OT: Cincinnati BKB HC Mick Cronin on the Cincy / Xavier BKB Fight today
Xavier routed Cincy and with :09 left in the game on an OOB play, a major melee broke out and punches landed. Mick Cronin showed what a leader of men should do in the post game interview.
On the fight itself:
"There is no excuse for any of it. On our side, on their side, guys need to grow up. I'm not blaming anybody. From our standpoint, we accept full responsiblility and it will be handled. There is zero excuse for that in basketball. You gotta learn how to win, on one side, and you gotta learn how to lose on the other side."
"The world don't revolve around them, around basketball."
"It's a prime example of guys thinking they're too important, and I'm talking about everyone involved."
"That whole scene is embarrassing. It's a complete embarrassment."
On possible punishment:
"I will meet with my AD and my president, and I will decide who's on the team going forward. I've never been this embarrassed. We represent an institution of higher learning. It's way more important than basketball games." "And whoever puts their jersey back on — I made everybody take their jersey off, and they will not put it on again until they have a full understanding of where they go to school, and what the university stands for, and how lucky they are to even be there, let alone have a scholarship, 'cause there's a whole lot of kids that can't pay for college."
"They're all sittin' in there with no jersey on. Some of 'em, I physically took 'em off."
"At the end of the day, if (a suspension) has to happen, to answer your question, that's a shame, if you have to not play a game because of something like that."
"(Cincinnati's AD and president) don't have to worry about me doing the right thing, and the program standing for certain things. And that might not be as sexy as some people want it."
On toughness:
"Toughness is doing the right thing in life. We talk about -- that's what we talk about. So if that's the case, you're being provoked, or this or that true toughness, you walk away. You take your ass-whipping and you go home. And you get better."
"Certain people want to act a certain way? That's on them."
Mick Cronin also said he hoped he still had a job when he got back to campus. Even though it happened, I thought Cronin's take on responsbility for his team's actions was laudable.
December 10th, 2011 at 8:26 PM ^
December 10th, 2011 at 8:28 PM ^
He said all the right things, and I believe that he means them. I don't know if Brady Hoke could have said it better.
(yes I do. Brady Hoke owns public speaking)
December 10th, 2011 at 8:31 PM ^
I read this gem on ESPN.com
"That's what you're going to see from Xavier and Cincinnati," Holloway said. "We got disrespected a little bit before the game, guys calling us out. We're a tougher team. We're grown men over here. We've got a whole bunch of gangsters in the locker room -- not thugs, but tough guys on the court. And we went out there and zipped them up at the end of the game."
Awesome.
December 10th, 2011 at 9:44 PM ^
I must have missed the part where he explained why grown men needed to fight over a game.
December 10th, 2011 at 9:44 PM ^
is that XU plays a really physical game, which it does as evidenced today. Was the word choice the greatest? Absolutely not but that's what I got out of it. No excuse for all the fighting, even though it's one of the biggest rivalries in college bball.
December 11th, 2011 at 12:50 AM ^
nevermind
December 11th, 2011 at 11:14 AM ^
Poor choice of words? That kid is ignorant. You want to keep it real or be a gangsta? Go to Rucker park or any other play ground court for that matter. They made an extremely stupid choice and then he followed it up with more stupidity. The fight was heat of the moment, his response shows he is just plain ignorant. I hope a strong message is sent to all involved.
December 10th, 2011 at 8:32 PM ^
That's great on his part. Now let's see if his actions match his words. Even if the AD doesn't suspend some players, the coach always has the ability to decide who plays. If he benches a couple players for 2-3 games, that should get their attention. If not, then those players don't belong at any self-respecting D-1 school.
December 10th, 2011 at 8:34 PM ^
Yep. Pretty embarassed to have that display as a representation of the rivalry and of UC. Extremely poor decisions.
Also, Cincinnati, two cs, three ns, one t.
December 10th, 2011 at 8:36 PM ^
That didn't look right! Forgive me all for poor title spelling!
December 10th, 2011 at 8:35 PM ^
Yancy Gates has been kind of a disappointment and now this is the icing on the cake. I'm guessing he'll miss 10 to 15 games.
Nevertheless, it looked to me like X started it at the end of the half and with 9 seconds left. No excuse for UC's behavior but still.
December 10th, 2011 at 8:39 PM ^
December 10th, 2011 at 9:03 PM ^
I feel that Cronin most definitely has handled this situation with class. Being at the Cintas and seeing all this live, I find that MSU and UC have a lot in common in terms of the players . Don't get me wrong, both teams are at fault (Holloway for taunting a Bearcat at the end of the game) and I can understand why X returned some of those punches. That sucker punch by Yancy was inexcusable...unfortunate situation for both teams. Big win for X and worth camping out in absolutely freezing conditions.
December 10th, 2011 at 11:12 PM ^
I totally agree, definitely an unfortunate situation. That being said, Go Flyers!
December 11th, 2011 at 11:26 AM ^
But I must admit after losses to Buffalo and Murray State that beating Alabama was impressive. Go Muskies!
December 10th, 2011 at 9:08 PM ^
December 10th, 2011 at 9:22 PM ^
December 10th, 2011 at 9:41 PM ^
I gotta think that #34 from Cincy is done. He threw the punch and he looked like he lost his mind out there. I think if Cronin is serious then that guy is packing his bags right now.
December 10th, 2011 at 9:50 PM ^
Wow, if only this had been Dantonio's reaction after the Ski-Mask incident
December 10th, 2011 at 9:50 PM ^
December 11th, 2011 at 12:15 AM ^
of Denard vs MSU. Denard showed his toughness by walking away with a smile after he was provoked all Fay by MSU (cheap)defensive play.
December 10th, 2011 at 9:55 PM ^
The whole thing is a good listen:
http://www.gobearcats.com/allaccess/
Click on Mick Cronin press conference (obviously)
December 10th, 2011 at 10:02 PM ^
but when you're taunting all game, what do you expect? xavier acting like UC's lil bro.
December 10th, 2011 at 10:53 PM ^
...For UC to act like the older brother?
December 10th, 2011 at 11:36 PM ^
Bad analogy on my part. I meant that Xavier over time has not compared to UC's talent level. Now that they are and UC has been down, Xavier doesn't know how to act. UC will never play a big bro role, like UM. But Xavier will always be a second thought when it comes to bball in cincy.
December 11th, 2011 at 12:50 AM ^
when they've won 4 out of the last 5 as well as 8 of the last 12 Shootouts? This rivalry has been all Xavier since the 00s, and I'm pretty sure Xavier has exceeded UC in the last 5 years (3 straight Sweet 16 berths, 1 Elite 8, recruiting). Xavier is clearly the best college bball program in Cinci right now, perhaps Ohio.
December 11th, 2011 at 9:07 AM ^
An argument that was unanimously and rightfully rejected on this forum when it was used by apologists for Tom Gholson.
December 10th, 2011 at 10:10 PM ^
I'll praise him if he actually comes through on his promises. Gates should be done at Cincinnati.
December 10th, 2011 at 10:16 PM ^
Great response by the coach. and that one kid got clocked at the end though. basketball would be more fun to watch if they let guys go like in hockey.
December 10th, 2011 at 10:19 PM ^
to see our boys in a fight, but man I love a good brawl.
December 10th, 2011 at 10:27 PM ^
but I read that xavier was just as dirty as UC only difference is they did not get the knockout blow. Also heard a Xavier player punched a UC coach.
December 10th, 2011 at 11:15 PM ^
This is pretty much the opposite of what we've seen with recent situations at Ohio and MSU. They could both learn a thing or two...
December 10th, 2011 at 11:34 PM ^
Watch the brawl after the dude gets dropped. Some little white Xavier player comes from the opposite side of the court and some scrawny UC guard just goes right after him before he can get to the pack. Its hilarious... like he was just waiting to pick off the smallest guy. lol
December 10th, 2011 at 11:52 PM ^
that would be Brad Redford of Frankenmuth fame. I laughed when I saw him try to get involved. he would have been the likely guy to get knocked out cold with a glandcing blow.
At the end of the video you can see some X guys throwing bombs at a guy in a suit.
December 11th, 2011 at 12:21 AM ^
It takes a real man to swing at someone who's not even looking at you. I hope the coach really has the balls to do what he says.
December 11th, 2011 at 7:20 AM ^
has just ruled that they will let both teams have extra players and coaches until it gets worked out...O wait,wrong ohio school ..
December 11th, 2011 at 8:34 AM ^
I"m guessing Yancy Gates doesn't play the rest of the year for Cincinnati. Since he is a senior, that is the same as getting kicked off the team.
December 11th, 2011 at 10:15 AM ^
I know Cincinnati was also the drunk/fighting mascot school. I am trying to think of other incidents besides Huggins puking on a cop.
December 11th, 2011 at 3:42 PM ^
What happened to accountability, Mick? Take all I said about his character back.