TicketsHappy Tuesday and, more importantly, happy beginning of the Big East Tournament. Enjoy kicking back and watching teams play their bodies into submission over the next two days while the Bearcats kick back in the hotel with their feet up.
Quite a feeling. Enjoy it. There are a lot of programs with piles of money dedicated to the basketball program looking jealously at the Bearcats and Mick Cronin right now.
Let's eat...
--- There is plenty of Bearcats on the plate, but I'd be remiss if I didn't start by talking about Miami coach Charlie Coles, who announced his retirement last night.
Since arriving on the UC beat three seasons ago, every year when UC played Miami has been a treat. I was even lucky enough to see him at least once a year while in school at Ohio. The guy is the Michael Jordan of postgame press conferences. And he's an even better person.
You never know what he is going to say, only that it will make you laugh and offer perspective.
I've heard him wax poetic about the name Cashmere and tell us if he had his druthers his name would have been Rudyard Othello Coles. I've seen him bring his granddaughter into nearly every press conference and remind us that is why he's coaching.
There's the classic facial reactions like the ones he offers beginning at the nine-minute mark of this ">BearcatLair postgame video from UC-Miami 2010.
Of course, one of the most famous recently was this exchange given at Kentucky when the RedHawks lost at the buzzer to John Wall and Coles was asked how it got away from him.
Sad to think he held his final postgame presser last night. It's been a fantastic ride. Thanks, Charlie.
--- Moving on, the opening round of the tournament is today, beginning at noon with DePaul-UConn at noon, Pitt-St. John's at 2 p.m., Providence-Seton Hall at 7 p.m., and Villanova-Rutgers at 9 p.m.
As for predictions, I think DePaul puts a serious scare into UConn, but the Huskies hold on. Then I have Pitt, Providence and Villanova.
--- Dan Hoard asks, who is this year's JaQuon Parker. If you remember early in the season, we gave Parker as the answer to who is this year's Dion Dixon.
As Mick precisely said when talking to DH, it's whoever puts in the effort during the offseason. That's been the common trait between Parker and Dixon -- countless hours in the gym. Both came by virtue of motivation. Dixon from a disappointing sophomore year capped by the brutal conclusion at MSG against WVU. Parker from a season that saw him barely grace the floor.
Next year, who knows? Cheikh Mbodj and Kelvin Gaines are the two that come to my mind as both will be needed to fill in for Yancy Gates.
We shall see. Just poke your head into the gym late at night and you'll find your answer.
--- I wanted to point something out which critics love to throw in the face of the Bearcats: The old non-conference schedule.
Yes, that dreaded non-con number. What is it now? 326? Point being, we praised Mick because last year his team was fresh, resilient and energetic for its postseason run due in large part to a early-season schedule designed to prepare his team for conference play, but not overwhelm them over the course of the year. After all, the team need to be playing its best, and not worn down or tearing each other's throats out, by the time the calendar flipped to March.
Such is the case this year, as his team finished the regular season playing its best, winning 6 of 8 and 5 of 6.
The non-con schedule ended up weaker than anticipated and changes are expected in coming years, but there's no denying a young team needing to find itself early on did that (with some unanticipated help at The Cintas Center) and eventually came together fresh and prepared for a run late in the season....again.
There is a method to Mick's madness and for the second year in a row, it is proving itself.
--- The Bearcats will be sporting new Adidas jerseys for the postseason. Here is a photo gallery of the new unis. It's unigeek Christmas!
--- Dana O'Neil rightly points out that Mick Cronin and Buzz Williams are among a new group of young coaches following in some serious footsteps for a conference built on legendary leaders.
--- Bill Koch writes on Sean Kilpatrick seeking to improve after earning Second Team All-Big East status.
Take a look at all the underclassmen the last two years who have been named to the second, third or honorable mention and where they ended up the next season.
--- Of the players who returned and were named to the second or third team, 5 of 7 ended up on the First Team All-Big East the next season.
--- Point being, history shows players who show up on this list tend to take a step to the elite of the league when they return. The bar of expectations will be set very high for SK next year. His development should place him among one of the top five players in the Big East.
--- Scott from Bearcats Blog suffers a color-coded, statistical hemorrhage in his Big East Tournament primer.
--- Did anybody happen to listen to the Mick Cronin Radio Show last night on 700WLW? If you didn't, you missed a dandy.
