NIT picking

[red_n_black_attack]

Dear CincyReigns,

Please find the NIL to pay Malik Thomas to transfer. He would be an excellent addition to the Bearcat guards. It worked with Aziz last year, why not go after another NIT oppenent.

Yours truly,

Every Bearcat fan that wants to take pressure off Simas.

[sedz]

This game was incredibly even. The rebounding and turnover battles both ended up exactly tied, so each team ended up putting up the same number of shots. San Francisco outscored us from the field by 2 but we made 3 more free throws.

We scored 0.97 points per possession, which is poor even against a good defense. We put up as many midrange shots as rim looks, and only converted 44% inside the arc. Players not named Simas were 15% from three. USF did a good job keeping us off the offensive glass, where we rebounded only 26% of our misses. Our 17% turnover rate was right at our season average and the national average.

Defensively we held them to 0.96 points per possession. We did a good job on Mogbo, who finished with an inefficient 10 points on 13 shots, though he added 10 boards and 7 assists. USF got the rim 29 times but converted less than half of those thanks to Aziz's strong interior presence. They shot it well from three, hitting over 40%, but we limited them to just 22 attempts in a 45 minute game. Solid defense overall.

The best player was obviously Simas, putting up 12.3 net points and a 22.7 box plus minus. He scored 26 points from the field on only 15 shots. Aziz and Vik were the only other players with positive net points. Newman had an awful game, going 0 for 10 from the field, and was uncharacteristically our worst defender with a negative defensive box plus minus. He led the team with 9 rebounds though. Jamille also had a poor game, scoring just 1 point with no assists or offensive rebounds. Day Day was all over the place with 8 assists and 7 turnovers.

[leo from jersey]

It is clear that Simas has quietly become the team's "go-to" guy and the team's best three point shooter. This does not include Fredrick because he has been hurt all season. Hopefully in the upcoming games, it does not come down to either Simas hits a big three and UC wins or UC loses if he does not hit the shot. Somebody else has to step up. Eventually teams are going to plan strategies for defending Simas if situations like last night come up in future games. Three-cheers for Simas; who has saved UC from the jaws of defeat one more time.

Hip Hip Hooray - Hip Hip Hooray - Hip Hip Hooray for SL

[leo from jersey]

Hip Hip Hooray - Hip Hip Hooray - Hip Hip Hooray for SL

[leo from jersey]

I'm excited to see what JJ can do with bigger minutes. Maybe it is ugly but the kid is still a true freshman, has been playing off the bench and doesn't probably practice with the 1st team players all of the time. Maybe we could give him a chance to grow you think? I mean name a freshman pg who has played better in the last 20 years?

I think during the offseason situational awareness should be a big focal point for this team. Think of it as an extra summer class. Heck talk to the deans and make it a class for them. Maybe call it "Basketball Situational Awareness and why Hero Ball does not work!" I won't point fingers at any certain players anymore because these are just kids all trying to do their best. It is a tough sport but as a team we have 14 assists a game with 12 turnovers. We sit at 123rd in assist to turnover margin. We rank 84 for assist per game. For a team that is close in every game this is the difference between being a #1 or #2 seed in the NCAA tournament to being the #1 or #2 team in the NIT. Let's go cats and let's bring home the title.

If I recall we didn't play very many frosh at PG during the last 20 years, but Cashmere wright was better. Troy showed better ball skills as well. The thing is that the Cats are playing right now and we want them to win right now (most teams have that same desire). With the state of BB can you be sure if a player will develop on your team or transfer out. It isn't whether he will improve, it is where he is right now on this team this year and he isn't a good PG as of now. he is a good off guard. I, for one, is commenting on this year. !963 and 1999 taught me to live in the now and not the future.

[leeraymond]

It is clear that Simas has quietly become the team's "go-to" guy and the team's best three point shooter. This does not include Fredrick because he has been hurt all season. Hopefully in the upcoming games, it does not come down to either Simas hits a big three and UC wins or UC loses if he does not hit the shot. Somebody else has to step up. Eventually teams are going to plan strategies for defending Simas if situations like last night come up in future games. Three-cheers for Simas; who has saved UC from the jaws of defeat one more time.

