Sabel's Haus

In my opinion Rashad Bishop was a Cancer to the UC basketball team. The guy gets suspended from the team before the Big East Championship, doesn't even get to travel with the team and all the sudden the Cats win two games.

I don't want to take away from the team because they have played, inspired basketball and genuinely look like they're having fun. I would never have guessed it before but I think the junior that averages 8.4 points and four rebounds per game and was considered the most consistent player, may have actually been hurting instead of helping the team.

I don't want to spread any rumors but I will anyway. Through hearsay my guess would be Bishop was suspended for butting heads with head coach Mick Cronin one too many times. I won't speculate any more than that and I've gone on record saying I don't think Mick should be the coach here.

What I will say is, whatever the case may be, I give Mick a ton of credit for suspending Bishop. I've said throughout the year I don't think these players respect Mick but maybe the suspension earned a little bit for him. I've said he doesn't demand the respect like Bob Huggins used to.

But enough of the suspension, the real story is the run these guys are making right now. They beat defending conference champion Louisville last night in a hell of a game. They have dominated the glass against both teams they've played and its been the difference both games.

Rutgers and Louisville shot much better percentages the last two nights but the rebounding margin has been so drastic, it's allowed them to stay in the games.

True freshman Jacquon Parker has done a terrific job playing in place of Bishop and is a sure bright spot for the future. Fellow freshman standout Lance Stephenson has played better than he has all year. Thanks to my man Lance McAlister, Stephenson is averaging 18 points and eight rebounds over the last five games.

At times, UC has used three freshmen on the floor at the same time in this tournament making me think Mick isn't as bad as I originally thought.

I keep waiting for senior Deonta Vaughn to pick it up and play like he did his first three seasons but his struggles continue. He did have a huge strip at the end of the game last night not allowing Louisville to get off a possible game-winning or tying shot. I just can't help but feel great for the guy though because he really hasn't ever had the opportunity to enjoy success at UC so for him to be able to hang in New York with his team playing well at Madison Square Garden is great for him.

It's been brought up but it's still very far away. In my opinion, UC needs to get into the Big East championship game to earn a spot in the NCAA tourney. Some say they need to win the whole tournament to get in. There are two more games they would have to win to get in including facing off with Bob Huggins' West Virginia Mountaineers tonight at 9 p.m.

Mick actually has a great track record against Huggs. He is 3-2 against WVU since coming to UC which is quite good considering how bad UC has been and how good West Virginia has been. Their only other meeting this season was in West Virginia and the Mountaineers won by eight.

The Mountaineers though will come in fresh whereas UC has had to play two games in two days. I can't tell if that will help or hurt UC but we shall see.

For the first time since entering the conference in 2005, the University of Cincinnati men's basketball team won its first Big East Conference tournament game. The tournament started Tuesday night and with the No. 11 seed, UC faced Rutgers with the No. 14 seed.

The win was oddly similar to the Cats' win over UConn in December. In both games, a late three tied the game and with one second left, Lance Stephenson was fouled and went to the line in a tie game.

The main difference: in the game against UConn, Stephenson hit both free throws allowing the Huskies to get off a decent look from half court for the win. He intentionally missed the second free throw against Rutgers forcing the Scarlet Knights to shoot a full-court shot that missed.

But a win is a win. The Cats face Louisville tonight in round two of the Big East tournament. I'd say it's safe to say that UC has to at least get to the championship game to be back in consideration for the NCAA tournament's field of 65.

The Cats were still pretty bad last night despite managing to squeak out a 69-68 win. Stephenson was the bright spot on offense along with fellow freshman Jaquon Parker. Both had 13 points and Stephenson added nine rebounds and five assists to give him the edge.

Parker's night should not be forgotten though. He filled in for a suspended Rashad Bishop who didn't make the trip to New York City for violating team rules.

Bishop is probably UC's most consistent player averaging over eight points and four rebounds per game and he shoots at a 50 percent clip. Losing him is not easy to overcome.

Rebounds made the difference though and no one did it better than Ibrahima Thomas for the Cats last night. Thomas grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds helping UC out-rebound Rutgers 44-28 including 19 offensive boards for the Cats compared to four by Rutgers.

The bench stepped up too and scored a combined 23 points on 10-of-19 shooting.

The next game is against Louisville tonight. UC had a double-digit lead in the first half against the Cardinals at Freedom Hall earlier this season but ended up losing in the teams' only other match this year. Game time is set for 9 p.m. from the Garden but last night's game didn't get underway until about 9:30. ESPN has the game.