Here is the podcast of a question that got him going on the ESPN analysts, via The Big One. Jump forward to the 26:30 mark to hear Matt ask the question that opens the comedic floodgates.
He essentially takes shots at every analyst ESPN and other stations have to offer.
"Joe Lunardi is a professor at St. Joe's, why do we care what he thinks?"
Then, when Jerry Palm is referenced, he breaks out, "who is Jerry Palm?"
My favorite was ripping on the teammate thief, Doug Gottlieb.
"If you can't shoot over 50 percent from the free throw line as a college basketball player, you shouldn't get to be an analyst."
Plus, Chuck uses the word morphisis.
--- The selection committee claims it doesn't really use the RPI for team evaluation. Yet, on the team sheets they look at to compare every team, the acronym RPI is listed 16 times. You can say you're not affected all you want, it's there. We'll see how much on Selection Sunday.
--- According to John Gasaway's Tuesday Truth's stat bonanza, the Bearcats finished just about where they belonged by the numbers in the Big East.
--- Mike DeCourcy's Q and A with Coach Cal deserves a read.
--- Some randomness...
--- Please let me see somebody park like this trying to find a spot at Fifth and Vine.
--- Dikembe Mutumbo can't believe what he just saw.
--- Mila Kunis says she doesn't get asked out. I would be more than happy to change that.
--- What a story of heroism from this mother of two.
--- It's been a while since I've broken out some Pearl Jam. Here you go. Look out for the latest Inside the Bearcats Podcast coming later in the day. Have a good one.
Quite a feeling. Enjoy it. There are a lot of programs with piles of money dedicated to the basketball program looking jealously at the Bearcats and Mick Cronin right now.
Let's eat...
--- There is plenty of Bearcats on the plate, but I'd be remiss if I didn't start by talking about Miami coach Charlie Coles, who announced his retirement last night.
Since arriving on the UC beat three seasons ago, every year when UC played Miami has been a treat. I was even lucky enough to see him at least once a year while in school at Ohio. The guy is the Michael Jordan of postgame press conferences. And he's an even better person.
You never know what he is going to say, only that it will make you laugh and offer perspective.
I've heard him wax poetic about the name Cashmere and tell us if he had his druthers his name would have been Rudyard Othello Coles. I've seen him bring his granddaughter into nearly every press conference and remind us that is why he's coaching.
There's the classic facial reactions like the ones he offers beginning at the nine-minute mark of this ">BearcatLair postgame video from UC-Miami 2010.
Of course, one of the most famous recently was this exchange given at Kentucky when the RedHawks lost at the buzzer to John Wall and Coles was asked how it got away from him.
Sad to think he held his final postgame presser last night. It's been a fantastic ride. Thanks, Charlie.
--- Moving on, the opening round of the tournament is today, beginning at noon with DePaul-UConn at noon, Pitt-St. John's at 2 p.m., Providence-Seton Hall at 7 p.m., and Villanova-Rutgers at 9 p.m.
As for predictions, I think DePaul puts a serious scare into UConn, but the Huskies hold on. Then I have Pitt, Providence and Villanova.
--- Dan Hoard asks, who is this year's JaQuon Parker. If you remember early in the season, we gave Parker as the answer to who is this year's Dion Dixon.
As Mick precisely said when talking to DH, it's whoever puts in the effort during the offseason. That's been the common trait between Parker and Dixon -- countless hours in the gym. Both came by virtue of motivation. Dixon from a disappointing sophomore year capped by the brutal conclusion at MSG against WVU. Parker from a season that saw him barely grace the floor.
Next year, who knows? Cheikh Mbodj and Kelvin Gaines are the two that come to my mind as both will be needed to fill in for Yancy Gates.
We shall see. Just poke your head into the gym late at night and you'll find your answer.
--- I wanted to point something out which critics love to throw in the face of the Bearcats: The old non-conference schedule.
Yes, that dreaded non-con number. What is it now? 326? Point being, we praised Mick because last year his team was fresh, resilient and energetic for its postseason run due in large part to a early-season schedule designed to prepare his team for conference play, but not overwhelm them over the course of the year. After all, the team need to be playing its best, and not worn down or tearing each other's throats out, by the time the calendar flipped to March.
