Carthage World]

It was Newman's third worst game of the year by net points (Texas and at UCF were worse). The late run by Skillings made it an average game for him.

We've missed Newman's scoring threat over the past 5 games. He has only averaged 4.6 ppg on 36.3% shooting during that stretch - his lowest output over 5 consecutive games for the season so far.

[Black and Red Attack]

We've missed Newman's scoring threat over the past 5 games. He has only averaged 4.6 ppg on 36.3% shooting during that stretch - his lowest output over 5 consecutive games for the season so far.

I've been thinking the same thing the last few games he's played his usual tough defense and rebounded okay but he's offered nothing offensively. if I'm remembering correctly there was a play early in the game where he had a chance to dunk the ball on somebody and instead tried to lay it up and it rolled off

[leo from jersey]

Concerning CWM tirade on the Big One = He embarrassed himself and the University. How can you get mad at others when on the team's radio station, you say the team played like crap. Quite the double minded person who needs anger management due to losing. Here is a suggestion, use the anger in a controlled manner in coaching your team to victories and not misplacing blame on fans who say exactly what you do. Yes, this forum speaks fan talk, but he may be speaking of X and another paid forum which is calling for his firing. He also used frickin twice and let us know many times that he is pissed. I am sure he will be spoken to.

Concerning VIK, I told someone during the first 5 minutes that being on National TV playing the #1 team, he was auditioning for next year. I hope I am wrong and he wants to remain a Bearcat.

Concerning the game. Good effort and as CWM said Crap skills. The lob doesn't work if that is one of your major regular plays and few can get it to Aziz. DayDay had 6 assists -- Good job/ He just was not able as was the team, to put the ball in the Basket. SL and Aziz tried to talk on offense. I am sure CWM made that a point in practice. Many others just played hero ball and on the defensive side, there was not much communication and little guarding on the poor shooting UH team. The poor shooting is their normal and wasn't caused by our effort. How about that ball handling . How many steals did UH have and how many "crap" passes. How many unforced errors too. CWM needs to be angry about that.

I really wasn't upset with the game because with others, I thought they could win, but blew it.I was happy with DayDay's 6 assists and SL trying to take charge and his 3s. Aziz raised his hand trying to get the ball, but just lousy lobs. On the perimeter, he set screens, but our guards didn't react quick enough to shoot or hit the screener. In fact, they dribbled away from the basket causing the clock violations a couple of times. O for a floor leader. I refuse to be guilted by a rant on the radio. Most, if not all of us love the Cats and for much longer than CWM has been alive. WE are a loyal group as we not only made it through the game, but listened to his drivel on the radio.As I said in previous posts I like him and he deserves another year, but you know the powers to be hate the outburst and lack of refined language on the radio,

[leo from jersey]

One more thing. Who is to blame when the team loses the game by not showing up in the first 5 minutes and has to play catch up. Then when close, the other team goes on a run. Does this sound familiar? Many said we played an entire game. I didn't see that.

[sedz]

I don't think Wes is talking about forums. Not many players or anyone under about 40 are looking at niche forums like this. They're on social media.

[leo from jersey]

I don't think Wes is talking about forums. Not many players or anyone under about 40 are looking at niche forums like this. They're on social media.

agreed although the for pay journal is rough on CWM and wants him out. Winning will change attitudes among the fans, players and CWM, but his language on the Big One might be of concern. Look we all lived through Huggs, Brian kelly and the "Senator", we are used to anger, but there was something different about CWM's tirade. With Bob, he diffused it with "I don't know Chuck". CWM needs a Chuck. Terry came out and said the next 3 games are very winnable. That was more than a "I don't know Chuck" response from Terry. I highly respect Terry and he has proven to know BB and love the Cats. Losing streaks are never esay especially at the end of the season. I like CWM too. I didn't like his misplaced blame and choice of words. He is representing where most of us went to be educated.

