Sad State of Bearcat Basketball

[bearcatbret]

This could go into the Big 12 News thread but being listed as 15 and in the last tier shows the state of basketball.
https://www.heartlandcollegesports.c...i6X93LF9BihRbg

[leeraymond372@gmail.com]

Besides Pete being almost 78yrs old, he hasn't coached since 2005. His best days are way behind him. We need somebody with a pulse.

I did not mention Pete Gillen as a potential candidate for the UC gig, I mentioned him regarding past coaches other than Skip Prosser that coached at Xavier. However, after I mentioned Gillen, I saw that someone had already mentioned Gillen. Besides, I am sure that Gillen is very comfortable and happy doing college basketball analysis for the CBS Sports Network.

[Rufus]

I want to get something off my chest here. This season has been disappointing so far, last season was disappointing as well. We've underachieved based on the talent on the roster.

I'm not always the most positive poster but I try and be a realist most of the time. The age of this board's members here skews to older side. A lot of us were here before this was even a message board website. I want to point out that a lot of you have been around as long or longer than I have and I'm in my mid 50s.

For those not in my demographic range, those of us who are remember the late 80s in UC sports. MBB had just gone 3-25 under MBB alumni Tony Yates the previous season and the football program wrapped up under HC Dave Currey somewhere around 1-9-1 that year. My memory is fuzzy these days but off the top of my head I think WBB made the NCAAs under Laurie Pirtle, which might have been her first season as coach and the lone bright spot.

This is not rock bottom for the department although is probably seems like it to those who are younger than me.

Everything is relative.

Lobot, I get what your saying. I'm in the demographic that represent the older side. I go all the way back to Taylor Baker as far as watching bball as a fan. Although I don't believe it is impossible to bring this sinking ship to relevancy again it is going to be extremely difficult in this age because of the NIL/ transfer portal. First off once your Lou was signed you had four years to play. A player could develope and very rarely did freshman play, let alone start. Players hardly transferred because they had to sit out an entire year. Today a complete overhaul of the roster is the norm. There is no developing of players or of upper class men teaching the culture of a program. As I said it's not impossible but it is going to be difficult. But it is my opinion that if UC gives another five years to a coach with the same results in this same structure that college sports find itself in now, it could be the end for many programs. I hope I'm wrong!

[bearcatlifer]

Today it has little to do with coaching or desire and everything to do with NIL money. Especially in football. Look at Texas Tech,Indiana,Oregon. UC is probably relegated to bottom feeder status until collective college athletics figures out a rational framework. My concern is that the Big Boys ( $$$) will refuse to bend to the collective will ( see big market teams and MLB) and everyone else is screwed. Somehow MLB does not have the foresight or gumption to force a change.I don't think collegiate athletics can survive that. Let the high rollers form their own little league of 10 teams but all other programs refuse to schedule them. Let's see how long that lasts. ( I know...I'm hallucinating!)

[leo from jersey]

The sad thing is that I have to watch the present day BB and FB games. I do remember the 50-90s in fb. I remember one homecoming game in 72 where there were maybe a few hundred fans. Ray Callahan was the coach. With an easy schedule we won two games. Usually the team record was a bit under .500. The better memories I have are from the 2000s on. It is hard to believe that the style of play has gone down so badly. In BB I remember watching OSCAR and the Cats winning it all. We all remember the Huggs era. I have a had time seeing what is happening on the floor today. I really enjoyed the Catlett years too.I am hoping that history repeats itself after Badger and Yates we got a winner. Even in the bad times we had players I really liked - David Duarte Jelly Jones , Roger McClendon among many, but the teams were not great. Folks thought the page had turned but then Huggs. Even back in the Badger-Yates era the teams were not as bad as the Brennen - Miller era. I saw UC bounce back from bad teams in BB and FB. The Coaches had to go though and I believe that this is the only way for today. It is hard to accept less then mediocre play when we have seen greatness. The teams today are mediocre in FB and wretched in BB.

[JBB]

a coach once told me that a player who lacks confidence either shoots a bunny or a long range shot. I agree with you that they heave instead of seeing the court.

How do you suggest getting the team to play in an organized offensive structure. A New coach has to do more than just run Xs and Os when he takes over this team. Of course, in today's game, he will have a whole new team to start with.

Will the Cats get a new coach? The media is speaking. It is hard for Dan Hoard and Terry to honestly speak to CWM because of the contracts, but others are speaking up. I am sure Tony P can't be happy.


As we said the last few years this is team turmoil. Perhaps not with the individual hot shots, but the team morale. Once you quit, it becomes a habit and no scheme can solve that. At least not right away.

