Mick Cronin to UCLA

[titansbaseball01]

Since some to many X fans made fun of Cronin and his coaching abilities, maybe those X fans should start worrying that UC may get a better coach, who might start a major winning streak against X. Always be careful what you wish for??? Having Cronin was good for X's wins against UC . The new coach might reverse that??? Time will tell.

You would rather have a poor coach for UC? Not me. I want this to be a competitive game where each team improves the other and the game is worth playing based on Quad 1 games. Beating a poor uc team never helps improve a Xavier team but beating a #1 is a chest beater game. You always complain when X plays the lower tier teams so UC as a quality opponent should be encouraged.

Agree with this. UC beating X this year didn't do much for them this year. If X was its normal self this year, that win may have pushed UC to a higher seed. I hate losing to UC, but competitive games, with two high caliber teams is much more fun then beating up on a bad team, even if it means an occasional L.

[bluegrass]

I have to think the fan base out there is pretty underwhelmed by this hiring. Any connection to Magic resigning?

[thecoach]

Since some to many X fans made fun of Cronin and his coaching abilities, maybe those X fans should start worrying that UC may get a better coach, who might start a major winning streak against X. Always be careful what you wish for??? Having Cronin was good for X's wins against UC . The new coach might reverse that??? Time will tell.

I talked to a guy today who's pretty knowledgeable who said they're interested in a couple well placed experienced assistants at big programs. The a.d. hit the jackpot with Fickell so probably not a stretch. Another indication in today's age of college sports recruiting is priority 1.

[muskieman]

Cronin is the only guy who makes north of 1.0 million annually (at the same school), and has only advanced to the Sw 16 once in 16 years as a HC. In all fairness, he took over a program in shambles at the Univ of Clifton Heights Avondale, so I’ll say once in 13 years. Same dubious distinction applies. I saw this nugget from an article trying to extol the great accomplishments of UCLA’s new hire:

“Cronin has become one of just six coaches in the nation to have led his program to the NCAA Tournament the last nine seasons. Joining him in that group are Mark Few (Gonzaga), Tom Izzo (Michigan State), Mike Krzyzewski (Duke), Bill Self (Kansas) and Roy Williams (North Carolina).” They failed to mention that most of his success was achieved in mid-major leagues, where they play half a dozen top 50 teams a year. This year was a nice anomaly for them, but didn’t lead to a different outcome in the tourney. Here's a trivia question: Of the former group, there is only one coach who has not won more than 20 games in the tourney in the last thirteen years, and same said coach has only been to the Sw 16 once. Hint: It ain’t Coach K.

I also love this delusional quote from the AD: ““This is a top-tier basketball job for the right coach,” Bohn said. If by right coach, you mean someone who wants to play in a mid-major league with a lukewarm fanbase (this year being an exception) and who has a legacy of underachievement in the last decade. I can’t blame him. He has to sell the program. UC’s gain is Xavier’s loss. The only campus more riotous in joy than VA right now is UC’s.

Maybe AD should have checked this out.
Steve Alford made as many Sweet 16 appearances in four seasons of coaching at Southwest Missouri State as Mick Cronin made in 13 years at Cincinnati.

[True_Blue]

Since some to many X fans made fun of Cronin and his coaching abilities, maybe those X fans should start worrying that UC may get a better coach, who might start a major winning streak against X. Always be careful what you wish for??? Having Cronin was good for X's wins against UC . The new coach might reverse that??? Time will tell.

You would rather have a poor coach for UC? Not me. I want this to be a competitive game where each team improves the other and the game is worth playing based on Quad 1 games. Beating a poor uc team never helps improve a Xavier team but beating a #1 is a chest beater game. You always complain when X plays the lower tier teams so UC as a quality opponent should be encouraged.

Agree with this. UC beating X this year didn't do much for them this year. If X was its normal self this year, that win may have pushed UC to a higher seed. I hate losing to UC, but competitive games, with two high caliber teams is much more fun then beating up on a bad team, even if it means an occasional L.

X plays about 30 games per year. Let the other games be high caliber.
For the Shootout, I want XU to beat uc by 40+ points every damn year. To me that would be very entertaining and fun.
Realistic? Hell no. But that is what I want. You should too!

[muskieman]

You would rather have a poor coach for UC? Not me. I want this to be a competitive game where each team improves the other and the game is worth playing based on Quad 1 games. Beating a poor uc team never helps improve a Xavier team but beating a #1 is a chest beater game. You always complain when X plays the lower tier teams so UC as a quality opponent should be encouraged.

Agree with this. UC beating X this year didn't do much for them this year. If X was its normal self this year, that win may have pushed UC to a higher seed. I hate losing to UC, but competitive games, with two high caliber teams is much more fun then beating up on a bad team, even if it means an occasional L.

X plays about 30 games per year. Let the other games be high caliber.
For the Shootout, I want XU to beat uc by 40+ points every damn year. To me that would be very entertaining and fun.
Realistic? Hell no. But that is what I want. You should too!

I didn't say I would be sad to beat them every year and by 40 doesn't sound bad especially when they are ranked.

[Anti-Homer]

Please let it be Van Exel or Erik Martin. I would have even been happy with Frank Martin as well. He went to a FF, and did a great job that year, but his overall resume as a HC has been underwhelming. I don't want it to be the guy I think it ultimately will: John Brannen. He is a good coach and a good guy. However, the fact that Bohn has hired a search firm indicates a Brannen hire would be like Cronin's: 9th or 10th on the dance card.

I guess Bohn's claim that it is an elite job isn't shared by the very good - elite coaches.

[sweet67]

Please let it be Van Exel or Erik Martin. I would have even been happy with Frank Martin as well. He went to a FF, and did a great job that year, but his overall resume as a HC has been underwhelming. I don't want it to be the guy I think it ultimately will: John Brannen. He is a good coach and a good guy. However, the fact that Bohn has hired a search firm indicates a Brannen hire would be like Cronin's: 9th or 10th on the dance card.

I guess Bohn's claim that it is an elite job isn't shared by the very good - elite coaches.

Bohn didnt hire a search firm.

Brannen was at the top of list since Day 1.

Great call AH.

[Anti-Homer]

Please let it be Van Exel or Erik Martin. I would have even been happy with Frank Martin as well. He went to a FF, and did a great job that year, but his overall resume as a HC has been underwhelming. I don't want it to be the guy I think it ultimately will: John Brannen. He is a good coach and a good guy. However, the fact that Bohn has hired a search firm indicates a Brannen hire would be like Cronin's: 9th or 10th on the dance card.

I guess Bohn's claim that it is an elite job isn't shared by the very good - elite coaches.

Bohn didnt hire a search firm.

Brannen was at the top of list since Day 1.

Great call AH.

Yea,

That's why Frank Martin was being reported as the primary target by every rag, including the Enquirer to interview for the "elite job" since 113 (my new nickname for Mick) left for the coast before the boosters ran him out. I guess your next claim is Cronin was UCLA's 1st choice too, but Guerrero was waiting to woo him until seeing if the Lakers would offer him their job 1st.

Sweets, isn't it time for you to stalk the Facebooks of those bullies in high school, to see if they are posting things in code about you again?

[muskieman]

https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/la- ... story.html

this will be turned into a movie