[GoBearcats31]

Fell behind 7-0, the rest of the way a one point game. UC only the 2nd team to lose at Houston under 10 points. They also beat Iowa State by 8. Everybody else lost by double digits there. We may not make the tournament this year, but UC is ascending. We’ll get there soon, and coming out of the B12 we’ll be ready to make deep runs.

Have seen several positive comments (across various platforms) and also no shortage of despair/anger.

Best way to build some momentum heading into the offseason is to finish strong down the stretch. Not sure why this team has struggled so much at home, but a tough but winnable Kansas State looms Saturday, with a winnable road game at Oklahoma and a winnable home game at WVU to cap things off. Obviously, would love to go 3-0 but at minimum 2-1 and a respectable performance in the Big 12 tourney would be nice.

I want to believe we are close/ascending as well, and will remain optimistic. But sure would be nice to get some more Ws this season.

Needless to say, absent a miracle run to make the NCAA Tournament, next year will become a crucial season for Wes and this program.

[Lobot]

One more thing. Who is to blame when the team loses the game by not showing up in the first 5 minutes and has to play catch up. Then when close, the other team goes on a run. Does this sound familiar? Many said we played an entire game. I didn't see that.

Leo, I don't disagree here. I said at the top of this thread that the first 8:00 would determine the game. I said that because Houston likes to jump on you from the opening tip. I'm not patting myself on the back here but that was a failure on the Bearcats part because you'd think the staff and team knew that was coming. The result was us never leading during the entire game despite fighting back the whole time.

Regardless of Houston's M.O., we are very often not ready to play out of the gate even at home and it puzzles me as to why.

[Lobot]

agreed although the for pay journal is rough on CWM and wants him out. Winning will change attitudes among the fans, players and CWM, but his language on the Big One might be of concern. Look we all lived through Huggs, Brian kelly and the "Senator", we are used to anger, but there was something different about CWM's tirade. With Bob, he diffused it with "I don't know Chuck". CWM needs a Chuck. Terry came out and said the next 3 games are very winnable. That was more than a "I don't know Chuck" response from Terry. I highly respect Terry and he has proven to know BB and love the Cats. Losing streaks are never esay especially at the end of the season. I like CWM too. I didn't like his misplaced blame and choice of words. He is representing where most of us went to be educated.

Tbh, I haven't listened to the post game yet. I totally understand knee jerk reactions after a loss but some if not all of the people calling for Wes's firing need to check their wallets. His buyout is currently 10M and only goes down to 8M after the next year in his contract. If a big donor wants to chuck that money into the sun then fine but most of the people complaining probably have no skin in the game on that front. These are the same people that can't pay Satterfield's buyout and want him fired as well.

There are positive things going on with this program under Wes Miller and there are some behind the curtain things going on that aren't as positive based on stuff I've been told. Hopefully things get ironed out a little bit over the offseason and everyone stays in their lane going forward.

[GoBearcats31]

Leo, I don't disagree here. I said at the top of this thread that the first 8:00 would determine the game. I said that because Houston likes to jump on you from the opening tip. I'm not patting myself on the back here but that was a failure on the Bearcats part because you'd think the staff and team knew that was coming. The result was us never leading during the entire game despite fighting back the whole time.

Regardless of Houston's M.O., we are very often not ready to play out of the gate even at home and it puzzles me as to why.

UC has lost 11 straight to Houston.

3/1/2020 - lost by 13 at Houston ... got down 7-2 after ~3 mins
2/21/2021 - lost by 38 at Houston ... this one was actually back and forth for 10+ mins, including UC holding a 19-18 lead
3/14/2021 - lost by 37 in AAC ... got down 6-0 after 3 mins, quickly worsened after UC cut it to 8-6

