After UC’s heartbreaking loss to West Virginia in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament, a few friends and I poured out of Buffalo Wild Wings in Clifton, not speaking a word. There was nothing left to say. A team that wasn’t supposed to be competing with a Top 10 opponent had just overcome terrible stretches of offense to start each half and still almost came out victorious. And while the final result isn’t ideal, there is reason to be hopeful about heading towards next season.
With 9:17 to go in the first half the Bearcats hit their first field goal of the game. After a great run UC had tied the game only to have the Mountaineers hit a 3 as the buzzer sounded to end the first half. In an eerily similar situation, Cincinnati started the second half with more woes on the offensive end but again came up just short. After turning the ball over with 3.1 seconds to go, All-American Da’Sean Butler banked a shot off the backboard as time expired erasing UC’s chances of a miracle run to the NCAA Tournament.
The loss, while extremely painful, does come with a silver lining. Several good things have come out of the last three nights of basketball. First and foremost, finally getting a win in the Big East Tournament (and in the month of March). As trivial as it sounds, it was a big step moving forward. Everyone always says that winning attitudes get passed down from those more experienced to the new members of the team. Before this no one wearing a Bearcats uniform really knew what the experience of winning at Madison Square Garden felt like and moving forward they can build off this year’s success.
The biggest obstacle that Mick Cronin’s squad overcame over the past few days was their overall attitude and desire to win. It all started with Lance Stephenson who decided to take over and will his team towards victory. That drive and passion spilled over and inspired the rest of his teammates, something that has been lacking for most of the Mick Cronin era. Even in the Louisville and West Virginia games when they had long stretches of offensive futility, there wasn’t the same air that made you think that they were out of it and were going to pack it in. It was great to see, but unfortunately it was too little too late, just like the fate of their season.
I know that three great efforts down the stretch cannot erase the issues that have plagued the Cincinnati basketball program under Mick Cronin’s tenure, but there has to be reason for optimism. Instead of ending the year with a horrible 10-point loss to DePaul, the Bearcats were able to pick up two wins including one over rival Louisville and almost defeating #6 West Virginia. Lance Stephenson will return along with a cast that is another year more experienced and Sean Kilpatrick, whose rumored late night workout sessions will hopefully inspire his teammates’ work ethic, should be a boost in both talent and team chemistry.
For all the cynics out there, I will make one brief appeal. Many are still very much in the anti-Cronin camp, from calling for boycotts to even rooting against UC so that Mick will be fired. I understand how you feel. This year I was saying it’s NCAAs or bust, wanting Mick’s career on a platter if they didn’t make it. Perhaps I truly underestimated how tough this rebuilding job he inherited is, however the fact remains that Mick has a vote of confidence from Athletic Director Mike Thomas and he will be back patrolling the sidelines for UC come next winter. I’m not one to tell you how to spend your money, but isn’t there room to be encouraged this year instead of another monumental collapse? Are you really going to say from now that next season is a lost cause because Mick is returning? I sure hope that we haven’t become that spoiled or cynical. The one thing I think we all can agree on is that we want to win, no matter who the coach is.
I know that we’ve all seen some false hope before this season, after coming home from Maui and getting back in the Top 25. I was amongst the first to proclaim that UC basketball was back on the map and they went out and got pounded by UAB, starting the slow decline of their season. The best we can hope for at this point is a strong run in the NIT, which can lead to a solid campaign next year. Call me a homer, misguided or just plain crazy, but I’m willing to give Mick Cronin one more year to get us back to the promised land of the NCAA Tournament. As I mentioned before, I just want UC to win. I really could care less who the coach is, and since they’re going to be playing next year, I want them to win. It’s as simple as that. To this year’s team: get ready to make a run in the NIT. To next year’s team: work your tails off during the offseason because next year won’t be any easier.
Think I’m crazy? Let me know via Twitter: http://twitter.com/chuges