Mick Cronin is now 0-12 in games played in the month of March since he became head coach at UC four seasons ago.

That is apparently good enough though as Cincinnati Director of Athletics Mike Thomas said yesterday he liked the direction the program was going and that Cronin will be the coach next season.

Pretty bad timing for Thomas to say that yesterday because the Cats were embarrassed in Georgetown Saturday 74-47. It was a three-point game at halftime but the Hoyas went on a tear in the second half en route to the rout.

I've said before how bad this team is. Completely unmotivated, not respectful of Cronin and really just a lack of talent. I'm more speechless than anything. I never thought I'd see the day when UC basketball was in such bad shape.

Tournament hopes are completely gone at this point barring of course a Big East tourney run (which isn't happening.) Maybe an NIT appearance or even a CBI which will make it interesting to see if UC will even play in those games after deciding not to play in the CBI last season.

Lance Stephenson, aka Born Ready, said today he will most likely return to Cincinnati as a sophomore because he didn't think he had an NBA-caliber season.

Stephenson, the all-time leading scorer in the state of New York from Lincoln High School, was considered to be surefire one-and-done player, particularly after some of his off-the-court troubles. Not so fast, though.

He's averaging 11.2 points, which is virtually tied with senior Deonta Vaughn (11.4) for the team lead. He's had some games that make you feel he'll be a great NBA player and other that make you wonder if he is really so special.

He definitely has the skill set but as Mick Cronin has said all year about him, he's a typical freshman. He makes a lot of mistakes and needs to work on when to pass and when to shoot. Right now he's having a tough time getting to the basket because no one fears his jumper. Still, the skills are there and to have him back at UC for another year would be a major boost for a team that will surely be looking for offense.

UC played extremely well today. They erased a 12-point deficit and turned it into a six-point lead by halftime. Free throw shooting killed the Bearcats though in the 79-76 loss to Marquette Sunday afternoon.

UC shot 50 percent (8-16) while the Golden Eagles shot 16-17 from the stripe. The effort was there today though which is really why I am so frustrated in this team and can't help but blame Cronin.

They play the way they did today against Seton Hall and St. John's back in January, then they win those games. Now, they're forced to win games like today.

Instead, they lose today and really have their backs up against the wall. And where was today's effort against South Florida on Tuesday?

Now it's going to be unbelievably tough for UC to get in the tourney. Next game should be a win against DePaul which is the worst team in the Big East. Then comes the trouble.

The final three games are against West Virginia (away), Villanova (home) and Georgetown (away). The common denominator among those teams: They're all in the top-10 in the country.

Long story short. They don't have a chance at the Big Dance. ESPN bracketologist (i hate that word) had UC as one of the first four teams out of the tournament going into today's game. I think today's game has sealed their fate.

What happened Tuesday night against South Florida prompted me to write this in The News Record today.

Yes, I called for Cronin to be fired. Not something to take lightly, I know. But the guy has had four years to make it to the NCAA tournament. The loss to South Florida, a game they were down 18 late in the 2nd half, seals the Cats' fate. With five games left they play three top-10 teams.

What bothers me so much is that they'll probably beat one of those top-10 teams. That tells me they have the talent. But then to lose games midway through the season at Seton Hall and St. John's and now the South Florida loss. It's terrible.

Isn't this a team fighting for a spot in the NCAA tourney? Time and again there is a lack of effort from the players on this team.

Whether he'll be fired or not I don't know but the leash isn't very long for the fourth-year UC coach. We'll just have to wait and see but if a change is made, don't expect it until after the season.

After a 60-48 win over UConn this weekend, the Bearcats moved one step closer to their goal of the NCAA tourney. Unfortunately UC is again, right on the bubble to make the field of 65 with very tough games ahead.

First off they have South Florida Tuesday night on the road. USF has one of the best players in the Big East in Dominique Jones but he just happens to be on a not so good team. Either way, with the schedule ahead, this is a must win for UC.

Then UC comes home in another must win against Marquette. It will be tough though and the way UC has finished out the last two seasons (last 2 years I want to say 1-10 combined) it could easily wind up as a loss.

They stay at home for one more game against DePaul. If UC loses to them it will end the season. DePaul is 1-11 in the conference. One would also think UC would want to kill DePaul after what happened at the end of last season. Don't remember? I'll fill you in.

