BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: CINCINNATI

March 13, 2007



COMMITMENT ALERT: Alvin Mitchell (G/F) Ft. Lauderdale, FL (Cardinal Gibbons High School)

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that Mick Cronin has landed his 5th recruit for the 2007 class as UC Lands High Scoring Guard when Alvin Mitchell chose the Bearcats.

Projected 2007-2008 Roster:

Seniors: John Williamson (F), Marvin Gentry (G), Jamaul Warren (G), Tim Crowell (PG), Marcus Sikes (BF), Adam Hrycaniuk (PF/C)
Juniors: Mike Williams (PF)
Sophomores: Deonta Vaughn (PG)
Freshmen: Larry Davis (SG), Rashad Bishop (G/F), Kenny Belton (F/C), Jason Henry (F), Alvin Mitchell (G/F)
Early 2008 Commitment: Darnell Wilks (F)
Early 2009 Commitment: Danny McElroy (F)



Read More...Click 'Read More' Below!!!



With their last available scholarship at the moment, Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin went south and plucked 6'4 scoring guard Alvin Mitchell from Fort Lauderdale, Florida's Cardinal Gibbons HS to add some significant scoring bunch to the future Bearcats attack. Mitchell is a strong athlete that packs some bunch in his 6'4 frame. He gets his points in a variety of athletic ways and plays hard on both ends of the court. With his athletic ability, Mitchell can make an early impact in the Big East, but improving his perimeter skills will dictate how good he becomes in the future. Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, Rutgers and St. John's were other programs involved with Mitchell in the process. He visited the Bearcats in January for their win over West Virginia and felt he had the opportunity to play early in one of the top conferences and that was the thing he was looking for.


A class of Mitchell, Jason Henry, Larry Davis, Rashad Bishop and Kenny Belton is a solid group that will matriculate into the Bearcat program next season and join eligible transfers Mike Williams and Adam Hrycaniuk to give the UC program a much needed lift in depth and talent. Mick Cronin has a big job ahead of him in the ultra-competitve Big East, but he is certain to be out there working hard to get things done. This season Cincinnati debuted under Cronin with six new players, all likely to return next season, when they will add seven new players to the mix. Again, it will take some time for this group to assimilate with each other, but there is a solid core of athletes to begin building the program back up. Although the roster is currently full, the Bearcats are still recruiting 7'0 Anthony McClain in case an opportunity presents itself to add another player for 2007.




A great resource on UC recruiting can be found at Bearcat News.

BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: Cincinnati @ West Virginia

March 3, 2007



In order for West Virginia to keep any hope for a bid to the NCAA Tournament they must win on Saturday. It probably will not be as easy as one thinks seeing that the Mountaineers have already dropped one to Cincinnati, losing in OT on the road back in January. That was the lone Bearcat Big East win until Wednesday when they edged Seton Hall in overtime.

The Mountaineers have seen their 3-pters fall with less regularity of late, but they will need to begin to crank them back up on Saturday, hopefully led by senior Frank Young who is playing his last regular season game in the Coliseum. The 1-3-1 zone defense will likely give Cincinnati some trouble taking care of the ball, but in the 1st meeting the Bearcats shredded the defense with their athletic ability down the stretch when WVU could not stop Cincinnati at all.

However, getting back home should help the WVU shooting efforts. Look for Young to lead the way and others to start to find their range just in time to help WVU pull away late with their shooting.

NEB Blogger Prediction: West Virginia 73 Cincinnati 63