“Winning is habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.” –Vince Lombardi

Note: This program is in turmoil. Guys face facts, we have a bad AD who should have extended CWM . 5 years of CWM and Brannen has dragged this once great program to its low level
I wasn’t a Cronin fan either, but he built the program. CWM is done!

[Lobot]

I want to get something off my chest here. This season has been disappointing so far, last season was disappointing as well. We've underachieved based on the talent on the roster.

I'm not always the most positive poster but I try and be a realist most of the time. The age of this board's members here skews to older side. A lot of us were here before this was even a message board website. I want to point out that a lot of you have been around as long or longer than I have and I'm in my mid 50s.

For those not in my demographic range, those of us who are remember the late 80s in UC sports. MBB had just gone 3-25 under MBB alumni Tony Yates the previous season and the football program wrapped up under HC Dave Currey somewhere around 1-9-1 that year. My memory is fuzzy these days but off the top of my head I think WBB made the NCAAs under Laurie Pirtle, which might have been her first season as coach and the lone bright spot.

This is not rock bottom for the department although is probably seems like it to those who are younger than me.

Everything is relative.

[JohnFrancis]

To the surprise of no one UC made Matt Norlander’s list of most disappointing CBB teams (video clip on CBS Sports website)

[BearKatz]

What about Pete Gillen? He was 202-75 at Xavier. That is a 72.9 win percentage. He was at Xavier for 9 seasons and went to 7 NCAAs.

Besides Pete being almost 78yrs old, he hasn't coached since 2005. His best days are way behind him. We need somebody with a pulse.

[leeraymond372@gmail.com]

Actually, in my memory, the only decent person that coached at xavier was Skip Prosser. May he rest in peace. The rest were either thugs or crooked.

What about Pete Gillen? He was 202-75 at Xavier. That is a 72.9 win percentage. He was at Xavier for 9 seasons and went to 7 NCAAs.

[bearcatbret]

Actually, in my memory, the only decent person that coached at xavier was Skip Prosser. May he rest in peace. The rest were either thugs or crooked.

[Gypo O'Leary]

It is a good thing that UC did not play Miami this year. They are undefeated and rolling. Maybe their coach should be on UC's radar.

I don't think hiring Xavier's wash-outs will do much to improve things at UC. Maybe we should get Pete Gillen

[BearKatz]

Fellas, we are nearly all at the point of believing we need a new coach as soon as monetarily/contractually possible. Let's be honest there is nothing in Miller's tenure here that would suggest that a hot streak to salvage his job is going to happen.

As coaching candidates are discussed might I remind everyone that while the Miami Redhawks and Travis Steele are getting a lot of attention, he was run out of town by Xavier after 4 seasons. His record in a Power 5 conference (Big East):

- 70-50 overall
-31-37 in the Big East
- zero NCAA tournaments (2 NIT's)

The book on him was he was a good recruiter but really not a great coach of his players and the results reflect that. We already have one of those guys in Miller and I don't want another one although I don't think that UC would ever bring in a XU castoff. I do like some of the names mentioned like Calhoun from Utah State. We can't miss on the next hire.

We would all be in denial if anyone thinks Miller is going to turn this around. Sad to say, but this season is clearly over. I don't expect more than 1-2 wins the remainder of the season. We're gonna have to catch somebody on a off night. Houston had an off night, and still found away to beat us.

As far as Travis Steele goes, that's another Wes Miller IMO. Travis would be well served to stay in the MAC. He could have a long tenure in that league. I hate to say this, but I give X credit for cutting ties with him after 4yrs. Steele was under 500 in the Big East and appeared to be over his head. Sounds famiilar?

This University deserves a Proven HC!

[Gmann]

Fellas, we are nearly all at the point of believing we need a new coach as soon as monetarily/contractually possible. Let's be honest there is nothing in Miller's tenure here that would suggest that a hot streak to salvage his job is going to happen.

As coaching candidates are discussed might I remind everyone that while the Miami Redhawks and Travis Steele are getting a lot of attention, he was run out of town by Xavier after 4 seasons. His record in a Power 5 conference (Big East):

- 70-50 overall
-31-37 in the Big East
- zero NCAA tournaments (2 NIT's)

The book on him was he was a good recruiter but really not a great coach of his players and the results reflect that. We already have one of those guys in Miller and I don't want another one although I don't think that UC would ever bring in a XU castoff. I do like some of the names mentioned like Calhoun from Utah State. We can't miss on the next hire.

[bearcatlifer]

Clearly our players couldn't care less if we win or lose. All they want is that NIL paycheck. They get it wether they are sitting on the bench or playing. Heck they even get it if they are "injured". The name of the game now is to milk those years of eligibity as long as you can. Most of them have no NBA aspirations so play,transfer,win,lose...who cares as long as you can con some sucker coach into paying you NIL money.