Mick Cronin’s Bearcats School the Shockers

February 17, 2019

In front of yet another sellout crowd at Fifth Third Arena, the University of Cincinnati faced down the Wichita State Shockers for the second time this season. Those attending (or viewing the nationally televised game on ESPN) saw the Bearcats prevail by a final tally of 72-62. In a quote-unquote rebuilding year, UC is now 21-4 in the middle of February. And they climbed to that mark with recently-departed standouts Troy Caupain, Jr. (Orlando Magic) and Jacob Evans III (Golden State Warriors) cheering along at mid-court.

Arriving, the Shockers were one game above .500; they departed Clifton 12-12. An actual rebuilding year in Wichita, Kansas, few expected them to defeat the Bearcats on their home court…even if Wichita State was riding a four-game winning streak. Against the annoying persistence of UC’s defensive pressure, Gregg Marshall was unable to coach the ball into the hoop.

From the floor, Wichita State launched 71 field goal attempts, making only 19.

Nineteen.

The Shockers were 19 of 71 from the field, “good” for a miserly 26.8%. From three, the Shockers were 9 of 35 for 25.7%.

Mick Cronin’s squad was not exactly on fire from the floor, either. UC shot 13 fewer shots, but were slightly more accurate (20/58 for 34.5%). The difference in scoring output amounted to one more made three and seven more free throws. But this game never felt close.

From the 8:41 mark in the first half forward, UC out-hustled, out-defended, out-coached, and ultimately outscored the Shockers. If defense was a course at the University of Cincinnati, this game was a Ph.D-level lecture on (i) coaching preparation and (ii) player execution.

Professor Mick Cronin alternated between an arms-wide match-up zone and man-to-man defense, seamlessly. Marshall’s Shockers were confused, hapless. UC baited Wichita State into lofting way too many shots from the perimeter and turned the low block into a no-trespassing-zone. While the Shockers grabbed more rebounds off deep heaves, the Bearcats – led by Nysier Brooks’s five blocks – locked them down as soon as they had possession.

Unsurprisingly, Jarron Cumberland led all scorers with a characteristically-Cumberland stat line: 27 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. He is giving defenders fits this year, especially conference opponents. Keith Williams continues to reliably score, adding 15 points. Cane Broome paced Williams, scoring 12 points after hitting two threes.

Considering UC’s second option, Williams typically finds his way into double figures. The lingering question down the stretch, however, is whether the unpredictable-often-cobbled-together-scoring-combinations from Trevon Scott/Justin Jenifer/Cane Broome/Trevor Moore are enough of a “third option” for UC to outlast teams. As stiff competition approaches, I’d expect scouting reports sharpen to prevent Jarron Cumberland from getting to 25+.

This much is clear – offensively, this is Jarron’s team. He’s the first and second option many games. But can UC win the conference tournament if he continues to account for 40% of the scoring? Likewise, make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament? Jarron Cumberland will largely answer those questions and we’ll all learn that together. This March’s run could prove the most exhilarating. It could, alternatively, be devastating if Cumberland hits a cold spell at the wrong time (i.e., the final six minutes against Houston) and no one steps forward.

Defensively, this is still Mick’s team. They might be statistically less efficient than year’s past, yet Coach Cronin has every single player defending smarter and more aggressively than opponents at critical times. The hallmark of this season’s defense might be best described as a timely obsession with loose balls and frenetic harassment. Today, Mick Cronin took Gregg Marshall to school and gridlocked the Shockers with alternating defensive looks. To win big this year, only a total team effort and timing will due.

The University of Cincinnati faces another test this Thursday evening, as UCF rides a three-game winning streak into Fifth Third Arena. The Knights are 19-5, third place in the American Athletic Conference, and considered a “bubble team” to make the NCAA Tournament. Make no mistake, UCF arrives in search of a marquee road victory to bolster their resume. Another nationally televised game on ESPN2, they’ll be playing for their tournament lives. But they’ll have their hands full as the Bearcats just extended their home winning streak to 14 games and continue to find ways to win.

By Brian Fox

For more, be sure to follow the conversation on Twitter – @BearcatsRadio.

Jarron Cumberland’s Junior Year Accolades and Recognitions Are Rolling In

February 13, 2019

The 21-year-old from Wilmington, Ohio, nicknamed “Teddy” by players past, has had quite the junior year for the Bearcats this season. Largely playing a reserve role off the bench, UC fans saw glimpses of what #34 could be the past two seasons, especially against Xavier. Built like an NFL tight end at 6’ 5” and a broad-shouldered 200+ lbs., Cumberland could always score and fly down the court. Prior to this season, concerns about Jarron’s play typically centered around his defensive capacity (or effort) and his propensity to find himself in foul trouble (mainly from steamrolling defenders on his way to the hoop). However, the 2019 season has yielded a different Jarron.