UC had the No. 9 seed in the Big East tourney. DePaul was winless in the conference and had the very last seed. (all big east teams make the conference tournament now) Needless to say, DePaul beat UC who was on the bubble and may have solidified a spot in the NCAA's with a win. Instead, they were upset and chose not to play in any postseason tournament.

You may wonder why these games are all must wins against decent teams like Marquette and South Florida. It's because the final three regular season games of UC's season are against the No. 8, No. 3 and No. 10 teams in the country.

West Virginia (away), Villanova (home) and Georgetown (away) are the final three games. Even with wins against Marquette, USF and DePaul; losses in the final three games of the year will not look good on the resume. I think they have to steal one of those games. Afterall, Mick Cronin has a pretty good record against Bob Huggins and West Virginia since he came to UC.

Plus, they could still get a win in the Big East tourney but they can't afford to be bounced in the first round like last year no matter who they play.

Like rubbing salt in a deep wound, Brian Kelly made a court-side appearance last night in UC's embarrassing 83-65 loss to Notre Dame in South Bend.

And so much for Yancy Gates dominating two-time Big East player of the year Luke Harongody. Harongody dropped 37 on 15-of-25 shooting and grabbed 14 boards.

As poorly as the team played last night, I have to start placing more of the blame on Mick Cronin. I listen to him night in and night out, even at press conferences during the week, and all I hear are excuses.

He's always talking about how much the other team needs a win. How well the other team plays well at home. How great the Big East is. The list goes on and on.

But all I see out of his team is a lack of effort. Like they don't care. Cincinnati has always had a "thug" appeal in their basketball program and I'm finally done with it.

Back when Kenyon Martin and DerMarr Johnson were here, teams would be blown out of Cincinnati night in and night out. Bob Huggins made it that way. Mick Cronin can't make it that way.

I want people to start coming to play at Cincinnati who know how to play basketball in a gym...not at Rucker Park.

Unless they can muster up five more wins, what they'll probably need to get into the tourney, I think Mick has to go.

Can you tell I'm bitter? Good. Because I am.

UC sits at 14-8 overall, 5-5 in the Big East with eight regular season games remaining plus at least one Big East tournament game. Next up, No. 4 Syracuse comes to town.

Freshman point guard Cashmere Wright picked the best possible time to bust out of his season-long scoring funk in UC's 92-88 win over Providence Saturday night.

Wright was 9-11 from the field including 3-4 from beyond the arc on his way to 24 points. He also didn't turn the ball over and added five assists and three steals which head coach Mick Cronin said was equally as impressive as his point total.

Providence proved their place as one of the best offensive teams in the Big East despite their 12-9 record. Friars guard Sharaud Curry actually outscored Wright with 27 points but was far less efficient shooting 9-21 from the field.

It wasn't a perfect night offensively for the Cats even though five players posted double-digit point totals. Senior guard Deonta Vaughn scored 12 but was just 3-8 shooting and 1-6 from deep.

Vaughn wasn't the weakest link either. The Cats nearly cost themselves the game shooting 20-41 from the free-throw line. Earlier in the year, free-throw shooting cost the Bearcats at least one game but of late, they haven't negatively affected any games.

But 16 points on 6-9 shooting including 3-3 from deep from Rashad Bishop helped put the Cats over the hump. Bishop has been solid all year for the Cats and, in my opinion, is the most consistent player on the team.

Wright stole the night though and it couldn't have come at a better time. His play won't just be important for the stretch run of the season but for the future of UC basketball.

Vaughn (senior) and probably freshman Lance Stephenson (12 points, 9 rebounds against Providence) will not be back next season so it's a big question mark as to who will carry the scoring load next year.

Wright has shown flashes of being able to do that but, as most would admit, he has a long way to go. He has shown no consistency this year but if he continues on the path of the last two games, he can eventually emerge as the top scorer.

Wright's play in the last nine games of the season could be a huge boost too. UC is 14-7 and they will have at least a tenth game with the Big East tournament. Five of their final nine opponents are ranked in the top 25 and five of those final nine are also on the road. Villanova and Syracuse will be the only two home games of those five against the top 25. Very confusing, I know, but basically UC has an extremely hard schedule down the stretch.

UC heads to Notre Dame Thursday for their second date with the Irish this season. The Cats clipped Notre Dame by two points earlier this season at Fifth Third Arena and quite frankly, UC big-man Yancy Gates has owned two-time Big East Player of the Year Luke Harongody. Harongody still managed 14 points in the first meeting but was just 5-20 shooting from the field.

