First thing's first: I am now painfully aware of the amount of Nickelback/Nickelback cover bands that are actually permitted on the radio. It was quite fitting that approximately ALL of Nickelback's mega-hits were blaring from the speakers as I watched what I thought was UC throwing away the season with a loss to a St. John's. Fitting in that while Nickelback's lazy and unimaginative and predictable "rock" was playing, UC showcased mediocracy and laziness on both sides of court. But, the tide often changes, as they say, and Nickelback changed to the likes of TI and Rihanna's "Live Your Life", and UC found its life. Wilks, Toyloy and crew: you be Chad Kroeger and his gang, while Vaughn: you be ultra-cool and awesome TI.
As seen in the Cincinnati Enquirer, "Bishop said he purposely came out more aggressive offensively in an attempt to take some of the pressure off Vaughn." Great. Bishop played his best game (until his controversial ejection early in the second half) of the season, and showed signs of a hidden gem waiting to be exposed. But he purposely came out more aggressive this game. Meaning....what? Does he purposely come out not aggressive in all other games? Rashad, I'm begging you, as one frustrated Bearcats fan to a (hopefully) frustrated Bearcats player, I can't take Nickelback-UC anymore. Their music sucks, and the hair? Please play the way you did in the first half of Thursday night's game for the remainder of this season! It was pretty routine when Vaughn took over the game per norm. Vaughn's the only one on that team who looked like he actually cared UC was losing, and he took over the game. 20 points in the second half? It sucks Vaughn has to do it on his own, but at least we have him.
Going off my counterpart's checklist, I see us fulfilling only tasks #3, 4, and 5. Dixon was more or less a non-factor in the game, and Mike Williams was even less of a factor. I want to know where he was. The Red Storm didn't have any major inside presence that would have limited his productivity. I understand he's not going to be amazing every game, but he wasn't even really taking many shots (although we were doing what we do best and missing 3's all night, so he didn't get too many touches on the ball). He's got to bring the intensity every game, just like Bishop. If Vaughn plays like he usually does, Bishop plays like he did last night, and Williams and Gates take care of the inside game, we could be really good. It all has to happen every game though, and that's where things go south. But they did moderately keep the ball out of Toyloy's hands, which is always a plus.
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Was it just me or was the officiating truly out of control? There were literally a billion fouls in a 2 minute span of the game. This is terrible for the flow of the game and makes it frustrating to watch, so frustrating (on top of the nearly 0% shooting from long range for UC), that I was forced to remove myself from the TV to the crisp winter evening, just as my father had done so many times before me, although I did not have a basketball hoop to aid in my calming methods. Upon my return, I saw that McClain was in the game, which meant my steam had not quite cooled, and another walk to the corner was in order.
ReplyDeleteI wish everyone on the team would just do what they were capable of instead of only showing us the glimmers of greatness once or twice a game for a 5 minute stretch. The team this year is going to take years off my life because of the stress they're causing me. Nevertheless, they're my team, and I'll always support them.
Keller, youre certainly right in that the refs were definitely out of control, esp. right after the quadruple(?) technical. At one point when UC had the ball, I think there were like five fouls called and the ball hadnt crossed half court. Serious small balls complex from the refs in the second half last night.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, this team is definitely the most frustrating team since, I think, the Louis Banks era. Possibly the Danny-Fortson-on-the-cover-of-SI flop of the mid-90's, but that wasn't so bad because they played well most of the season and only sucked during 2 or 3 crucial games. This team goes from the worst team in college basketball to legit and back about 5 times a game. Heart attack city...