Bearcatlair.com headline:

[BigTime]

Mick Cronin: We are decided underdogs. Can't read the article because it is premium, but what do you think about that statement.

Decided underdogs? Really? Sounds like a coach sandbagging in case of a lose to me.

I think Cincinatti SHOULD win this game. It is being played less than 5 miles from their home court.

Thoughts?

 

[BigTime]

-UC has won 16 consecutive games at US Bank Arena since the opening round of the 2002 C-USA Tournament. The Bearcats last lost at U.S. Bank Arena came in a 70-55 setback to Temple (1/16/97).

US Bank Arena is where the Sooners and Bearcats are playing tomorrow night.

 

[sperry]

They are still without several frontcourt players, correct? I think OU wins by double digits.

 

[sooner333]

If by decided underdogs, they mean 4.5 point favorites, then yes.

 

[seniorsooner]

They aren't underdogs, that is silly. We are going to have to play our best game of the year to win. Cincy is actually playing better since they sent their goons to the box for 6 games.

 

[sperry]

They aren't underdogs, that is silly. We are going to have to play our best game of the year to win. Cincy is actually playing better since they sent their goons to the box for 6 games.

They have been playing the absolute bottom of the division 1 barrel since the suspensions. Their last 3 opponents have a combined 4 wins.

 

[AdaSooner]

Cronin is doing everything he can to get his players ready to play. He can't possibly believe the Bearcats are a "decided underdog."

I said right after the suspensions that this is a trap game for OU, and that Cincy's eligible players will come out fighting like a mother Grizzly defending her cubs. I believe that even more now. Weak opponents or not, Cronin has his players performing at a high level right now. If OU finds a way to win, it will be a major accomplishment and one more feather in Kruger's coaching cap.

 

[Delta Sooner]

That 4.5 has quickly gone to 6, according to http://scoresandodds.com/ .

 

[seniorsooner]

This game is going to tell a lot about where we are going into conference play. If we go up there and aren't really competitive, we definitely need to temper our expectations for the rest of the season.

 

[scrybe]

This game is going to tell a lot about where we are going into conference play. If we go up there and aren't really competitive, we definitely need to temper our expectations for the rest of the season.

I believe we should temper our expectations even if we beat Cincinatti. The Bearcats are not even close to being as good as the top three or four teams in the Big 12, so a win there would not compare to a victory over teams like Kansas or Missouri.

It would, however, be great – and should do wonders for our team's confidence as we get ready for the start of Big 12 play.

And I do believe we're a better team than the Bearcats.

 

[garyeb2]

This game is going to tell a lot about where we are going into conference play. If we go up there and aren't really competitive, we definitely need to temper our expectations for the rest of the season.

I think that is a fair statement to make. I would like to add to it. The schedule to this point has been really soft. But, OU has won the games they should have won. The confusing thing is that they have looked pretty good winning those games.

If they play tonight and Cincy is obviously the best team, I would think that the confernce result wouldn't be much better than 6-12. If the game is competitive, OU might be a 8-10 type team. If OU is obviously the best, then 9-9, 10-8 seems possible.

 

[Kewllane]

http://realtimerpi.com/rpi_149_Men.html
This RPI website projects the season for each team and it is updated every morning. Schedule looks about right to me except for switching losing to Kansas at home and beating OSU on the road in games 2 and 3 of conference play. But that still leaves the same record in the end.

 

[stoopified]

The Bearcats lost earlier this year to Marshall,Robert Goff had 11 points,6 boards and 2 assists for the Herd.