Eastside J and Mick Cronin disagree about UC's SOS

[Mr. Neutral]

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/2012 ... t|Sports|p

“One thing I agree with our fans on that I hear the most is that we need a big-name team in here,” Cronin said. “Well, everybody’s not beating down the door to get in here, but some teams will.”

Cronin and his staff are working now to build the 2012-13 non-conference schedule with two things in mind – making the schedule more attractive to fans than the one that was rated No. 153 in difficulty last year by CollegeRPI.com and making it conducive to the development of a team that annually faces a blockbuster conference schedule every year in the Big East.

[X-man]

It was a strange article because it seemed to be saying that budget was part of the problem, and of course budget is a problem only when you play "buy games" with weak opponents. If you upgrade opponents, you don't buy games any more and bingo...the budget problem is gone. The real problem isn't budgetary, it's Mick. He doesn't want to play "name" nonconference opponents, and justifies it by the "Big East is so tough" rationale that is old, tired, and manifestly untrue. If Mick would schedule a few more "non-buy" games, he could even upgrade the "buy games" opponents because he wouldn't need the "two-for-ones" any more. And it's ludicrous for Mick to lump uc and Xavier together ("we want to get teams to play us and Xavier...they can pick up two checks") as a way to solve his problems. Xavier schedules the right way, and certainly doesn't need to help solve Mick's "problem of his own creation".

[Erneston]

Cincinnati's athletic department is severely crippled by the building of Varsity Village. They are in serious debt because of that large investment they had to make to get into the Big East. For that reason it is very difficult to get those "decent" mid-majors because they are far more expensive for a buy game than a Chicago State or Presbyterian. UC has been trying to get into a pre season tournament but they can only take 1 per conference and schools like Nova, Syracuse, G'town, etc get preference for the East coast tournaments because they have a larger following in that area. They are definitely trying to build up the OOC, but aren't doing a very good job at it. There is talk they'll get UK this year or start up a series with Indiana or Michigan State down the road. Cincinnati's seed in the NCAA tournament has been hindered by that OOC, so obviously they don't want to keep it that way. UC had the most wins over ranked teams in the nation last year, yet were a 6 seed because of that poor OOC.

[blueblob06]

A big factor will be whether opposing teams feel safe in the clubs and restaurants when visiting Cincinnati....
http://www.fox19.com/story/18369722/uc- ... um=twitter

[Mr. Neutral]

UC should take advantage of the cancellation of the IU-UK series, and play UK anywhere, anytime.

[xu39]

UC's schedule is not as weak as some believe it to be. In fact, only the last 2 seasons has UC had a sos that was in the 60's or worse.

Actually, for 5 of the last 7 years(UC has been in the Big East for 7 years now), UC has played a tougher schedule than Xavier has.

http://realtimerpi.com/rpi_217_Men.html

UC sos 2011-2012 65
2010-2011 83
2009-2010 9
2008-2009 44
2007-2008 18
2006-2007 47
2005-2006 5 ***first season in Big East.

http://realtimerpi.com/rpi_121_Men.html

Xavier sos 2011-2012 36
2010-2011 56
2009-2010 42
2008-2009 47
2007-2008 32
2006-2007 83
2005-2006 106

[Erneston]

UC's schedule is not as weak as some believe it to be. In fact, only the last 2 seasons has UC had a sos that was in the 60's or worse.

Actually, for 5 of the last 7 years(UC has been in the Big East for 7 years now), UC has played a tougher schedule than Xavier has.

http://realtimerpi.com/rpi_217_Men.html

UC sos 2011-2012 65
2010-2011 83
2009-2010 9
2008-2009 44
2007-2008 18
2006-2007 47
2005-2006 5 ***first season in Big East.

http://realtimerpi.com/rpi_121_Men.html

Xavier sos 2011-2012 36
2010-2011 56
2009-2010 42
2008-2009 47
2007-2008 32
2006-2007 83
2005-2006 106

Cincinnati had very difficult schedules early on Mick's tenure because they were set from the previous AD + C-USA obligations. They played OSU with Conley and Oden and Memphis with Rose, etc. But since those contracts expired they have had trouble finding quality games because of budget issues and the previous AD was dismal. I think they'll update it significantly as the profile has increased

[neoxufan]

Why is this thread continuing? Why so much research and time spent worrying about those clowns and their ringleader?

[Mr. Neutral]

Kind of hoping Eastside stops by for a serving of crow.

[wkrq59]

RE: UK. Why would UK even consider coming to UC to play UK, even if it's as part of the SEC- BE series?? Why would ESPN insist UK play at UC rather than at Syracuse for the last time maybe? Or at UCONN? Or at Pitt or even Villanova in one of Philly's big arenas , Or at Marquette ????? There is no glory past or present in a UK-UC matchup, only bad memories. Does ESPN really need to alienate fans of the national champion? UC saying it's time for UK to come here and play them is just another "hell or high water" story generated by the Enquirer's UC beat writer to stir up fan interest and let YTG claim we're eager to play UK but they must be afraid to play us and are avoiding us?