The unofficial online home for fans of the University of Cincinnati Bearcats. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(01-08-2019 10:55 AM)CincyBro Wrote:  

(01-08-2019 10:45 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  People on here undervalue Mick's recruiting around here. It'd be nice to get UC to a level where they were getting blue chip recruits, but he has done a great job finding not just solid role players, but real difference makers. UC is a top 25 program and a big part of it has been his ability to identify talent. Guys like SK, Gary Clark, Jacob Evans and Jarron Cumberland are real difference makers. The big hole in his recruiting is getting the blue chip, obviously ready stud...if he got one of those every couple of years UC would be a top 10 program.

Is it quite possible that Cronin got lucky with these players. If Cuse comes calling does SK come here, if Duke or NC come calling does Clark come here, if LSU comes calling where does Evans go...Cumberland maybe comes here anyway but did OSU recruit him. Washington comes here why, nowhere else to go ?

Isn't EVERY coach lucky when they get good guys? They ALL have other choices.

(01-08-2019 11:05 AM)Cat-Man Wrote:  There are plenty of average coaches/recruiters who have landed a handful of guys who went on to have a cup of coffee in the NBA.

Let's be frank, the recruiting expectations when Cronin was hired compared to what he has actually delivered, has been underwhelming. Granted, the expectations may have been a little high, but what he has actually delivered has also been a little low.

Do you realize UC essentially got kicked out of the power conference club while every local recruiting rival outside of Dayton was elevated. Xavier to the Big East, Louisville and Pitt to the ACC. WVU to the Big XII. Then you factor in the C7 that stayed in the Big East and other regional powers and you will start to realize what UC is up against and how well they have adapted and overcome the demotion.

(01-08-2019 10:38 AM)Def Berkkat Wrote:  

(01-08-2019 10:32 AM)robertfoshizzle Wrote:  

(01-08-2019 09:22 AM)Def Berkkat Wrote:  Hardaway's recruiting pipeline is going to quickly dry up when he runs out of kids that he knew/coached/housed prior to his becoming a college coach.

Huggins got some guys, but he wasn't saddled with the P5/G5 stigma that we are under now. It was a lot more level playing field then.

Mick targets guys that are going to work in his system. Every coach misses on guys. He just needs to get out there and find the next Gary Clark.

I doubt that. Just because he's no longer coaching AAU doesn't mean he's not connected. Guys that he has coming in next year will attract kids in the younger classes that they know, and the chain continues. The only way I see him not continuing to recruit at a high level is if he doesn't win games once his blue chip guys are in the rotation. If he's not in the tournament by year 3, it will fall apart.

I don't buy that.

Did Gary Clark and Jacob Evans just not know anyone younger than them that was any good at basketball?

Gary Clark and Jacob Evans came from different parts of the country that also aren't basketball recruiting hot beds, so it's not surprising that they didn't start a recruiting pipeline. It's not like a bunch of kids in North Carolina and Louisiana are going to start coming to Cincinnati because we recruited one successful player from their area. With Memphis and Penny it is different. He's a local guy recruiting local players to the local school, and he also has extensive connections with the AAU system and high schools there. Sure, a lot of his early recruits are guys he has coached and has direct connections with, but I think it will continue even after this class.

(01-08-2019 11:11 AM)bearcatlawjd2 Wrote:  

(01-08-2019 11:05 AM)Cat-Man Wrote:  There are plenty of average coaches/recruiters who have landed a handful of guys who went on to have a cup of coffee in the NBA.

Let's be frank, the recruiting expectations when Cronin was hired compared to what he has actually delivered, has been underwhelming. Granted, the expectations may have been a little high, but what he has actually delivered has also been a little low.

Do you realize UC essentially got kicked out of the power conference club while every local recruiting rival outside of Dayton was elevated. Xavier to the Big East, Louisville and Pitt to the ACC. WVU to the Big XII. Then you factor in the C7 that stayed in the Big East and other regional powers and you will start to realize what UC is up against and how well they have adapted and overcome the demotion.

So now it's back to conference affiliation is the reason? Does that mean we are ready to admit the Big East is currently a superior conference to the AAC? Because there are A LOT of posters on this board who claim it isn't.

For the first 7 years, Cronin was recruiting to the best basketball conference in the land. He didn't exactly land top recruits. One would argue, he may have landed his best recruits after he joined the AAC.

(01-08-2019 07:52 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  I think there is a middle ground between Mick's role players and "ready now/ready soon" NBA players. There are many impact players on the college scene--some even become All-Americans, but just aren't NBA material. Many of those players possess shooting ability and offensive skills superior to what we see regularly on the home court.

Was Evans' early departure a complete surprise to Mick? I'd find that hard to believe. Yet there was no one in the incoming class who could really make an immediate contribution on the offensive side or even give the quality minutes he delivered as a freshman off the bench.

I don't fault Mick's overall recruiting strategy. I do believe it requires at least one blue chip player each recruiting cycle to maintain the current level of success. Halfway through this season, there isn't a freshman contributing meaningful minutes the way Evans, Clark or Caupain did when they entered the program.

