Tweet me!When a college basketball team is going good, they hold NCAA tournament watch functions. I covered a number of those here in town, because UC and Xavier traditionally "were in the mix" as the selections were announced.
So, this is pretty much the first year of it's kind since the first two years of Bob Huggins. Just as then, everyone knew the Bearcats weren't NCAA-bound, but they figured on having a shot at the NIT.
Well alphabetically, I suppose they're making progress. From the CBI, to the NIT, to the NCAA is what the plan is now. While no one's turning cartwheels over being on ESPNU's NIT selection show, it's still better than watching from afar as they've done the past three years.
It's March. If you're team is still playing in mid-March, the season hasn't been half-bad.
"We're approaching this as the beginning of next year," said Mick Cronin. "Winning games in March is something you need to practice doing in your conference tournament and in the NIT. Especially when you have a young team and you get the majority of your players back."
That's the spin going down in Corryville. When you figure you only lose Deonta Vaughn and Steve Toyloy as seniors, you have to agree. Sure, they'll be additions and subtractions in between, but a decent nucleus of talent should reappear in the Deveroes Summer League and the first practices coming down just seven months from now.
However, prior to that is the unfinished business the Bearcats have. In the last NIT go-round, the Bearcats won a pair of games at Fifth Third Arena, then shockingly almost won a third (and a trip to the semi's in New York). Untimely ineligibilities of two starters (James White and Jihad Muhammad) put the proverbial ki-bosh on that.
This event starts with another home game and the possibility of an even bigger home game should the Bearcats and Dayton Flyers both record first-round wins. For Cronin, it's first things first though and they've drawn Weber State from the Big Sky.
"We haven't done a lot of playing in March when you really look at us," said Cronin. "How many have we played in March outside of regular season games? It was good to stay in New York last week as long as we could and it's going to be great for us to stay in this tournament as long as we can. It's just good for us to go through the process of being in the postseason."
It should be good for all of the Bearcat players. The older ones have virtually been shut out of postseason (the CBI had all of the excitement of a shuffleboard game in Ft. Myers). The younger ones need this experience to build on so that someday Greg Gumbel will slot their name on CBS Selection Sunday. Plus, you have to rely on youngsters sometimes when your older ones set the wrong example, like junior Rashad Bishop.
"Not with the team currently-still suspended," said Cronin when asked of Bishop's status. Bishop's been accused of the infamous "violation of team rules". While Mick said he hasn't made his mind up if Bishop will play anymore, but he's definitely not playing Wednesday night.
For UC, that shouldn't and can't be an issue. For some reason in New York, they channeled their "Maui mystique" and put together three fairly decent games. Sure, they could use wider rims, but despite inefficient shooting, they played hard.
"We go through stretches where we open a game against a team that's one of the top five teams in the country and we miss 11 straight shots-and still have a chance to win the game," said Cronin. "We're worried about playing hard and together and fighting 'til the end."
That's exactly how UC's three games in the Big Apple went down. Logic says they could possibly return if they match the intensity they had playing in front of Spike Lee, Denzel Washington and former President Clinton.
"Our guys love New York City," said Cronin with a smile. "That's the best thing about this tournament. If we can win three, we get to go back. That's a big motivator for our guys. They love Manhattan."
Cronin also enjoys the big town. The Bearcats played competitive games on a national stage and should benefit from that in the long run. He'd like to leave the same impression in New York that his squad did last week.
"Playing in March, playing as a team," said Cronin of his objectives now. "You're going to have to kill us to beat us. Anybody that left Madison Square Garden knows that Cincinnati gave everything they had. There was not one question from everyone leaving the Big East tournament. We came to play. That's what I've been trying to build and establish."
To keep playing, they'll have to stop a Weber State team that has been to the NIT and NCAA in the last few years. Had they not blown a 22-point second-half lead against Montana, they would be lacing their shoes up Thursday or Friday in the "big tournament".
Adding fuel to the fire, ESPNU commentator Mike Kelley proclaimed Sunday night that Weber State could beat UC. There's a pretty good chance that might be repeated by the staff a time or two before tip-off Wednesday night.
If it all works out, seniors Deonta Vaughn and Steve Toyloy will get a few more games on their home court, much like Eric Hicks did in '06. It'll be a chance to overcome the disappointing loss on Senior Day and leave Ed Jucker Court a winner.
Then, it could be back to New York for unfinished business.
Lance Stephenson from Brooklyn will be happy for that. In the Big East tournament, he played with much more confidence. Perhaps it's "The Garden", perhaps it's growing up. Probably, it's both.
"The more he can do a good job with playing under control and being on the attack, the better player he's going to be," said Cronin of Lance's resurgence. "It's also going to help him if we make some perimeter shots so then people can't crowd the paint on him. We were able to get in transition in New York. Obviously, he's at his best in transition. When our defense is at it's best and he's rebounding, then you see him in transition. It changes things for him."
Hopefully, more changes are coming for Lance and the Bearcats. There's no doubt, when he's "on", UC's a tough match. If they do well, it's a positive stepping stone for next season. If they get to New York, it's more publicity for both Stephenson and the program.
It's better to embrace the "pub" and take it as far as you can than being "at the pub" watching another team do it.
As many of you can relate to, that gets old.
