Paul Daugherty: Politickin' Mick

Friday, February 22, 2008

Politickin' Mick

You know we're not far from the Madness when you start hearing the coaches stumping for their clubs. Mick Cronin says if UC finishes top-6 in the BE and the committee takes at least six BE teams, his should be one of them... also suggests committee should consider that UC played its first 6 games w/o J. Warren...

Thoughts?

I think he makes a decent case. I also think UC better win twice in the BE tournament to justify it. Joe Lunardi, the ESPN Bracketologist, is on Sports Talk w/me tonight at about 7. You'll be surprised to hear what he thinks about UC's Dance chances.

18 Comments:

at 10:54 AM

SportsMania said...

I completely agree with Mick. If UC finishes top six in the toughest conference, they should be considered.
The committee should consider that UC played without Warren for the first six games, of course UC did win four of those games. The committee might toss out that loss to Belmont but the one loss that really stings is that loss to BG at home. With or without Warren, UC should win those games.
I think it might be a little early too make too much of a case. There are still five games left and the conference tournament, so at least six to be played. So Mick has time to prove himself.
I think UC's magic number is 18 wins. If they get to 18 wins, no matter how they do it, whether they win the final 5 regular season games or win 3 regular season games and a couple in the tournament, they should be in.

at 11:02 AM

Cheviot Sports Authority said...

NCAA TOURNAMENT! NCAA TOURNAMENT!
That one had me laughing all day yesterday. Have you watched the Bearcats lately? I hope no one on the selection committee was watching the S Florida or the Rutgers games. Mick is good with the excuses though.
Now if they beat Georgetown, Pittsburgh and UConn and manage not to lose to Providence and DePaul, then go on to win a couple of Big East Tourney games, then I say they are deserving of an NCAA bid.

If you think that is going to happen, you probably also think that Hillary Clinton would make a great president.

at 11:03 AM

Cheviot Sports Authority said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

at 11:12 AM

Anonymous said...

Cats are currently 13-12, 8-5 in conference.

They need their next two home games for 15-12, + at least one of the away games (Gtown, Pitt, UConn) for 16-14. As you say, Paul, 2 BE tourney wins and one tourney loss will give them 18-15.

I think 18-15 with 7 or 8 quality wins makes them part of the bubble conversation, but it more likely makes them NIT.

1-1 in the Tourney and they'd be 17-15. That should still have them viable for the NIT.

Wouldn't it be easier to get 2 wins in the tourney if they did NOT get a bye round?

at 11:13 AM

SportsMania said...

Also, as for the consideration of injured players, I think that is something the committee should be careful on how much it weighs in.
When a team loses it's floor leader it should be considered (like if Vaughn went down). But losing a guy like Warren and trying to stake your claim on that, perhaps shows a lack of depth. I like Warren a lot as a player, but he is merely an excellent role player for UC. He adds a little to each major stat, but is in no way the go to guy.
And speaking of considering injured players. I keep hearing that Dayton should be considered for the injury to Wright. But, i think they have taken themselves out of the picture by completely falling apart. They will need a big win, like this Sunday against Xavier to remain on the bubble.

Here is some food for thought both UC and Dayton want some credit for injuried players. Yet both hang their hats on big wins against Louisville and Pittsburgh who themselves have had injuries to major players when they played (Padgett and Fields). So if the committee is going to give you some credit for your injuries, don't they need to discount your wins against teams that were hurt. I mean, there has to be some give and take.

at 12:30 PM

Anonymous said...

If Huggs were still here, he'd be pushing for them to have a #2 seed.

Then again, if Huggs were still here, the Bearcats would be 8-17.

at 1:22 PM

Anonymous said...

Louisville had players returning from injury, but everyone played. However I do agree that the injury argument is an overrated one and they should not be accounted for when the tournament comes around, either for or against someone.

at 1:34 PM

Anonymous said...

I find Mick's argument weak. Everyone has injuries. Deal with it. And when he implied the committe had dealt with UC unfairly in the past, he just sounds pathetic. There is time left to play their way in. Prove it on the court.

at 4:19 PM

Al in Ohio said...