I and others can be critical of this year’s team. I think though it is only fair to recognize we lost 3 guys who are not easily replaceable. The true shame is always the Nevada game where IMO our best roster in a long time simply collapsed.

Somehow a year in a temporary facility must have had some negative impact on recruiting.

Frankly, I expect us to blow out Tulsa tomorrow to take out our frustrations.

Im deeply connected in AAU basketball and I have **** to sell you. Reason why we don't get recruits real **** is we have probably the SHORTEST coaches in big time college basketball. I've been in gym with over 1000k top high school kids past 10yrs alone.#1 kids look for when looking for the college coaches is the TALL guys. Mick like 5'5 and don't have best personality to chit chat and get folks to know him. The other coach u see the most don't know which one but he's short ass **** and built like a football trainer. It may sound corny and dumb but I've been around the best of best. Mick or UC be at ALL top tournamnets no matter shoe company, 75% kids only know what conference KY, Duke, and Ohio state in. They care less about conference stop letting sellers tell u lies. If pitino went to Cincinnati state he'll have same kids. Its all about the coach and who he is at end of day. Bottom line is I've heard Demarr johnson is go fill davis spot thats ho be HUGE. He should trail Mick to all big events. May hurt all our stomachs but Hayes over at X is a huge man and when he walked in building EVERYBODY asked who he was, 98% players didnt know what that X on his shirt stood for.

(01-08-2019 01:29 AM)digibrink Wrote:  Under Armor is a huge issue for recruiting. I like what they do for jerseys etc but it really hurts basketball (at least until all the fallout with cheating is fixed).

UA has nothing do with it. Best of best play with multiple teams and shoe companies

Also FBI being open AAU teams footing own bills now. Unless u got 5stars and its only 20 at most u not getting full sponsor anymore. U get jersey and pair of shoes if that

Now the pay to play real as **** but lets be honest all players get funded one way or another or u dumb

And i HATE when yall let crooked sellers tell u that college landscape has changed. When hell did mid majors get best players? NEVER. Big name schools ALWAYS got the best if they wanted them. If anything with social media times have changed for smaller name schools get out there and get some top kids. MORE TOP PLAYERS CHOOSING MID MAJORS THAN EVER. #1 PG in draft plays for Murray state

(01-08-2019 01:16 PM)BULLDOG2 Wrote:  And i HATE when yall let crooked sellers tell u that college landscape has changed. When hell did mid majors get best players? NEVER. Big name schools ALWAYS got the best if they wanted them. If anything with social media times have changed for smaller name schools get out there and get some top kids. MORE TOP PLAYERS CHOOSING MID MAJORS THAN EVER. #1 PG in draft plays for Murray state

Majority of the top 100 play at top six conferences. Actually it is usually closer 90 percent. In today’s college sports landscape the American isn’t a power conference. It isn’t even at the level of 1990s version of the Great Midwest or C-USA even though it should be.

Is it quite possible that Cronin got lucky with these players. If Cuse comes calling does SK come here, if Duke or NC come calling does Clark come here, if LSU comes calling where does Evans go...Cumberland maybe comes here anyway but did OSU recruit him. Washington comes here why, nowhere else to go ?
[/quote]


Why would any of them schools besides OSU for cumberland recruit any of the rest of them. Clark had quadruple double and still didnt get offered. Below rim players don't play for them. Evans had come all way here because LSU had one of best classes ever that year(any other year i agree he stay close home) washington basically got cut.

(01-08-2019 01:02 PM)BULLDOG2 Wrote:  Im deeply connected in AAU basketball and I have **** to sell you. Reason why we don't get recruits real **** is we have probably the SHORTEST coaches in big time college basketball. I've been in gym with over 1000k top high school kids past 10yrs alone.#1 kids look for when looking for the college coaches is the TALL guys. Mick like 5'5 and don't have best personality to chit chat and get folks to know him. The other coach u see the most don't know which one but he's short ass **** and built like a football trainer. It may sound corny and dumb but I've been around the best of best. Mick or UC be at ALL top tournamnets no matter shoe company, 75% kids only know what conference KY, Duke, and Ohio state in. They care less about conference stop letting sellers tell u lies. If pitino went to Cincinnati state he'll have same kids. Its all about the coach and who he is at end of day. Bottom line is I've heard Demarr johnson is go fill davis spot thats ho be HUGE. He should trail Mick to all big events. May hurt all our stomachs but Hayes over at X is a huge man and when he walked in building EVERYBODY asked who he was, 98% players didnt know what that X on his shirt stood for.

Pitino and Saban are both midgets too and they seem to do alright. I think his personality may be part of it, but I would just be speculating.

