Nick Cronin…..

[Excalibur]

In 2001 (Big East Tourney loss to Syracuse), Jim Burr more than got in his face. He went nose to nose with him and put a finger in his chest. Jim didn't react like that.

 

[Excalibur]

As far as Valentine's actions, I agree with WingU that it is completely unacceptable for a ref to do what he did. As far as Cronin's antics, not merely today's but for much of his career, I stand by my earlier statement.

This is really all that needs to be said. Anyone paying attention to college hoops should be well aware that Cronin toes and/or crosses the line on a regular basis. Today, he didn't get T'd because the officiating crew was aware that Valentine instigated it.

 

[Scoe]

Calhoun is way more intimidating, then Cronin, a ref would respond by backpedaling and giving Calhoun a T.

 

[Excalibur]

And Calhoun would never shove his own player or assistant who was trying to diffuse the situation.

 

[itgoeslike]

Attempting to influence the outcome of a game by using theatrics has been a part of coaching for quite some time. Cronin is clearly a power user, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Where I think Cronin did himself a disservice tonight was in how he aggressively shoved his players and, more notably, his assistant coach out of the way. It displays a real loss of control that can potentially undermine his team. In retrospect, I think he will regret that most.

 

[Excalibur]

Attempting to influence the outcome of a game by using theatrics has been a part of coaching for quite some time. Cronin is clearly a power user, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Where I think Cronin did himself a disservice tonight was in how he aggressively shoved his players and, more notably, his assistant coach out of the way. It displays a real loss of control that can potentially undermine his team. In retrospect, I think he will regret that most.

If he's capable of that he's capable of being Mike Rice.

 

[itgoeslike]

If he's capable of that he's capable of being Mike Rice.

The same thought crossed my mind, but I think Cronin just worked himself into momentary insanity. Is it habitual like Rice? Probably not, but I think he needs to check himself.

 

[itgoeslike]

Post game, Cronin lamented about the lack of respect the ref showed by getting in his face, while turning a blind eye towards how he treated his assistant, who was really just doing his job.

 

[huskyharry]

Uh...not really, TSam actually knocked the ball away first then on the follow-through his hand hit the Cincy player's wrist, so not what I would call "hammered". Could it be called a foul? Sure, but this type of contact is often not called.

 

[champs99and04]

Agree with everything said by WingU-Conn in this thread. Cronin should have been given a technical, and that probably would have been all there was to it. If you're Valentine, you T him up, give him a minute or two to cool off, and if he doesn't give him another technical. The only time I can ever see it as acceptable to get confrontational to that extent as a ref would be if you felt threatened, or if a coach made things personal. Clearly, Valentine escalated the situation, and that's completely inappropriate from an official who is supposed to have control over the game.

As far as Cronin's personality is concerned, I'm not a huge fan, but I do respect him. I though he handled the brawl two years ago with as much class as you could expect, and he's built Cincinnati into a perennially relevant team after inheriting the program in shambles. For as much as conference re-alignment sucks, Cincinnati's the one remaining school that really does resemble an old-school Big East program.

 

[Buffett10]

Its Amazing we used to have a HOF coach just as fiery as Mick. Now you guys are bashing a guy who was just as bad as our old coach. Come on UConn fans stop being so crazy. I love UConn as much as the biggest die hard but I don't see how you can bitch about Cronin if you didn't bitch about Calhoun.

 

[minidarren]

You didn't answer it. You pretended to answer it and tried to convince me you answered it by pretending to answer it again. If you also want to pretend like no coach has ever behaved like Cronin or worse, that's your choice. Considering how much you like to pretend it is surprising you refuse to discuss a hypothetical. There is one thing that Cronin could do, while in the coach's box, that would justify Valentine's response, and it involves the n-word.

The fact is, the referee is supposed to be impartial, objective, and a professional. It is never appropriate to respond to a coach by getting in their face. Especially when the coach is in his coaching box and not on the floor. It doesn't matter who the coach is, and how little we like him, the referee has a duty to remain calm and professional.

There is a big difference between Cronin who it's a Jack@$$ 90% of the time and other coaches who are jackasses 10% of the time. Typically, they are dealt with swiftly. Calhoun got his fair share of Ts and ejections. This clown should have been tossed. Again Valentine was walking away when Cronin said something else that got him in his face.

He wants to cry that he doesn't get the respect that K or JB get. But neither of them act like he does day in and day out. JB is too busy picking his nose and K gives out hugs.

I don't understand how I didn't answer your question. I think it is clear that it wouldn't have happened to Calhoun because the man is respected. Cronin is a really hard person to take seriously.

 

[mauconnfan]

Coach K does take full advantage of who he is much of the time……he gets away with murder no doubt so I see what Napolean is saying there. But even K (as mini d states above) isn't as consistent an as the Mickster.

 

[Scoe]

Cronin is like Jim Harbaugh but very unintimidating I just laugh at him

now Jim Brown on the other hand is intimidating

 

[dante]

I like Cronin oh though his antics in the sidelines is a bit much and so on the guy seems ok in interviews he says the right things

 

[minidarren]

Cronin is nothing like JH. JH has won stuff.

 

[Scoe]

Cronin is nothing like JH. JH has won stuff.

his antics im talking about

 

[minidarren]

his antics im talking about

Gotcha

 

[uconnfan68]

It doesn't. Read my post.

Thanks for chipping in with the expert analysis.

 

[upstater]

Thanks for chipping in with the expert analysis.

You're welcome.

 

[jibsey]

Cronin is a snake. Read today's quotes about the game yesterday, completely about the failure of his team with little to no credit given to the opponent. Every coach is unhappy with their team after a loss but saying they didn't come to play after outrebounding us by 10? Oh yeah they ran bad offense.

 

[mauconnfan]

Cronin is a snake. Read today's quotes about the game yesterday, completely about the failure of his team with little to no credit given to the opponent. Every coach is unhappy with their team after a loss but saying they didn't come to play after outrebounding us by 10? Oh yeah they ran bad offense.

Bingo jibs…….and he also hammered on that other bald assistant again later during a TO as if to find blame with something/someone else other than himself. He hasn't won anything other than regular season games and until he does he's not even Napolean!

 

[David 76]

It is not mutually exclusive. Both Cupid and the Leprechaun are jerks. They were both wrong and both have huge egos. Neither required the other to act like a jerk.

PS I did complain when JC would grab one of his players by the shirt and scream in his face on national TV. But JC was Mr stable compared to Mick who strikes me as a one trick pony. We get it Mick. You are passionate.