I don't think there's any chance UC makes the NCAA Tournament, nor should they. I don't think the Big East is such a great conference this year that the top six teams should get in. I love the Bearcats, but that's a bit of a stretch.

Also, Dayton's chances of making The Dance went out the window last night when they blew a game to LaSalle.

at 9:31 AM

Anonymous said...

This will all be very exciting...

When Nancy leaves.

at 12:12 PM

Anonymous said...

Doc,
My heart says UC should be in the dance, but my head says they're still a year or two away. Given time, Mick will be there.

at 2:28 PM

Cheviot Sports Authority said...

Perhaps todays game will put an end to the ridiculous talk of UC going to the NCAA.

at 8:55 PM

Anonymous said...

That was one of the sorriest performances I have yet to see out of a UC team since the Yates/Badger fiasco days. It looks like even the "star" (DV) has quit on COY candidate Sippin' Mick for the remainder of the year. The main reason that UC has a winning record in the BE so far is because they were overachieving through determination. They played today like they had tonight and hot dates on their minds. If they keep at this pace, they won't have a winning record in conference and the only "tournament" they will look forward to is that new 'petite dance' tournament that Mick has been courting. Great! What an accomplishment!

Just can't wait until the Wednesday game at Pitt. We'll show 'em...LOL

at 11:12 PM

Anonymous said...

sorry Mick NIT beckons !

at 9:16 AM

Cheviot Sports Authority said...

I still doubt that the NIT will beckon. Who cares anyway about the NIT and playing for 66th place?

The LIT (Losers Invitational Tournament) is a much more likely scenario.

at 10:17 PM

Anonymous said...

Doc. All the hot air on this thread, and the loss to G-town aside, UC in the NCAA is not impossible. At least not yet. The numbers tell the story (courtesy of Yahoo sports RPI page). UC has 6 wins versus top 100 RPI teams. The best teams (Memphis and NC, for example) have 14. X has 10 over RPI top 100. On the other hand Vandy has 5, IU has 7, Wisconsin has 5, Gonzaga has 5. No one doubts they will be in the show. So UC is at least in the ball park. It's really simple, to be in the argument UC needs probably 5 more W's. That could be 3 of 4 in the regular season and 2 in the BE tourney, or win out the regualr season and win one in the BE tourney. That would leave them with 18 Ws on the year, at least 7 or 8 wins versus top 100 RPI, impressive road wins (at U of L and at W Va to mention 2), and a top 5 schedule strength. Is it possible? Stranger things have happened. They already beat Pitt, and had U Conn as good as beat and let them off the hook. If they can't beat Providence and Depaul at home then they don't deserve it anyway. The bottom line is it's in their control.

at 12:39 AM

Anonymous said...

I think UC is a longshot at best, regardless of how they finish. Xavier, on the other hand, is looking more like a 2 or 3 seed every day. I put $20 on them at the Wynn out here in Las Vegas at 60-1, before the Rhode Island game. That bet is starting to look pretty good, considering how well they played against #1 Tenn earlier in the season. If they get a 3, they wont face a 1 seed until the elite 8, if then. UC grad whose loyalty ends at the wallet. Go Muskies!

at 7:57 AM

Unknown said...

CSA, the game against Georgetown means nothing. It was close to what was predicted, and other teams sure to go to the dance have lost by the same margin AT Georgetown.

It's clear that the Cats needed to win their remaining 2 home games and 1 of their road games. I never thought that road win would be at Georgetown. It's most likely to take place at Pitt, if it takes place anywhere.

The Cats can still get to 18-15, and even without winning one of the road games, they are 17-16 with a SOS at about the 7th most difficult in the nation.

I always thought that Mick's NCAA talk was always just a pyschological ploy (and a good one, btw) designed to get the Cats into the NIT. If they can get talked about for the NCAA, that makes it that much more difficult for the NIT to turn them down.

However, they simply cannot lose one of the home games. That will end it all, except for the new tourney.

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Friday, February 22, 2008

Politickin' Mick

18 Comments: