Huggins feels the pain
Posted by BKoch at 2/26/2009 10:52 PM EST on Cincinnati.com

Bob Huggins has never really talked about how much it hurt to be chased out of his job as the UC head basketball coach in 2005.

But after his West Virginia team lost to UC, 65-61, tonight, you could see and hear the emotions spill out of him as he faced the media, sweating profusely and trying to find the words to express how he felt about the 16 years he spent coaching at Fifth Third Arena.

“I was standing in front of their bench (before the game),” Huggins said. “I’m so used to standing there. Mick (Cronin) came over and I was talking to Mick and I didn’t realize I was at the wrong bench until the officials came over there.

“There’s so many great memories of so many wonderful, wonderful guys. So many memories of walking in here with 13,176 and those people just rooting their hearts out and the love for what was Cincinnati basketball when I was here. Sixteen years is a long time.

“I love Cincinnati. I loved living here. I loved the people here. I walk in yesterday and so many of my guys are there. Nick (Van Exel) flies in from Houston. I had special guys. I had wonderful guys. I’ve got enough memories to last me a lifetime.”

For UC, it was a huge win to keep its NCAA Tournament hopes alive and maybe even bigger for Cronin as he tries to emerge from Huggins’ long shadow. Cronin played it right all week, being properly deferential to his mentor. Then he went out and beat him.

“I detest losing,” Huggins said. “I didn’t come back to my alma mater to play for sixth. You walk out there and you look and it says champions and there’s a whole bunch of them out there and that’s where we’ve got to get to. We’ve got to get to where we’re not happy until that’s what happening on a year-to-year basis. It’s all about an attitude and about expectations.”

So now maybe UC fans can finally put the hurt of Huggins’ dismissal behind them. Maybe they can move on and rally around the program the way they used to.

One thing’s for sure, though: The hurt that Huggins feels will never totally disappear.

“This is a special place,” Huggins said, “and it’s always going to have a special place in my heart.”

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll...innati.com

Quote:Cronin played it right all week, being properly deferential to his mentor. Then he went out and beat him.

. . . again.

(02-27-2009 01:21 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  

Quote:Cronin played it right all week, being properly deferential to his mentor. Then he went out and beat him.

. . . again.

I fully agree, Cronin handled this situation very well. He was even missing a starter, but the team found a way to win.

(02-27-2009 07:12 AM)Pressed_For_Success Wrote:  

(02-27-2009 01:21 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  

Quote:Cronin played it right all week, being properly deferential to his mentor. Then he went out and beat him.

. . . again.

I fully agree, Cronin handled this situation very well. He was even missing a starter, but the team found a way to win.

Basketball is all about match ups and WVU does not match up with UC well at all, even with the loss of Williams I wasn't worried. WVU cannot match UC on the interior.

Williams didn't play up to McD AA expectations prior to coming to UC and with his injury he hasn't emerged into what one could expect from a McD AA but he is a solid player that brings a lot in intangibles including leadership. His loss yesterday however was not a fatal one; losing Gates would have been.

Gates was the difference in the game.

And people still cast aspersions on Bob's loyalty.....(shakes head)....

(02-27-2009 09:04 AM)converrl Wrote:  And people still cast aspersions on Bob's loyalty.....(shakes head)....

Loyalty to the Uni? Name some people who have questioned his loyalty.

Bob's relationship and loyalty is with the people; the fans, the players, the UC employees with whom he worked, his Cincinnati area friends.

I can't help but believe he recognizes both, that it was his actions that placed him in jeopardy, and that he was "screwed" by the administration.

Hopefully this brings some closure for the Huggins fans (it did for me).

I've been negative on Cronin, but only because his teams didn't seem to improve. This year they have. He walked into a situation that was very bleak, and now has a team playing at the same level Huggins' team is playing. Huggins didn't walk into an empty program, although they aren't exactly his type of players. In the end, I think both coaches are very good at what they do, and I now have full faith in Cronin.

(02-27-2009 08:58 AM)Crewdogz Wrote:  

(02-27-2009 07:12 AM)Pressed_For_Success Wrote:  

(02-27-2009 01:21 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  

Quote:Cronin played it right all week, being properly deferential to his mentor. Then he went out and beat him.

. . . again.

I fully agree, Cronin handled this situation very well. He was even missing a starter, but the team found a way to win.

Basketball is all about match ups and WVU does not match up with UC well at all, even with the loss of Williams I wasn't worried. WVU cannot match UC on the interior.

Williams didn't play up to McD AA expectations prior to coming to UC and with his injury he hasn't emerged into what one could expect from a McD AA but he is a solid player that brings a lot in intangibles including leadership. His loss yesterday however was not a fatal one; losing Gates would have been.

Gates was the difference in the game.

It was great to see Gates finally take over in a big game, big-hype environment. He was a ghost against Xavier and I thought he got worked against UofL. Granted, he played great against Monroe and iirc played well against Harangody (but is that really a difficult task given how soft that kid is?) but IMO, neither of those games were as big, or as hyped, or as much in the media spotlight, or against as good of opponents, as X and UL. This game was the biggest of the year, with the largest spotlight and most hype........and Gates brought it with authority. As Musberger said, Gates was a "manchild". Which, I thought, was the best part of the night.

