UC:
Record: 13-6
Preseason Rank: NR
Current Rank: NR
This was supposed to be the year that UC finally recovered from the debacle left by Mr. Personality Bob Huggins. The #12 rated recruit and all-time leading scorer in New York High School basketball history Lance Stephenson was coming to town, top 100 recruit PG Cashmere Wright was finally going to make his UC debut after tearing his ACL last year, and talented big-man Yancy Gates was back for another year. Throw in 3 year starter and potential first round NBA draft pick Deonta Vaughn and it looked like a recipe for success. But then you need to remember the league they are playing in. The Big East is simply loaded with talent from top to bottom with 5 teams currently in the top 12.
So far this year, UC has been the epitome of a team that frustrates the hell out of their fan base (what else is new in Cincinnati?). They've had great wins (Vanderbilt, Maryland, UConn), bad losses (St. John's, Seton Hall), and then they've had losses that leaving you wondering how exactly Head Coach Mick Cronin managed to screw this one up. Deonta Vaughn has not looked like a clutch senior, Cashmere Wright is only averaging 4 points on 16 minutes per game, and Lance Stephenson, while looking incredible at times, has been inconsistent.
If the Bearcats don't turn it on late this year and make a serious run (unlike last year where they lost their last 7 games after appearing to be poised to make the Tournament) then without a doubt you'll start hearing calls for Mick Cronin's head. When a team has as much talent as this one does, yet it still feels like there is a big piece missing, it falls on the Head Coach. My guess is they'll still be dancing in March, but they've got a lot to prove between now and Selection Sunday.
Mid Season Report Card: C+
NCAA seed prediction: 9
XU:
Record: 13-6
Preseason Rank: NR
Current Rank: NR
Xavier fans weren't quite sure what to expect coming into this year. The team lost senior leadership and production in BJ "B.J." Raymond and CJ "How much for a CJ?" Anderson as well as their head coach Sean Miller hopping off the stepping stone and landing at Arizona. The team turned to assistant and local boy Chris Mack to pick up where Miller left off. Even with these question marks, Xavier fans knew there was one very big positive that would be new to the program this year: Jordan Crawford. Yes, the man who so viciously dunked on Lebron James that Lebron had the video's pulled. Crawford, the sophomore transfer from Indiana, has been everything Xavier could have possibly hoped for. He's a do-it-all type of player with excellent passing and shooting skills currently averaging 19 points for the Musketeers.
The first quarter of the season was up and down, as to be expected with so many new faces around, but Xavier is a team that rarely loses in A-10 play and traditionally heats up as the season gets deeper. I wouldn't be surprised to see the same this year.
Mid Season Report Card: A-
NCAA seed prediction: 6
UD:
Record: 14-5
Preseason Rank: #21
Current Rank: NR
Well I started writing this yesterday. And my main theme was going to be that Dayton was yet to have a bad loss on their schedule (Kansas State, Villanova, Xavier, New Mexico). But then they played at 6-11 St. Joseph's last night and lost by 1. Impressive Flyers. This too was supposed to be the marquee year for Head Coach Brian Gregory and the Dayton Flyers. Only losing 1 senior from last year, getting PG Rob Lowery back from injury and having another year of development for the young stars Chris Wright and Chris Johnson. And after upsetting West Virginia in the first round of the NCAA tournament last year before losing to power house Kansas, hopes grew higher for this year. Granted, had Dayton NOT LOST TO F***ING St. Joseph's last night I would be writing this from a more positive perspective, but the team is still lacking something that it has lacked every year under Brian Gregory. The offense completely disappears at times and the team throws up desperation 3's without having the shooting abilities to be doing so. Free throw shooting has been a chronic problem for years and with as many close games as the Flyers play in, it boggles my mind how Gregory doesn't lock the GUARDS (yes the guards: FT%: Lowery - .682%, Warren - .574%, Perry - .622%, M. Johnson - .548%) in the gym until they make 50 in a row. But I digress.
The A-10 is not known as being the strongest Conference (that was a joke people) and with Temple and Xavier virtual locks to make the tournament (if Xavier and Dayton finish with the same record and only 1 team gets in, it's Xavier due to their tournament history), Dayton has a very small margin of error for the remaining season. Problem is I'm not sure what can be done to improve their situation. They aren't built to be a high scoring offense, they love to play hard defense and keep games close. Most of their offense comes in the transition game and comes in bunches. You could say they are built like the Bengals. I just got pissed writing that sentence.
Mid Season Report Card: B
NCAA seed prediction: 10 (I think they'll be one of the last 5 teams in)
Stay Tuned throughout the remainder of the College BBall regular season as Cintucky Zone gets geared up for March Madness!
-Greg "Seriously St. Joe's?" R.
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