Bearcats Stage Greatest Comeback in Fifth Third Arena History

[Jonsoup]

http://www.ucbearcats.com/sports/mbball/release.asp?release_id=3122

I figure everybody would like to see what the Sports Information at Cincinnati had to say about our game.

[Panthers to the Bone]

Jonsoup-

Did you go to the game?

To any other UNI fans who went to the game. Can you give us some highlights or 2 cents worth about it?

[The Coletrain]

I was at the game with my father and bro-in-law. Jonsoup was supposed to be there, too, but I didn't get to meet him. I don't know if I can tell you anything you didn't hear on the radio, but I can certainly give you a brief rundown.

First and foremost, you could see who Coach Mac had confidence in playing defensively at this point and who he didn't. Two things were the determinent in who was going to play against that level of comp - 1) can you defend their quickness and size, and 2) are you going to take care of the basketball. So my take was those that weren't in the line-up or played sparingly still have a ways to go before they're ready to play at this level in those two areas.

Secondly, Eric Coleman is going to be a very good ballplayer. When he fouled out midway through the second half we never fully recovered. Had he played another 1-2 minutes deeper into the second half we would have held on in regulation. Obviously Benny J wasn't a major factor in this game. His lack of offense definitely hurt us. After a great first half by Grant we really went away from him in the second half. That hurt us because it allowed them to really get after us on the perimeter. They ate us up on the board - particulalry offensively - as the game went along, but a lot of that is because the officials really allowed them to play more aggressively in the later stages of the game.

We played hard and we're definitely going to be a better team this year than last, but we didn't have a go-to-guy in the second half. We played on our heels a lot on offense in the final 20 minutes or so in that game (2nd half and both OTs). But this team will be VERY good in the next year!! Crawford really stepped up, too. I think he can be a much bigger factor for us offensively this year.

Looking forward to ISU. Later.

[Jonsoup]

CINCINNATI game

I didn't make the game as I had to work on VERY SHORT NOTICE! I was given extra day off of work for next year for working on SHORT NOTICE. But I did listen to it on the net during my lunch break and regular work breaks. Maybe next time Cole we can meet up. As it looks now I'm making plans for the Indiana State game as well as the Bradley game if it is on a week-end. Let me know if you up for meeting in Terre Haute. Sorry about the deal in Cincinnati I was looking forward meeting another PANTHER fan in these parts.

[CincyPanther88]

I was at the game and gave some of my impressions in chat when I got home but I'll be more than happy to share again.

I don't think they were intimidated by UC's size and quickness - at least not in the 1st half. Both teams were pretty cold till the first TV time out but then UNI warmed up and UC didn't. They really couldn't have played much better in the first half and for about 12 minutes of the 2nd half. They were playing good defense and actually outrebounded UC in the first half. Grant Stout just played great in the 1st half but they either stopped going to him or he was guarded too tight defensively to get the ball to him. He probably has to work on getting open more but he's a soph he'll improve on that. Also guarding Maxiell more than likely wore him out too. Some were saying in chat that it sounded like we got hosed by the refs but I think we got a lot of calls - especially in the 1st half. There were times we could have been called for travelling - Maxiell got away with a few walks under the basket, IMO - and double dribble and some push off fouls. The UC fans sure thought so.

We were playing so well and UC was playing so lousy that their fans were booing them at times in the first and second halves. I was worried about all the fouls we seemed to be collecting in the 1st half and I was worried about the turnovers as well. And it looks like I was worried for good reason.

As for the 2nd half as I said, they played great for 12 minutes. I was feeling pretty good but I knew it wasn't in the bag. They started picking up three quarters and full court and the first time thy did it we got an easy layup. The UC fans were really booing then. :lol: And I don't recall very many turnovers - if any - in the backcourt when they had their press on. They all seemed to come in the frontcourt. Some were because of the defensive pressure and some were just dumb mistakes by UNI. When UC whittled the score down the fans started getting into it. It was pretty loud but I didn't think it was that loud. But I did think UNI got rattled by the crowd and the turnovers and the fouls. They seemed stuck on 52 points for an eternity. I thought we'd win until they tied it. Then I knew we were in trouble. The last second shot by UNI in regulation was really close.

UC came out in the first OT and got the lead but we tied it back up and it was just kinda back and forth with good defense on both ends. But in the 2nd OT they just took over and Maxiell's dunk of the steal was the nail in the coffin. After the game was over UNI was leaving the court on my end of the arena (across the floor from the coaches on UC's side in the corner and UC fans were applauding them as they were leaving. I thought that was a nice sign of respect from them. I listened to UC's post game show afterwards and Huggins was very complimentary towards UNI. I like UC but my antennae were up to detect any slights we got. Their play by play guy asked Huggins if UNI made a mistake by running a lot of clock in the second half and sitting on that lead. Huggins said that that's UNI's style and he didn't think they were just sitting on the lead. He said we played good defense and they were fortunate to win.

It was tough finding UNI fans there. After I was in my seat I saw a guy in a UNI sweatshirt walking behind the bleachers behind UC's basket before the game. Was that you, Coletrain? And just seeing someone in purple didn't mean that they were UNI fans either. There is a boys high school here called Elder High School and a lot of guys who live here went there. Not only is their mascot the Panthers but their colors are purple as well. Outside the arena I saw a guy from a distance with a purple and gold jacket on. I got closer to him before I went in and it was an Elder jacket.

Jonsoup, we'll have to hook up sometime.

[Marc Wigim]

*sigh* as much as this one hurt... I think it's official... we can hang with the big boys. This might be a big year for UNI basketball...