Wes:
2/6/2022 - lost by 22 at home ... got down 20-3 after 6 mins and it never got better
3/1/2022 - lost by 18 at Houston ... was back and forth all first half
3/11/2022 - lost by 13 in AAC ... UC led by 5 at the half, leading by as much as 9 early
1/8/2023 - lost by 13 at home ... UC led 5-0, Houston went on a big run, briefly got close again before UH led by 7 at the break
1/28/2023 - lost by 6 at Houston ... UC led by 7 at the half
3/11/2023 - lost by 21 in AAC ... Houston jumped to an 11-2 lead and never turned back
2/10/2024 - lost by 5 at home ... Houston led 17-4, but UC went up 3 at the half and by 7 early in the second
2/27/2024 - lost by 8 at Houston ... UC got down 14-2 early, made a mini run to cut it to 6 late first and got pushed around until a late run made the end score close

The only consistency in each game is a loss -- though you will notice huge deficits in the last three meetings. In most every outing during the Wes era, UC has been competitive -- but it takes a full 40 minutes to take down a team of Houston's caliber and physicality/toughness. There have been blowouts. There have been near blowouts that wound up much closer. There have been great starts that could not be sustained. Some games UC kept it close because Houston struggled to put the ball in the basket, but UC couldn't buy a bucket either and take advantage... one of these days, UC will get them. But they quickly flipped the script on the UC/Houston dynamic from when Sampson first got there and Cronin was steering the UC ship.

[Lobot]

Here's the box score now that they finally added the minutes stat to the box.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...meId/401603498

[leo from jersey]

Tbh, I haven't listened to the post game yet. I totally understand knee jerk reactions after a loss but some if not all of the people calling for Wes's firing need to check their wallets. His buyout is currently 10M and only goes down to 8M after the next year in his contract. If a big donor wants to chuck that money into the sun then fine but most of the people complaining probably have no skin in the game on that front. These are the same people that can't pay Satterfield's buyout and want him fired as well.

There are positive things going on with this program under Wes Miller and there are some behind the curtain things going on that aren't as positive based on stuff I've been told. Hopefully things get ironed out a little bit over the offseason and everyone stays in their lane going forward.

Give CWM another year. I am sure he has spoken to Roy Williams about the issues. There is a lot on his plate and the Cats hired a learner and not a coach with major college experience. The players are different with different expectations. I want him to learn, but as Terry said - the winning has to start. Give him another year and some NIL money to get some guard help. I see several openings besides two that are now. I love CJ, but he can't help when he is constantly hurt and rehabbing. I see a big going and hopefully one of the taller frosh can more than make up for the little production in the BIG 12. Perhaps one more as well. I know one good floor leader might be the glue to get them all playing as a team. He would have to come in and earn the respect of the team, but that is what a floor leader does.

[leo from jersey]

also after the last loss on Saturday I only heard Terry's last remark. he said Houston was going to play the entire 40 Minutes. Y'all agree.

[Big_Daddy_Bearcat_07]

The bigger reality is simply that the players, coach, and fans aren't able to meet the expectations of the Big 12 this season. This is the toughest, day in and out league in a long, long time. We came in with players, coaching and fans that have never run this marathon, let alone even a Thanksgiving Day 5k. You can point to the Big East Era, but those teams and staff never got to the finish line before the league fell apart and lived in the basement of it for 3/4's of our membership. Things are trending very positive. The kids care. The coach cares. The fans care. This team as 8 Devonta Vaughn's. Support these players and they'll teach the incoming players what to expect and how to prepare for the Big 12. Support the coach and you'll see him grow to meet the expectations. Support the University because we are Bearcats through and through. We have a five-game stretch to finish the season that would have been our 5 hardest games in the last decade if you take away Houston in the American. They are not guaranteed wins. Then we run into a tournament that requires 5 wins in 5 days that would crown a Defacto National Championship based on the teams we'd face.

Our current fanbase has grown tremendously in size in the last decade due to enrollment. The newer alumni/fans are used to success where the past is more compassionate to where we started and how we've grown. Success at UC is not instant and not promised, as it may feel to the newer alumni. The knee-jerk opinions for new coach/new players/new whatever have to be checked at the door. Hard work, determination, and support have always been the recipe for success at UC. Let's build and support this team as a fanbase through the finish.