Sad State of Bearcat Basketball

[Bearcat1996]

Jerrod Calhoun, Head Basketball Coach, Utah State University. Calhoun was an assistant under Huggins at UC (Video Coordinator or something like that) and West Virginia (Director of Basketball Operations and Assistant Basketball Coach). Utah State is currently 12-1 and 3-0 in the conference (Mountain West). Calhoun is in his second year at USU. He went 26-8 last year (his 1st year) and made the NCAA Tournament.

Calhoun has a previous assistant coaching stop at Walsh after he left UC (Huggins was a head coach there. However, Huggins and Calhoun were not there during the same time period). In addition to Utah State, Calhoun has head coaching experience at Fairmont State. Fairmont State is a D II school. Calhoun made it to a D II National Championship game and lost. Calhoun also has head coaching experience at Youngstown State.

Calhoun is a UC graduate. Cincinnati should seriously consider this guy as the head basketball coach if it finds itself looking for a coach at the end of this season. He understands the strong tradition of UC basketball. This guy will not be in the market long when schools start looking for new coaches. UC may have to spend some money to buy his contract from USU (assuming he is still under contract) along with paying Miller the remainder of what is agreed that is left on his contract.

I have seen Utah State play this season. This guy is a good coach.

I would throw Calhoun into the mix. Ties to UC is important to me (and many others). Player development has been non-existent for many years and I think this a very underrated trait. What is known about Calhoun's philosophy? Engagement with media and alumni is also very important. Basically, a Huggs younger clone would make my day. Every game was fun to watch, win or lose.

[bearcatbret]

I read a story about Larry B. a while back. It said that he never lived like a star but very humble and saved his money. He still lives in his house from French Lick. I have no idea if that is true but it is nice to think that sports stars can still be that way.

[JBB]

Jerrod Calhoun, Head Basketball Coach, Utah State University. Calhoun was an assistant under Huggins at UC (Video Coordinator or something like that) and West Virginia (Director of Basketball Operations and Assistant Basketball Coach). Utah State is currently 12-1 and 3-0 in the conference (Mountain West). Calhoun is in his second year at USU. He went 26-8 last year (his 1st year) and made the NCAA Tournament.

Calhoun has a previous assistant coaching stop at Walsh after he left UC (Huggins was a head coach there. However, Huggins and Calhoun were not there during the same time period). In addition to Utah State, Calhoun has head coaching experience at Fairmont State. Fairmont State is a D II school. Calhoun made it to a D II National Championship game and lost. Calhoun also has head coaching experience at Youngstown State.

Calhoun is a UC graduate. Cincinnati should seriously consider this guy as the head basketball coach if it finds itself looking for a coach at the end of this season. He understands the strong tradition of UC basketball. This guy will not be in the market long when schools start looking for new coaches. UC may have to spend some money to buy his contract from USU (assuming he is still under contract) along with paying Miller the remainder of what is agreed that is left on his contract.

I have seen Utah State play this season. This guy is a good coach.

Calhoun may the right guy. All I’m saying is look at what Rick Pitino has done at St Johns. I think Huggins can still coach and with him cleaning up his act,he could give us 5 good years.
Let’s be real, we have gone thru Brannen and now 5 years of Miller. This program was once respected as one of the best in basketball.
Now we are what 8-6? We don’t scare any of our opponents

[Rufus]

Leo I been watching some vids of Larry Byrd lately and they are eye opening. I can appreciate a small Midwest hayseed coming to big city to sell his bball wares, bound and determined to allow no one take his plans away. We don't see that attitude in today's kids ( lol we are both old farts) they feel they are owed everything.

[leo from jersey]

He, and others had that quality that can't be taught and that is "drive". The thing that you have inside you that you refuse to lose, you refuse to be beaten by your opponent and love to force your will upon him. Not to mention a sense of owing someone something, for example a coach who saw something enough in you to want to offer you a scholly, and the need to be the very best in order to achieve a goal that 90% of people don't get. Today all they want is to get paid now.
Oh to have the mindset of an Oscar Robinson, or a Michael Jordan, or a Larry Byrd who none were going to denied their opportunity.

Rufus -- I used to post quotes in our gym -- some still there -- By the squat machine I had these from Larry Bird -- The kids had to read them while exercising --

“Push yourself again and again. Don’t give an inch until the final buzzer sounds.” –

“First master the fundamentals.” –

“A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals.”

My favorite right in the kids faces: “I don’t know if I practiced more than anybody, but I sure practiced enough. I still wonder if somebody – somewhere – was practicing more than me.”

“Practice habits were crucial to my development in basketball. You’ve got to have them down before you can even think about playing.

“There are many times when you are better off practicing than playing, but most people just don’t understand that.

“You can make all the excuses you want, but if you’re not mentally tough and you’re not prepared to play every night, you’re not going to win.