After losing two of the best Bearcats in recent memory to the NBA, many were concerned who account for all of the points UC lost after Jacob Evans and Gary Clark transitioned to play professional basketball. It’s safe to say, Jarron Cumberland has embraced lost points burden right away and continues to shoulder it each outing.

Recognized as the AAC Player of the Week (or receiving an AAC Honor Roll mention) for what feels like every single week of this season, Jarron is playing impeccably well. He leads all AAC scorers averaging 22 points during conference play. He’s led UC in scoring for 10 out of the 11 conference games. He is listed among league leaders in minutes played, three-pointers made, assists, assist-to-turnover ratio, three-point percentage, free throw percentage, and rebounds. On the year (including pre-conference games), Cumberland is averaging 19 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal per game.

This week, he was named as one of 30 players to the 2019 Citizen Naismith Trophy Midseason Team. Last week, Cumberland was named one of the final 10 nominees for the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year. In January, Jarron was tabbed to the Lute Olson Player of the Year Midseason Watch List. During most of the recent tight games, he’s also been recognized as the 2019 Bearcats Sports Radio Please Lord Let Jarron Help Us Pull This One Out award. The honors keep coming, it seems…

The Bearcats have relied heavily on #34 in every conference game and he has stepped up to the plate down the stretch. It has been incredibly exciting to watch Cumberland take over games of late. He is living up to the spotlight and exceeding even our highest expectations. The question will soon become what is next for this monster of a collegiate basketball player?

Last fall, Cumberland was projected as an early second round NBA draft pick (#34 by Sports Illustrated and #37 by The Sporting News). While I imagine his draft stock has improved based on how he’s performed this season (and will improve even more if the Bearcats make a deep run in March), it’s difficult to forecast how scouts will handicap his upside. But, can you imagine what #34 could do during his senior campaign after the way he’s played his entire junior year? Let’s hope we see him back in the red and black in 2020.

By Andy Smith

May the Odds Be Ever in Mick Cronin’s (and the Bearcats’) Favor

February 7, 2019

Last Saturday, the University of Cincinnati basketball team won another home game in front of a sold out crowd. 12,256 patrons filed through the doors of Fifth Third Arena, took their seats, and watched the Bearcats defeat another conference opponent. After some late game heroics (and bad shot choices from the Southern Methodist University Mustangs), the final buzzer sounded and fans vacated the arena. Unfortunately for many of spectators (and frequently for me), the significance of yet another strong conference performance went unappreciated, or at least under appreciated.

Sure, SMU did not present as the greatest team arriving in Cincinnati that evening. But don’t short another win (now 19) assuming SMU didn’t have any talented players. They have guys that can score, and top 100 and 200 recruits like others in the AAC. Mick Cronin’s Bearcats, however, did what they‘ve grown accustomed to doing — they won the game down the stretch. Relying on defensive pressure and streaky scoring from role players, Cronin’s guys battled to another win.

Jaron Cumberland led all scorers with 24 points, and he added nine rebounds and five assists. In the post-game press conference, SMU Coach Tim Jankovich remarked he didn’t recall Cumberland being as good a player as he was Saturday. While I’m not certain what scouting report Jankovich read, Jaron has taken an elite leap forward this season. Against the Mustangs, he did what he’s done much of the season, he imposed his will on the opponent. Saturday was unique inasmuch as UC shot the ball with far better accuracy than is customary. Precision shooting less our forte, the Bearcats shot nearly 53% from the field and 47% from three.

This team has confounded me for much of the season. For me, it’s been difficult to fall in love with this squad like I have with teams past. UC graduated some guys who were gems on and off the court. Gary Clark competed like few who’ve ever worn the red and black, and he was an equally incredible person. He wasn’t just a good guy; he was one of the greatest human beings I’ve had the pleasure of covering in college athletics. It’s tough to outshine a player like Gary Clark, the functional equivalent of Mother Teresa in high tops chasing down blocks. Jacob Evans III and Kyle Washington were also tough losses, exciting players and lovely people to boot.

Yet this team now has me in its grip with its youth, wide-eyed hustle, and endearing unpredictability. What’s more, Mick Cronin has dazzled. Coach Cronin’s detractors have described him as a “high floor/low ceiling” coach. In other words, some have posited his teams will always be pretty good (because they defend, rebound, and hustle), but they can never be NCAA Tournament contenders (because they can’t light up the scoreboard). Admittedly, I have expressed similar sentiments myself.

