Congrats to Mick Cronin

[Waquoit]

Mick has his team in the Sweet 16 the first time eligible, winning 3 games already. Not bad for a guy that was never going to get past the first weekend again. Now he's one of the few coaches with a team in the dance for 10 straight seasons. Yet, I've read on the Yard that he's not a good coach. Meanwhile, his old team with a fanbase that was glad to see him go has what, 5 players now?

 

[BigFanCT]

It was the AAC all along.

 

[Hoophound]

Mick is a very good coach. He may not win you national titles (yet), but he guarantees you a very good team that comes to play every night and dances every year.

 

[8893]

 

[phillionaire]

John Wooden never won 3 games to get to the sweet 16

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Mick is a very good coach. He may not win you national titles (yet), but he guarantees you a very good team that comes to play every night and dances every year.

I watched a lot of UCLA basketball this year. At no point would you have said “this is a team that’s going to make a deep run.” It’s all matchups and playing well at the right time. (I like Cronin a lot.)

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

I had a good joke about him winning 2 games and still not making it to the sweet 16 queued up.

He’s a pretty entertaining watch when he’s not coaching a team you hate.

 

[Marat]

As someone here said the other day, perhaps it was really Cincy that was allergic to Cronin's coaching.

Now he may be able to recruit better in LA, and get better results.

 

[dogpause]

I always liked and respected Cronin. If he wins it all, I would love to see his face on a box of Lucky Charms.

 

[The Funster]

I have always been a Mick fan. He coaches with a chip on his shoulder.

 

[UConnSwag11]

Do we base how good a team or coach is if they win one or two games in the Tourney, but continue to finish middle of their conference year after year? Not necessarily talking about Cronin.

 

[BGesus4]

Imagine how well UCLA’s first 10 choices for the job could’ve done

 

[Kitaman]

Do we base how good a team or coach is if they win one or two games in the Tourney, but continue to finish middle of their conference year after year? Not necessarily talking about Cronin.

I'd say a good coach is one who is able to maximize his personnel to consistently win games. Post season is a different animal, and some coaches take longer to figure things out to proceed to the Sweet 16 and Elite 8.

As for Final Fours, a lot of that is how the ball bounces and who's hot. Having an All American type player is paramount to get to the Final Four. Achieving multiple Final Fours (think Izzo) elevates a coaches status, especially if done year after year.

Just saying Championships are for measuring elite coaches, but there are quite a few good coaches who are capable of sniffing a Final Four one day. And most importantly there are some good coaches that can take a little and make a lot. Those are the 'gems' who one day take over established programs.

 

[CL82]

@kobe

 

[navery12]

Do we base how good a team or coach is if they win one or two games in the Tourney, but continue to finish middle of their conference year after year? Not necessarily talking about Cronin.

I suspect this will be an unpopular opinion here but I find it far more impressive when a team has continued regular season success (like Kansas winning 14 straight regular season titles) than a few runs in March

 

[Kemba'sYogurt]

I suspect this will be an unpopular opinion here but I find it far more impressive when a team has continued regular season success (like Kansas winning 14 straight regular season titles) than a few runs in March

I agree. Saying that Kansas winning the Big 12 regular season title 14 years in a row isn't a big deal is just ignorant.

 

[WrenchFan69]

I never hated Mick Cronin. Hated some of those Cincy teams but respect the program and what he did. Granted it's been against meh competition, but making the Sweet 16 without probably your best player is very impressive. Good for him

 

[kobe]

delete this right now

 

[kobe]

As someone here said the other day, perhaps it was really Cincy that was allergic to Cronin's coaching.

Now he may be able to recruit better in LA, and get better results.

relax. he beat a 14 seed to make the Sweet 16. also i hate you.

 

[Hoophound]

I watched a lot of UCLA basketball this year. At no point would you have said “this is a team that’s going to make a deep run.” It’s all matchups and playing well at the right time. (I like Cronin a lot.)

For the most part, the whole tournament is about matchups. Mick got his team into the tourney and he’s winning games. That’s a lot better than most coaches. He’s rock solid. He puts a group of guys out there that battle and defend with everything they’ve got. He’s got a special talent.

 

[ScuderiaDiU]

He is good, not great. Not sure we have great ourselves.

 

[XLCenterFan]

Mick has his team in the Sweet 16 the first time eligible, winning 3 games already. Not bad for a guy that was never going to get past the first weekend again. Now he's one of the few coaches with a team in the dance for 10 straight seasons. Yet, I've read on the Yard that he's not a good coach. Meanwhile, his old team with a fanbase that was glad to see him go has what, 5 players now?

I love Mick. But you're a loser...shut up.

 

[Waquoit]

John Wooden never won 3 games to get to the sweet 16

John Wooden usually played home games in the early rounds.

 

[MexicoHusky]

I don't mind Cronin. Seems like an ok dude. But to me I'll always remember him as the dude who couldn't get his team to play defense for the last ~1.5 seconds of overtime #3.

 

[Waquoit]

I love Mick. But you're a loser...shut up.

This guy came up smaller in the big spot than the team did. Now he's sending angry IM's. Ignore.

 

[Stinger92860]

Mick has his team in the Sweet 16 the first time eligible, winning 3 games already. Not bad for a guy that was never going to get past the first weekend again. Now he's one of the few coaches with a team in the dance for 10 straight seasons. Yet, I've read on the Yard that he's not a good coach. Meanwhile, his old team with a fanbase that was glad to see him go has what, 5 players now?

sorry but F Cronin

 

[metsfan2323]

I suspect this will be an unpopular opinion here but I find it far more impressive when a team has continued regular season success (like Kansas winning 14 straight regular season titles) than a few runs in March

like the way Mick Cronin dominated the AAC.

 

[Dove]

Mick Cronin is riding the coattails of...



wait for it



Johnny Juzang!!!!!!

 

[Get a Job]

I suspect this will be an unpopular opinion here but I find it far more impressive when a team has continued regular season success (like Kansas winning 14 straight regular season titles) than a few runs in March

I agree but was scared to post it. Now that we have strength in numbers, I will say that there are much better indicators of the quality of a team than tournament results. Hypothetical example: Show me a team that is ranked number one going into the tournament, and I will show you a team that is "better" than the 5-seed who got hot and won the tournament that season.

That said, I'd rather UConn be the latter team in that scenario every time.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

John Wooden never won 3 games to get to the sweet 16

3 to the FF with 32 teams
That was expanded from 25 teams in 1975
25 team tourney sounds weird
The Yankee Conference Champ had an auto bid