“There is nothing better than being out there when the game is on the line

these were great:

“You can make all the excuses you want, but if you’re not mentally tough and you’re not prepared to play every night, you’re not going to win.

“I hate to lose more than I like to win.

They worked well as I saw hard work and desire get fruit. The biggest lesson : “It makes me sick when I see a guy just stare at a loose ball and watch it go out of bounds.”

[Rufus]

He, and others had that quality that can't be taught and that is "drive". The thing that you have inside you that you refuse to lose, you refuse to be beaten by your opponent and love to force your will upon him. Not to mention a sense of owing someone something, for example a coach who saw something enough in you to want to offer you a scholly, and the need to be the very best in order to achieve a goal that 90% of people don't get. Today all they want is to get paid now.
Oh to have the mindset of an Oscar Robinson, or a Michael Jordan, or a Larry Byrd who none were going to denied their opportunity.

[bearcatlifer]

Bobby Brannen. Another driven player that UC has forgotten or tried to distance themselves from.

[D.A.H.]

nice barb wire tattoo too -- Bobby developed big time during his time with the Cats.

bobby also had the inner drive to succeed - he always gave a damn. not sure guys today can say they do.

[leo from jersey]

I also missed Bobby Brannen who set the school record for most consecutive made free throws. Not bad for a power forward.

nice barb wire tattoo too -- Bobby developed big time during his time with the Cats.

[bearcatbret]

I also missed Bobby Brannen who set the school record for most consecutive made free throws. Not bad for a power forward.

[leeraymond372@gmail.com]

Jerrod Calhoun, Head Basketball Coach, Utah State University. Calhoun was an assistant under Huggins at UC (Video Coordinator or something like that) and West Virginia (Director of Basketball Operations and Assistant Basketball Coach). Utah State is currently 12-1 and 3-0 in the conference (Mountain West). Calhoun is in his second year at USU. He went 26-8 last year (his 1st year) and made the NCAA Tournament.

Calhoun has a previous assistant coaching stop at Walsh after he left UC (Huggins was a head coach there. However, Huggins and Calhoun were not there during the same time period). In addition to Utah State, Calhoun has head coaching experience at Fairmont State. Fairmont State is a D II school. Calhoun made it to a D II National Championship game and lost. Calhoun also has head coaching experience at Youngstown State.

Calhoun is a UC graduate. Cincinnati should seriously consider this guy as the head basketball coach if it finds itself looking for a coach at the end of this season. He understands the strong tradition of UC basketball. This guy will not be in the market long when schools start looking for new coaches. UC may have to spend some money to buy his contract from USU (assuming he is still under contract) along with paying Miller the remainder of what is agreed that is left on his contract.

I have seen Utah State play this season. This guy is a good coach.

[dmoney70]

Are we really back to Huggins? I'm an old fella at this point and will always love the Huggins years and miss those type teams badly but come on guys. Seriously? There's no other coaches out there that aren't in their 70's that can build a successful program? The problem is the AD picking these coaches.

We all need to finally move on from Huggs don't you think?

[SKell82155]

Here is a short list of players that improved while at UC (not in any particular order):

1. Kenyon Martin (although it may have been from playing for the USA team under Bobby Knight)
2. Steve Logan (that short chubby guy)
3. Lazelle Durden
4. Darnelle Burton
5. Eric Hicks
6. Danny Fortson
7. Keith Gregor

There were many others, the point is, there were some good offenses during those years. Yes, defense and rebounding were stressed but they knew how to score and they knew how to run an offense through the hot guy. If you do not think that Huggs could call a play for out of bounds, see the end of the game at the Alaskan Shootout against number 1 Duke.

I apologize if I misspelled players names.

Good point- thanks for refreshing my memory.

[bearcatbret]

Here is a short list of players that improved while at UC (not in any particular order):

1. Kenyon Martin (although it may have been from playing for the USA team under Bobby Knight)
2. Steve Logan (that short chubby guy)
3. Lazelle Durden
4. Darnelle Burton
5. Eric Hicks
6. Danny Fortson
7. Keith Gregor

There were many others, the point is, there were some good offenses during those years. Yes, defense and rebounding were stressed but they knew how to score and they knew how to run an offense through the hot guy. If you do not think that Huggs could call a play for out of bounds, see the end of the game at the Alaskan Shootout against number 1 Duke.

I apologize if I misspelled players names.

[SKell82155]

I am not sure if Huggs has anything left in the tank. I also think that UC thought that they needed a young energetic coach to navigate the NIL and portal. However, I think that UC has separate people on staff to handle all of the outside of coaching issues. If we could get someone like Huggs to just focus on coaching and development and let the outside noise be handled by others, then maybe that is the way to go. Get someone in here that can coach at a high level.

I don’t remember him being very good offensively ?