But this year I have been made anew, repentant and washed clean of that belief, if you will. Sanctified!

This season is Cronin’s finest stalking the sidelines of Fifth Third Arena. Beyond Jaron, the scoring solutions are so unpredictable they give many heart palpitations, UC’s defensive metrics have slid, and here they sit at 19-3 with one of those losses coming the first game of the year. Nineteen and three. Even after losing three NBA-caliber players and his longtime assistant Larry Davis, Cronin continues to put players in a position to be successful and the team is succeeding. I’m now a Cronin-convert; I’m a believer.

Mick Cronin is not a “high floor/low ceiling” coach. He is a “really high floor/who knows how high the ceiling” coach. Hear me out…

The biggest knock on Coach Cronin is his teams don’t go deep in the NCAA tournament. But Cronin’s teams do make the tournament every year (eight straight – 2011-2018) and are well-seeded enough to advance despite the AAC’s inherent weaknesses as a basketball conference of late. Essentially, it’s an odds play, and few families know as much about odds as Mick Cronin’s (his father Hep worked at River Downs and his brother Dan is a professional horse racing handicapper). How do you increase your odds of being successful in the NCAA Tournament? Simplistic to say, first you have to make it in the Tournament each season.

In other words, you cannot make a deep run if you’re minimally not in the Tournament regularly. Once you’re in, a number of breaks and circumstances have to conspire to help you avoid defeat. There’s a reason the phrase “survive and advance” is used to describe Tournament success. I’m not saying it’s a game of chance, but plenty of luck is involved. Can anyone say with a straight face the Final Four is consistently comprised of the best four teams in college basketball? Of course not! Just look at the Loyola Rambler’s success last season, South Carolina’s the year before, Wichita State’s in 2013, or VCU and Butler’s in 2010-11. In order to be fortunate, you have to at least be present.

Put another way, you can’t win the lottery if you don’t buy a ticket. And this year’s Bearcats appear well on their way to having their ticket punched to a ninth straight NCAA Tournament appearance. There are only four other programs with longer streaks of consecutive Tournament appearances — Kansas, Duke, Michigan State, and Gonzaga.

So in this “rebuilding year,” the University of Cincinnati is now ranked 25th in the AP Poll and 23rd in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll. Tonight they face Penny Hardaway’s Memphis Tigers on the road. Tune in tonight (7 PM on ESPN2) and try to appreciate this team’s turnover of talent from last season, while also observing how few turnovers they commit. And tune in down the stretch heading into March and let’s just see if a few twists of fate don’t break UC’s way.

By Brian Fox

University of Cincinnati Bearcats Reclaim Rightful Spot in AP Top 25

February 4, 2019

The Cincinnati Bearcats have climbed back into the Associated Press Top 25, receiving more votes than Washington, Mississippi State, and Auburn. At 19-3, the Bearcats are still ranked behind a number of six loss Big Ten teams, but that conference’s strength (or lack thereof) will be revealed again during the NCAA Tournament this March.

Heading into the season, many viewed this as rebuilding year with the prominent departures of universally beloved Gary Clark, Jacob Evans, and Kyle Washington. The returning players, it appears, did not buy into that belief, and Head Coach Mick Cronin continues to succeed as his years in charge of the program grow more numerous.

Locally, no other Cincinnati-area program was ranked in the Top 25. Quite the opposite, the Xavier University Musketeers are 12-13, a game below .500, and trending downward. The Musketeers will have to battle just to make it to the NIT this March.

By Brian Fox

Cortez Broughton To Play in the East-West Shrine Game This Saturday

January 18, 2019

On January 19th (tomorrow), DT Cortez Broughton will play in the East-West Shrine Game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. One of the motors that propelled the Bearcats to a stellar 11-2 finish, Broughton’s senior campaign was inspiring on and off the field.

On the field, he finished the year with 51 tackles (17.5 of those for a loss) and 6.5 sacks. In the season opener, Broughton controlled the line of scrimmage against UCLA, tallying 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in Rose Bowl Stadium.

Off the field, Cortez was universally recognized by UC’s staff and teammates as an exemplary leader. After the Bearcats obliterated Navy (42-0), Broughton made his way to the post-game press conference to address assembled members of the media. During his opportunity to speak, he read a from a list he compiled of scout team players who deserved to be recognized by the press for their efforts during a great week of practice.