[GoBearcats31]

Updated bracket -- Indiana State/Minnesota winner faces UC/Bradley winner https://www.ncaa.com/_flysystem/publ...?itok=RLtWeZWB

[GoBearcats31]

Last game versus Bradley -- UC fell 70-67 in the first round of the 2008 CBI https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...meId/280790071

Deonta Vaughn led the way with 23 points, while John Williamson pitched in 14 and Jamual Warren 13.

UC had 20 turnovers to Bradley's 11; UC was whistled for 25 fouls to Bradley's 15 -- with UC hitting 10/17 FT and Bradley 26/31.

[Lobot]

The game is Saturday.

Whoops.. This is correct. I no longer know what day of the week it is apparently

[sedz]

Next game is vs. Bradley at 5/3. That game will air on ESPN+ at 2:00 in the afternoon on Friday.

The first person to remind me f what happened the last time we played Bradley... oh nevermind

The game is Saturday.

[bearcatrunner]

I'm excited to see what JJ can do with bigger minutes. Maybe it is ugly but the kid is still a true freshman, has been playing off the bench and doesn't probably practice with the 1st team players all of the time. Maybe we could give him a chance to grow you think? I mean name a freshman pg who has played better in the last 20 years?

I think during the offseason situational awareness should be a big focal point for this team. Think of it as an extra summer class. Heck talk to the deans and make it a class for them. Maybe call it "Basketball Situational Awareness and why Hero Ball does not work!" I won't point fingers at any certain players anymore because these are just kids all trying to do their best. It is a tough sport but as a team we have 14 assists a game with 12 turnovers. We sit at 123rd in assist to turnover margin. We rank 84 for assist per game. For a team that is close in every game this is the difference between being a #1 or #2 seed in the NCAA tournament to being the #1 or #2 team in the NIT. Let's go cats and let's bring home the title.

[sedz]

you give the foul to take them out of what they drew up, no? then maybe just d up, and foul again if enough time comes off

Yes, if you have a foul to give you absolutely give it. The question is just when. I think 12 seconds is too early, that's plenty of time to run an offensive set. We would all be sitting here questioning why we didn't wait to give that foul.

There have been scientific papers published in physics journals about this (this one from last month found that fouling with 9 to 12 seconds left increases chances of losing: https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.13289). It's a well worn subject by now. A discussion between Steve Van Gundy and Marc Jackson in in NBA game sums up the general consensus pretty well: "Stan Van Gundy said his own rule of thumb was six seconds, while Jackson said his was five; regardless, it sure as heck isn't 11." San Francisco's coach knows all of that too. He may have told his guys to get a shot up before 10 seconds to preempt the foul strategy. It's all very fascinating to think about, but I don't think we can say Wes made the wrong decision.

Here's another brain buster: should San Francisco have fouled Aziz when he received the inbound pass and we were trailing by 2 in OT?

[Lobot]

Next game is vs. Bradley at 5/3. That game will air on ESPN+ at 2:00 in the afternoon on Friday.

The first person to remind me f what happened the last time we played Bradley... oh nevermind

[Lobot]

Last night proved as much as ever why this team is in the NIT and not the NCAA tournament. They've struggled all season to put 40-minute performances together against quality teams.

With that being said, considering we finished Big 12 play with a 4-5 home record, it's great to see this team pull out a tough win in front of the home crowd.

If this program is going to aim to be .500 or better in the Big 12 going forward, winning tough home games will have to become a staple of our success.

I'd just like us to figure why we've been sub par on our own home court this seaosn. Very strange.

[red_n_black_attack]

I saw the whole qoute from Wes just now and this might be a serious lower leg injury. We should probably be prepared for Jizzle James to go 40 minutes in the next game.

We can spell Jizzle at point. Simas, Reed, Skillings, or Newmann could bring the ball up and run the half-court offense, but not for long periods. Jizzle has not been in much foul trouble, so he should be able to play 30-35 minutes.