(04-21-2017 02:08 PM)crex043 Wrote:  Comparing Mick Cronin to Luke Fickell in terms of recruiting is not entirely an apt comparison.

Up until this point next year, Luke Fickell is recruiting prospects to a unique and mostly state-of-the-art facility that has been updated in the very recent past and has plans for future updates while Mick Cronin has been recruiting players to nearly 30 year old Fifth-Third Arena that hasn't seen a significant upgrade in a very long time. Mick will be bringing his recruits to watch the team play at BB&T Arena next year. This will be resolved soon, but this has been the reality for Mick since he started here at UC and home games at a foreign court won't help in the meantime.

Luke Fickell benefits from a wealth of football talent within a short distance from campus, while Mick has to reach further for his prospects as the area isn't known for its basketball prowess. I think Fickell's quick learning curve is owed greatly to the presence of talent in the area and his prior contact with some of these kids at OSU that makes the transition much easier for him. Kudos to him for recognizing it and capitalizing it by targeting these guys, but Mick faces a very different reality that makes recruiting much harder.

Luke also carries the momentum and pedigree of a long-standing association with tOSU with him. Mick came from UC and L'ville in a different era and ultimately comes from Murray State which doesn't have much cache in the basketball world.

This isn't to say that Mick is fine as-is. He should absolutely be gauged on results of his recruitment. Once the new arena is finished and we're still not pulling in a higher level of recruits, we should definitely question his ability to take us to the next level. You can't reach the next level if facilities are holding you back. He will also never recruit based on star rating - he has said as much. But we should be in on higher-rated recruits that fit Mick's profile.

Another thing that I didn't mention is Luke Fickell enters the AAC in a relative period of stability where the brand has been established (not that it is that good). I think Mick suffers from the fact that he's taken a backwards step in prestige from the Big East where we pulled in relatively competitive commits as compared to now and where Mick established a recruiting network into NY (where Keith Williams is from, oddly).

(04-21-2017 02:08 PM)crex043 Wrote:  Comparing Mick Cronin to Luke Fickell in terms of recruiting is not entirely an apt comparison.

Up until this point next year, Luke Fickell is recruiting prospects to a unique and mostly state-of-the-art facility that has been updated in the very recent past and has plans for future updates while Mick Cronin has been recruiting players to nearly 30 year old Fifth-Third Arena that hasn't seen a significant upgrade in a very long time. Mick will be bringing his recruits to watch the team play at BB&T Arena next year. This will be resolved soon, but this has been the reality for Mick since he started here at UC and home games at a foreign court won't help in the meantime.

Luke Fickell benefits from a wealth of football talent within a short distance from campus, while Mick has to reach further for his prospects as the area isn't known for its basketball prowess. I think Fickell's quick learning curve is owed greatly to the presence of talent in the area and his prior contact with some of these kids at OSU that makes the transition much easier for him. Kudos to him for recognizing it and capitalizing it by targeting these guys, but Mick faces a very different reality that makes recruiting much harder.

Luke also carries the momentum and pedigree of a long-standing association with tOSU with him. Mick came from UC and L'ville in a different era and ultimately comes from Murray State which doesn't have much cache in the basketball world.

This isn't to say that Mick is fine as-is. He should absolutely be gauged on results of his recruitment. Once the new arena is finished and we're still not pulling in a higher level of recruits, we should definitely question his ability to take us to the next level. You can't reach the next level if facilities are holding you back. He will also never recruit based on star rating - he has said as much. But we should be in on higher-rated recruits that fit Mick's profile.

The greater Cincinnati area may not be the biggest hotbed for talent, there is still some pretty good players that have come out of Cincinnati the last 10 years Mick has missed on. I think OSU has a top 50 guy in the 2018 class from Moller or somewhere.

Could lightning strike twice with another sophomore guard from Sacred Heart?

Sacred Heart’s Quincy McKnight announces decision to transfer


Based upon a quick comp, his numbers across the board are surprisingly similar, but a shade behind Cane Broome's pretty much right down the line (including the cool names department).

then there were 3.....

Jon Rothstein‏Verified account @JonRothstein
NC State and Xavier are no longer potential landing spots for Kansas transfer Carlton Bragg, per sources. Visits Arizona State on 5/1.

(04-27-2017 01:27 PM)Bearcat2012 Wrote:  then there were 3.....

Jon Rothstein‏Verified account @JonRothstein
NC State and Xavier are no longer potential landing spots for Kansas transfer Carlton Bragg, per sources. Visits Arizona State on 5/1.

I'll say one thing, UC definitely needs to find a big with an offensive skill set for the 18-19 season.

(04-27-2017 01:41 PM)Marcus Wrote:  

(04-27-2017 01:27 PM)Bearcat2012 Wrote:  then there were 3.....

Jon Rothstein‏Verified account @JonRothstein
NC State and Xavier are no longer potential landing spots for Kansas transfer Carlton Bragg, per sources. Visits Arizona State on 5/1.

I'll say one thing, UC definitely needs to find a big with an offensive skill set for the 18-19 season.

I don't know about need, it's hard to anticipate where the front court will be in terms of development. Seeing as Scott and Brooks are both underclassmen, but Bragg is a somewhat more known commodity at this point. Emphasis on somewhat, I don't think you can really glean a whole hell of a lot from his playing time and even with that, there's his off the court issues to consider.

Bragg to Ariz St