Such is the case this year, as his team finished the regular season playing its best, winning 6 of 8 and 5 of 6.
The non-con schedule ended up weaker than anticipated and changes are expected in coming years, but there's no denying a young team needing to find itself early on did that (with some unanticipated help at The Cintas Center) and eventually came together fresh and prepared for a run late in the season....again.
There is a method to Mick's madness and for the second year in a row, it is proving itself.
--- The Bearcats will be sporting new Adidas jerseys for the postseason. Here is a photo gallery of the new unis. It's unigeek Christmas!--- Dana O'Neil rightly points out that Mick Cronin and Buzz Williams are among a new group of young coaches following in some serious footsteps for a conference built on legendary leaders.
--- Bill Koch writes on Sean Kilpatrick seeking to improve after earning Second Team All-Big East status.
Take a look at all the underclassmen the last two years who have been named to the second, third or honorable mention and where they ended up the next season.
2011 ----- NEXT YEAR HONOR
SECOND TEAM
Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette, G, Jr. --- FIRST TEAM
SECOND TEAM
Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette, G, Jr. --- FIRST TEAM
THIRD TEAM
Kris Joseph, Syracuse, F, Jr., --- FIRST TEAM HONORABLE MENTION
Peyton Siva, Louisville, G, So. --- UNRANKED
Scoop Jardine, Syracuse, G, So. --- SECOND TEAM
Kevin Jones, West Virginia, F, Jr. --- FIRST TEAM
2010
SECOND TEAM
2010
SECOND TEAM
Austin Freeman, Georgetown, G, Jr. --- FIRST TEAM
Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall, G, Jr. --- THIRD TEAM
Ashton Gibbs, Pittsburgh, G, So. --- FIRST TEAM
THIRD TEAM
Samardo Samuels, Louisville, F, So. --- PRO
Corey Fisher, Villanova, G, Jr. --- SECOND TEAM
Kemba Walker, Connecticut, G, So. --- FIRST TEAM
Devin Ebanks, West Virginia, F, So. --- PRO
HONORABLE MENTION
Jamine Peterson, Providence, F, So. --- TRANSFER
Jimmy Butler, Marquette, F, Jr. --- HONORABLE MENTION
Tim Abromaitis, Notre Dame, F, Fr. --- THIRD TEAM
--- Of the players who returned and were named to the second or third team, 5 of 7 ended up on the First Team All-Big East the next season.
--- Point being, history shows players who show up on this list tend to take a step to the elite of the league when they return. The bar of expectations will be set very high for SK next year. His development should place him among one of the top five players in the Big East.
--- Scott from Bearcats Blog suffers a color-coded, statistical hemorrhage in his Big East Tournament primer.
--- Did anybody happen to listen to the Mick Cronin Radio Show last night on 700WLW? If you didn't, you missed a dandy.
Here is the podcast of a question that got him going on the ESPN analysts, via The Big One. Jump forward to the 26:30 mark to hear Matt ask the question that opens the comedic floodgates.
He essentially takes shots at every analyst ESPN and other stations have to offer.
"Joe Lunardi is a professor at St. Joe's, why do we care what he thinks?"
Then, when Jerry Palm is referenced, he breaks out, "who is Jerry Palm?"
My favorite was ripping on the teammate thief, Doug Gottlieb.
"If you can't shoot over 50 percent from the free throw line as a college basketball player, you shouldn't get to be an analyst."
Plus, Chuck uses the word morphisis.
--- The selection committee claims it doesn't really use the RPI for team evaluation. Yet, on the team sheets they look at to compare every team, the acronym RPI is listed 16 times. You can say you're not affected all you want, it's there. We'll see how much on Selection Sunday.
--- According to John Gasaway's Tuesday Truth's stat bonanza, the Bearcats finished just about where they belonged by the numbers in the Big East.
--- Mike DeCourcy's Q and A with Coach Cal deserves a read.
--- Some randomness...
--- Please let me see somebody park like this trying to find a spot at Fifth and Vine.
--- Dikembe Mutumbo can't believe what he just saw.
--- Mila Kunis says she doesn't get asked out. I would be more than happy to change that.
--- What a story of heroism from this mother of two.
--- It's been a while since I've broken out some Pearl Jam. Here you go. Look out for the latest Inside the Bearcats Podcast coming later in the day. Have a good one.