I, for one, will be tuning in and cheering mightily for Cortez tomorrow. The game kicks off at 3 PM and will air on the NFL Network. For more, you can visit shrinegame.com.

By Brian Fox

Bearcats Down USF After Losing Coach Cronin

January 15, 2019

Standing at 15-3, the Cats are now 4-1 in the American, having only lost to a red-hot ECU team on the road. Losing to the Pirates is never really “ok” by Cincinnati basketball standards, but to UC’s credit, it was the first AAC road game.

The 2019 Bearcats, a relatively young and inexperienced team by last season’s standard, bounced back from that ECU loss with back-to-back overtime wins over Tulsa and UConn. And tonight, the Cats earned another hard-fought W over a very talented USF team.

Following a grueling few days of practice after escaping Connecticut, the Cats looked comfortable early. With a double-digit halftime lead, UC looked poised to blow out the Bulls. Jarron Cumberland netted 19 points in the first half and Eliel Nsoseme added 4 blocks to provide much-needed energy on the defensive end.

Two minutes into the second half, a frustrated Mick Cronin was ejected for arguing with the refs after a less-than-accurate call was made. Understandably, this took some steam out of the team for much of the beginning minutes of the second-half.

Defense leading the way, the Bearcats managed to outlast USF’s late barrage, winning 82-74. Cumberland had a career night. After notching his 1,000th career point, Jarron finished with 34 points on 9-20 shooting and 14-16 from the free throw line.

UC now travels to warm and sunny Wichita State on Saturday at 2 pm to play the 7-8 (0-3) Shockers.

By Andy Smith

Justin Jenifer — The Country’s Leader in Assist to Turnover Margin

January 10, 2019

#3 Justin Jenifer stands at just 5’ 10” and 175 pounds. A quiet individual, often overlooked coming out of high school and during his early years on campus.

Now a senior and a newfound father, Justin has come to life.  With a tattoo of a lion on his arm, Jenifer has become the lion and leader of this year’s UC basketball team so desperately needs. You can watch him on the bench coaching the freshman, including future star Logan Johnson. He speaks through his defense and willingness to take a charge to electrify the team.

Coach Cronin always praises Jenifer during post-game press conferences and mentions his willingness to work and learn on and off the court. A squad without Gary Clark, Kyle Washington, and Jacob Evans.  A team with four freshman and many others lacking significant playing time and starting experience.  Justin is exactly the glue this team needs to stay together this year at home and on the road.

This year, Justin is averaging 8 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game, while splitting time with Cane Broome and Logan Johnson.  He recently had a career game against Tulane, with 18 points. And, as most of you know by now, Jenifer is leading the country in assist to turnover margin at 10.17.  To put this in perspective, the second-best player is at 6.36.  He has just 6 turnovers all year.  Absolutely ridiculous, especially for a player mainly known for his defense.  It’s safe to say Justin is finding his shot at just the right time.

By Andy Smith

On Gratitude

December 11, 2018

Gratitude is a muscle; the more you flex it, the easier it becomes to be grateful. Negativity and pessimism are no different. The more negative you are, well you get it…

It’s interesting how often people choose pessimism, especially when the benefits of gratitude are so numerous. A steady diet of gratitude:

  • Improves physical health;
  • Improves psychological health;
  • Enhances empathy and reduces aggression;
  • Helps you sleep more deeply and for longer periods of time; and
  • Improves self esteem and increases mental strength.

Don’t believe me? Read this and the linked studies. Now that I’ve hard-sold gratitude, allow me a few more paragraphs of your attention to apply it to our beloved Bearcats.

Coming into this football season, it was unclear whether Coach Luke Fickell had made any progress with the team since taking over. The 2016 Bearcats stumbled through Tommy Tuberville’s last season and finished 4-8. Likewise, the 2017 Bearcats, Fickell’s first season, showed little promise. Though the team finished 4-8, a few of those wins were a play away from being losses (for what could’ve been a catastrophic 1-11 season). Privately, I worried the team regressed his first year.

Everything Fickell said was fine. It sounded like the things a new leader might say, even if it bordered on stereotypical coach-speak (i.e., Toughness, #JUICE, Let It Fly, and Together Everyone Achieves More). Fickell went the extra step of having one of his mottos – T.E.A.M. – stitched across the back of each of his UC vests. But mottos weren’t winning football games in 2017.

In 2018, the mottos were an overtime-road-loss-against-Temple away from winning eleven games. Fickell’s mottos brainwashed the players into outperforming expectations, including mine. In early August at Camp Higher Ground, I would’ve been thrilled with six or more wins. Thrilled. Now, in December I am hammered drunk off a ten win regular season, and I’m considering having “T.E.A.M.” stitched across the back of all my suit coats.