Gates did a great job of forcing Harongody into a lot of jump shots that he usually wouldn't take. This will be their final meeting in college basketball so it's definitely a match up to watch closely. Game tips at 9 p.m. Thursday.

The Cats will go nearly a whole week between games. Their last, a loss to Louisville at Freedom Hall, put the UC at 4-4 in the Big East.

Bottom line is that the Bearcats have 10 games left, five of which are against ranked teams. I think they'll need at least six more wins to put them in and that could still be a stretch.

Mick told me today they need to limit turnovers to be successful. A few of the teams they still play run a small offense meaning they use a lot of perimeter players.

It's an advantage for the Cats on offense but hurts on defense when UC big-man Yancy Gates will have to guard a perimeter guy. It helps on offense because Gates will be able to impose his will on the glass and scoring the ball.

Providence, although not as good as West Virginia, runs that type of offense so we'll have a good indicator after the game Saturday at 8 p.m.

I met new UC head coach Butch Jones in his office yesterday and I liked what I heard from him. He didn't say much that I wasn't expecting but I liked his attitude. He also said he sees Cincinnati as a destination job.

I don't put much stock into that because as soon as a bigtime school comes calling (Notre Dame) Jones will probably bolt as they all do.

The thing he said that I liked most was this, "I don’t think it's about one individual, it’s about a program. We’ve been through it and we went 22-3 at Central Michigan in Mid American Conference play and that doesn’t happen by chance."

For me, I like hearing that from a coach. He was speaking there about being in the same situation before with his assistants, most of whom are following him to Cincinnati from CMU. Jones was the same coach that replaced Kelly at CMU when Kelly came to Cincy.

Anyway, I wrote more about it in a story I did for The News Record. That same story also has comments from new UC president Greg Williams who I also spoke with earlier this week. I asked him about Brian Kelly, Butch Jones and the state of UC athletics in general.

ESPN Big East blogger Brian Bennett linked to the story here, on his blog.

And be sure to follow my tweets where you'll find interesting tidbits like, "I ran over a bird on my way to class this morning in my car" or "going to lunch downtown with my mom." But seriously, I tweet about interesting stuff too.

If UC doesn't make the 64-team NCAA Tournament come March, it can look back at the past two games and see why it was left out.

All I've heard since last night's 52-50 loss against St. John's at Madison Square Garden is how terrible of a coach Mick Cronin is. Newsflash: Mick Cronin wasn't the reason his team missed all 12 of its 3-point shots.

Cronin didn't turn the ball over 21 times that led to 25 points for St. John's.

Cronin didn't tell Deonta Vaughn to go out and shoot 1-7 from the field including 0-4 from beyond the arc.

Cronin didn't tell Lance Stephenson to heave the ball to half-court and have it stolen with five seconds left while UC had the lead. Yes, you read that right. They had the lead and the ball with five seconds left and Stephenson chucked the ball to mid-court on the inbound play.

You see what I'm driving at. But Mick isn't getting out of it that easy.

I don't like the way he coaches. He can't get this team ready to play. A lot of the time these players are playing hard against ranked teams but act deflated anytime they play someone unranked. It's unreal.

You'll never hear Mick give credit where credit is due. If someone does something great, Cronin will never praise them. If they do something wrong, they might as well start walking to the bench because it's a certainty that Mick will pull them from the game.

I feel like Cronin tries to be like Bob Huggins but it doesn't work for him. Huggs' players respected him because he made them respect him and he earned it. Cronin's players don't seem like they even want to listen to him and why should they. All he does is jump their case at the smallest mistakes.

This team goes as Stephenson and Vaughn go. Yancy Gates is good and played well last night (6-9 for 12 points in 22 minutes) but it has been proven he can't carry this team ... not this year at least. Deonta and Lance were a combined 4-16 last night for 11 points between them both. They were a combined 0-6 from long-range too.

If you can't tell, that's not going to get it done. As far as I can tell, this team doesn't have the talent to overcome Mick Cronin.

The Cats are 11-6 now and 2-3 in the Big East. They play Notre Dame at home on Saturday.

My sincere apologies for not blogging recently. I know that you were all sitting near your computers awaiting my blog post about the Sugar Bowl. Couple of reasons why that blog wasn't written: 1.) I'm in college and was drinking during that game (you had to as bad as UC played) and 2.) I was too mad about what was going on. I'll explain.

College football is terribly flawed. It's no secret but the sport has major problems. I'm not making any excuses for my Cats. They were completely mismatched with the Gators. Florida wins that game 10 times out of 10 ... no doubt in my mind.