Bad matchup for WVU in the beginning...the line was a sucker bet...they have no one that can play with a good big man.

Huggins had very few players when he came in to WVU that played his style...he just never lowered the expectations or made excuses...as he did not do here in 1989...

I think Gates established himself as one of the premier big men in the country...if he wants to be...

Was glad to see the crowd cheer for UC after the game started...the media crap about all of the pro-WVU crowd was exactly that.

They may not have played his style, but he had a lot more talent to work with when he came in to WVU.

(02-27-2009 11:43 AM)mlb Wrote:  They may not have played his style, but he had a lot more talent to work with when he came in to WVU.

The "talent" such as Joe Alexander and the like...were developed by...guess who?...

The fact that he plays three freshmen, including a point guard who is not ready for this league, tells that story...

The guys he inherited he puts in places to succeed, unless thay miss wide open looks and shoot 33 percent...Ruoff, Wellington Smith, John Flowers...would never have been recruited.

True dat.

Gates came in with a double case of question marks (effort, motivation) and the nearly impossible task of living up to expectations given his potential.

Gates has improved incrementally throughout the year and effing amazingly silence his critics wrong on both accounts.

It wasn't exactly tough to see who the most talented player on the floor was last night. Maybe the fact that we have been snubbed and shat on by ESPN has been to our long term benefit. It has certainly delayed the ESPN/NBA hype circus reaching town. But that train is on its way my friends.

We need (and Gates needs) to stay for a couple years and realize his dominant player potential. If so he can leave like Kenyon, as a dead-cinch, mega dollar, lottery pick.

Jeeze, NVE. Lot of positive vibes in those 2 posts.

FWIW: CTrent just made an interesting point on air. Since being canned, Bob is 0-4 against teams from Cincinnati.

(02-27-2009 11:51 AM)Eastside_J Wrote:  True dat.

Gates came in with a double case of question marks (effort, motivation) and the nearly impossible task of living up to expectations given his potential.

Gates has improved incrementally throughout the year and effing amazingly silence his critics wrong on both accounts.

It wasn't exactly tough to see who the most talented player on the floor was last night. Maybe the fact that we have been snubbed and shat on by ESPN has been to our long term benefit. It has certainly delayed the ESPN/NBA hype circus reaching town. But that train is on its way my friends.

We need (and Gates needs) to stay for a couple years and realize his dominant player potential. If so he can leave like Kenyon, as a dead-cinch, mega dollar, lottery pick.

I agree...he needs to do that every night...he can lead this team far next season with Wright back.

Growing up here...I am sure the game was special to Yancey as well.

(02-27-2009 11:40 AM)NVExel Wrote:  Was glad to see the crowd cheer for UC after the game started...the media crap about all of the pro-WVU crowd was exactly that.

Yeah...that was just media non-sense. I heard Mark Amazon yesterday say (with I guess...it was radio, but he wasn't laughing) a straight face he expected around 30% to be rooting for WVU. As has been stated many times, these radio personalities must just say this stuff to get people going. I find it hard to believe he was stupid enough to believe what he was saying.

(02-27-2009 11:52 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  Jeeze, NVE. Lot of positive vibes in those 2 posts.

FWIW: CTrent just made an interesting point on air. Since being canned, Bob is 0-4 against teams from Cincinnati.

Positive vibes?

The last minute of that game was downright brutal...

The reaction (or non-reaction) to the 1-3-1 zone defense almost cost UC the game...

the difference in shooting percentage was 47-33 percent...check WVU's record when they don't shoot the ball...and most of the looks were uncontested...

Was not real impressed with either team...thought Huggins did a good job adjusting to Gates after he dominated the game...thought Cronin did a good job making his team pound the ball into him...

Honest...UC should have won by 10-15 points...

As I said before yesterday...UC NEEDS to win at the Carrier Dome.

How is that for sunshine?...

(02-27-2009 11:51 AM)Eastside_J Wrote:  Maybe the fact that we have been snubbed and shat on by ESPN has been to our long term benefit. It has certainly delayed the ESPN/NBA hype circus reaching town.

I wish it worked that way my friend, but believe me, they know who he is. Hopefully Yancy will have the sense to listen to people with his best interest at heart and not jump to the league before he is ready.

(02-27-2009 12:03 PM)NVExel Wrote:  The last minute of that game was downright brutal...

The reaction (or non-reaction) to the 1-3-1 zone defense almost cost UC the game...

So you are saying that Huggins and Cronin have the same issue... can't run an offense against a zone?

Quote:Honest...UC should have won by 10-15 points...

Well, you can blame bad FT shooting (9-22) and 3 T's on not reaching the 15 point win. If UC hits 6 more FT's, and only Cronin gets the T, then UC wins by 13. I'd say those 2 stats are the reason that UC didn't win by double digits...

Quote:As I said before yesterday...UC NEEDS to win at the Carrier Dome.

How is that for sunshine?...

Fully agree, UC has to win at the dome. Let's hope they can come out ready to play in a very hostile environment.

Huggins has beaten every team in the Big East in his career except for 2: UC and WVU.

(02-27-2009 12:21 PM)levydl Wrote:  Huggins has beaten every team in the Big East in his career except for 2: UC and WVU.

Mick has never beaten UC either; the Bearcats Rule!