On New Year’s Eve, the 10-2 Bearcats will try to polish off an outstanding 2018 campaign by beating Virginia Tech in the Military Bowl. The game is played in Annapolis, Maryland, which is a mere five hour drive from Tech’s Blacksburg, Virginia campus. While it sets up as a home game for the Hokies, I like UC’s chances to prevail in that game and to carry forward this season’s success into the offseason.

When I traveled to Los Angeles for the season opener against UCLA, I harbored low expectations. To now venture into bowl season in pursuit of an eleventh win, I’m feeling almost greedy. And overwhelmingly grateful.

One of the disciplines I’ve tried to incorporate into my daily rituals is to jot down a few things I’m grateful for just before I go to sleep. I keep a disheveled stack of notepads on my bedside table which basically form something of a gratitude journal. Alongside references to warm thoughts of family, friends, clients, and career you’ll find notations about a Bearcats team that made fall Saturdays fun and a coach who inspires. Thanks for reading.

By Brian Fox

For more, follow B. Fox on Twitter @BearcatsRadio.

Grabbing the Bulls by the Horns: USF Preview

November 10, 2018

The Bearcats are 8-1, looking to get to 9-1 after tonight’s very important game against the University of South Florida Bulls. As the Bulls shiver their way into Nippert Stadium this evening, the central question will be which Charlie Strong-coached team arrives. For South Florida, it appears to be a tale of two seasons, but appearances can be misleading.

Before the Bulls were beaten by the Houston Cougars on October 27th, they were riding an unbeaten record and receiving national attention from the sports media. USF featured wins over Georgia Tech and Illinois, after all, and the mouth-breathing sports media simpletons were dazzled by their victories over P5 teams. They quickly vaulted up the rankings. Then they played Houston…

Whatever belief or momentum the Bulls had vanished after losing to Houston. Last week, the Bulls were destroyed by Tulane in Tampa, 41-15. But was USF ever that good? Georgia Tech is now a middling ACC team, and Illinois is 2-5 in the butter-soft Big 10. It’s equally possible USF was a good team that completely lost heart after the Houston game and now they’re in a free fall after letting Tulane hang 41 on the scoreboard. I guess we’ll find out tonight.

USF has won the last three meetings between the schools, but this one feels different. USF has been giving up over 30 points a game this season, allowing opponents to rush for 248.6 yards a game. With UC’s Mike Warren II just 69 yards away from a 1,000 yard rushing season, I expect the Bearcats to run the ball a lot. With near freezing temps and the game being played at 7 PM (Nippert Stadium at night!), this game sets up nicely for a Bearcats victory.

Prediction: UC – 37 // USF – 17

By Brian Fox

Takeaways from the Bearcats Loss to Ohio State in the Opener

November 7, 2018

Before a capacity crowd (12,012) in the newly-renovated Fifth Third Arena, the Bearcats struggled to score. In the first half, UC shot 14% from the floor and the second half wasn’t much better.

On the game, the Bearcats hoisted 62 shots and made a miserly 17 of those (27%). From three, the Bearcats were 6 of 26 for a less-than-pedestrian 23 percent.

The Buckeyes weren’t exactly prolific on the offensive end and only shot 43% on the game, but they were in the driver’s seat the whole game and hit 55% of their shots in the second half.

UC’s Jarron Cumberland led all scorers, netting 22 points. Cumberland’s point production all arrived in the second half as he picked up a couple of early fouls in the first half.

Statistically, the teams were similar with the exception of taken and made field goals (OSU-20/47; UC-17/62). On the court, though, the teams couldn’t have looked more different. The Bearcats offense sputtered 75% of the game whereas Ohio State knocked down critical shots and flowed better.

His custom in most postgame press conferences, Coach Mick Cronin focused on UC’s defensive deficiencies on the night: “Math quiz – if Ohio State scores 27 points in the second half, too, we win by two…We had one guy who played twenty minutes without a single deflection.”

Taking a realistic look at this team, even if very early in this season, three storylines emerge:

  • Can the young and inexperienced front court mature quickly enough?
  • Can Jarron Cumberland stay out of foul trouble and routinely shoulder the scoring load for this team?
  • Can Coach Cronin find points on this roster from the younger guys because clearly the Bearcats need a second option?

The Bearcats play next on Tuesday, November 13th against North Carolina Central at home. That game will tip at 7:00 PM.

By Brian Fox