Unfortunately there isn't much of a realistic way to make teams more competitive with each other. It would take a long time for UC to compare to a team like Florida as far as talent of players goes. UC, being a stepping-stone school for coaches, doesn't speed that process up either.

I don't know the numbers but I would venture to guess that Florida's roster is stacked with four- and five-star recruits. UC may have two four-stars. Now I know that a lot of those recruiting rankings don't end up mattering but we all know the Gators get the better players. It's pretty amazing too considering the schools they have to compete with too (Miami, Florida State, South Florida).

So to the real problem. A playoff system. I know it's not a new concept but if money is the main reason that you keep a bowl system, then your sport sucks. Think of how many different national champions there would have been over the years with a playoff system. It's the only way to crown a legit national champion. Or when bowl season is over everyone is constantly talking about how the third team (in this case, Florida) would beat the so-called "national champion."

It's the reason college football is less popular than the NFL. I personally hate college football. Sure I still watch the games but I can't help thinking that our season will come down to one game and we may not even get a shot at the title.

So yes, I do think UC should have had that shot at a title. Would they have gotten beat? Absolutely. Would they have been beaten badly? More than likely. But when a BCS school runs the table and does everything asked of them during the season and then is told to go play for third place, it's ridiculous.

I realize that UC wouldn't have won a game in the post-season this year playoffs or not. But to tell them, Florida, TCU or Boise to go play for runner-up is pitiful.

It happens year after year though and it won't stop. Until it does, I don't care to watch.

With .7 seconds left the game was tied at 69, and Lance Stephenson aka Born Ready was at the line after being fouled going to the basket. Stephenson drained both free throws to finish 7-7 from the stripe for the game. UConn's half-court attempt as time expired was off the mark and UC (9-3 overall, 1-0 Big East) knocked off the tenth ranked Huskies 71-69.

"All I was thinking is let me get to the free throw line and I'll knock 'em down," Stephenson said.

Stephenson made some shots tonight that were unreal. He was crossing UConn players over and hitting tough shots all night. He finished 7-18 from the field and missed his only attempted 3-ball. I asked UConn coach Jim Calhoun what he thought of Lance after the game. "He's a good player, talented kid," he said.

When I asked him to elaborate he said, "Talented kid, puts the ball on the floor, strong, nice body, competes. Obviously he stepped up big in a big-time spot. That's not an easy spot for any kid to stand up in."

Before the Stephenson free throws though UConn's Kemba Walker hit his only three of the game to tie it. Prior to hitting that shot with 10 seconds, UC held the lead the entire game.

Free throws came up huge for UC. Something that can't be said for most of the games they've played this season. UC was 14-19 from the stripe compared to UConn's 17-26.

Have to give it to the Huskies though. Jerome Dyson was 9-19 for UConn and finished with 24 points and seven boards. Stanley Robinson was 9-18 and 3-4 from distance to finish with 22 and seven.

Aside from Lance though, we learned that this team plays well if Deonta plays well. Vaughn scored 17 points on 6-11 shooting and 3-5 from range before fouling out with 1:30 remaining. He also had five assists and five boards. "He's gotta' always be in the game," Stephenson said of Vaughn. Lance said he was nervous at first when Deonta fouled out because he's the team leader.

Quick Stat: UConn did not block a shot tonight. It has been nine years since the last time that's happened.

Haven't blogged in a while. My deepest apologies to my fan. UC on a two-game win streak heading into tonight against Jim Calhoun's 10th ranked Huskies. We're at halftime now at Fifth Third Arena and UC has a one-point advantage (36-35).

Of course a lead against a top-10 team is always good but considering that UC had an 11 point lead at one point makes it a little less attractive. UC has done an exceptional job at the free throw line going 8-for-9 in the first half. Lance has 13 points and Deonta has 10. UConn's Jerome Dyson has 14.

This place went nuts at one point when Deonta Vaughn hit back-to-back threes to give UC an eight-point lead. Lance Stephenson aka Born Ready has hit a couple of shots that are making some UConn players look like they haven't played basketball before.

Hopefully UConn's run at the end of the half doesn't deflate UC but it very well could. UC has given UConn a lot of second chances by not keeping the Huskies off the offensive glass. Fortunately for UC, UConn hasn't converted those chances. If they keep offensive rebounding the way they have been it could mean a lot of trouble for UC.

This one will be exciting to watch. Postgame blog to follow with comments from Cronin, Calhoun and some players.