(01-08-2019 01:29 PM)bearcatlawjd2 Wrote:  

(01-08-2019 01:16 PM)BULLDOG2 Wrote:  And i HATE when yall let crooked sellers tell u that college landscape has changed. When hell did mid majors get best players? NEVER. Big name schools ALWAYS got the best if they wanted them. If anything with social media times have changed for smaller name schools get out there and get some top kids. MORE TOP PLAYERS CHOOSING MID MAJORS THAN EVER. #1 PG in draft plays for Murray state

Majority of the top 100 play at top six conferences. Actually it is usually closer 90 percent. In today’s college sports landscape the American isn’t a power conference. It isn’t even at the level of 1990s version of the Great Midwest or C-USA even though it should be.

Its not rocket science law. Kids go to name brand name schools just like they wear brand name clothes. Times have changed kids no longer are students of game lile old days when u had pick up a paper to know who was who. Youtube they best friends now. They see but trust me they dont know. Kid couldn't tell u X was in big east, kansas state was in big 12, Vanderbilt was in SEC trust me. They know the schools but not history. Its easy to become a P5 school. U play a top 5 team from every P5 EVERY year, then on top off that u play best of best mid majors(unlv, gonzaga, westerm Ky, buffalo). U want be look at like big boy go play them and beat em. Not too many teams wouldn't give UC a 2 for 1 type deal. Take training wheels off Mick you a big boy now, just like you want JJ stop trying protect his NCAa record challenge ur teams against the real best and end that tourny record u keep trying keep

Basketball isnt about power conferences. Its all POWER coaches and teams. Urban meyer could come UC tomorrow we still wouldn't beat OSU at recruiting. Coach Cal show up tomorrow we have top 5 class in 2019. Stop buying the lies

(01-08-2019 11:24 AM)Cat-Man Wrote:  

(01-08-2019 11:11 AM)bearcatlawjd2 Wrote:  

(01-08-2019 11:05 AM)Cat-Man Wrote:  There are plenty of average coaches/recruiters who have landed a handful of guys who went on to have a cup of coffee in the NBA.

Let's be frank, the recruiting expectations when Cronin was hired compared to what he has actually delivered, has been underwhelming. Granted, the expectations may have been a little high, but what he has actually delivered has also been a little low.

Do you realize UC essentially got kicked out of the power conference club while every local recruiting rival outside of Dayton was elevated. Xavier to the Big East, Louisville and Pitt to the ACC. WVU to the Big XII. Then you factor in the C7 that stayed in the Big East and other regional powers and you will start to realize what UC is up against and how well they have adapted and overcome the demotion.

So now it's back to conference affiliation is the reason? Does that mean we are ready to admit the Big East is currently a superior conference to the AAC? Because there are A LOT of posters on this board who claim it isn't.

For the first 7 years, Cronin was recruiting to the best basketball conference in the land. He didn't exactly land top recruits. One would argue, he may have landed his best recruits after he joined the AAC.

Agreed. You can't argue it both ways.

Cronin was blessed to be in the greatest college basketball conference ever in the real Big East and never seemed to reap the rewards in recruiting. Xavier back fills a watered down Big East and it's the reason they're getting superior recruits to UC?

This isn't a blanket condemnation of Mick and what he's done here. But I think if most fans gave an honest assessment, they would have projected Mick to be getting some top 25 classes in here from time to time, especially after more than a decade of winning and postseason exposure.

(01-08-2019 01:48 PM)BULLDOG2 Wrote:  Basketball isnt about power conferences. Its all POWER coaches and teams. Urban meyer could come UC tomorrow we still wouldn't beat OSU at recruiting. Coach Cal show up tomorrow we have top 5 class in 2019. Stop buying the lies

I do agree with this-- all you have to do is look at Gonzaga, what Wichita State has done with Gregg Marshall, what Butler did in the A10, St. Mary's, etc. Meanwhile, Alabama and Georgia basketball is relatively a blimp on the radar with recruits.

(01-07-2019 07:35 PM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  Memphis hasn't had an issue recruiting. Neither has UCONN. Huggins didn't have an issue recruiting in Great Midwest or CUSA.

It's not the conference. Its the coach. We weren't exactly bringing in McDonald's All American's in the Big East either. SK was a 3star that ended up being good. You can't bank on that. Mick has missed on a number of guys. Its almost like he doesn't even go after them now. He isn't a good recruiter and his boring, defense first style is a turn off to many of the big time players/scorers. It isn't the conference. Its the coach and his lame style. Being that as it may, that won't change as long as he is coach. Better just get used to mediocrity.

Mick Cronin...he ain't no Huggins.

Sadly, I've come to the point where I agree with all of this.

(01-07-2019 08:02 PM)Racinejake Wrote:  Honest question. Do people think Mick would recruit better at a school in a better conference? Not a blue blood, but an Illinois or NC State type school.

No. He's simply not a good recruiter as a HC and it's also a very weak recruiting staff as well.

(01-08-2019 02:46 AM)jarr Wrote:  ...My understanding is that Torrence wanted to be here next year and reclassify but Mick was having none of it. He wanted him to stay 2020.

Please tell me this is not true....