Sean Kilpatrick Is Showing Why He Belongs In The NBA

Cincinnati alum Sean Kilpatrick once again scored double digit points, as his team, the Brooklyn Nets beat the best team in the East, the Cavilers, 104-95.

In the game before this Kilpatrick scored a career high 25 points against a pretty good Hornets team.  Kilpatrick was 4/5 from three point range.  In his last 10 games Kilpatrick is averaging 14.7 points a game.  This is all happening after Kilpatrick got called up from the D-League on February 28th. 

It broke our heart when we were all expecting to see Cincinnati's 1st all American since 2001 get drafted.  After sitting through two hours Kilpatrick did not hear his name. 

As a former Bearcat we all want Sean to succeed and all his hard work is finally paying off.  Kilpatrick was being bounced all around the D-League for the last two years. He went from the 76ers D league affiliate to Golden State.  All in all Kilpatrick had been with 6 different organizations in the past two years.

We all just wanted to see SK get his chance not just a 10 day contract where he would struggle to see the court at all.  After all, he was the D-League's leading scorer at 26.2 points a game.  It would all change on March 17th when Kilpatrick was offered a three year deal with Nets.  From ESPN here is how much Kilpatrick is looking at. "The rest of this season is prorated at $221,000 -- more than the minimum. Kilpatrick will get a fully guaranteed $980,000 minimum salary in 2016-17 and has a non-guaranteed salary of $1.05 million in 2017-18, which kicks in fully if he’s not waived by June 30, 2017."

Kilpatrick has developed into a very good three point shooter at 48 percent this year.  From ESPN here is what Kilpatrick's stats have looked like.

DATE	OPP	SCORE	MIN	FGM-FGA	FG%	3PM-3PA	3P%	FTM-FTA	FT%	REB	AST	BLK	STL	PF	TO	PTS
Thu 3/24	vs CLE	W 104-95	22	4-13	.308	0-6	.000	2-2	1.000	0	1	0	1	0	0	10
Tue 3/22	vs CHA	L 100-105	27	9-12	.750	4-5	.800	3-3	1.000	2	1	1	0	1	0	25
Sat 3/19	@ DET	L 103-115	21	5-8	.625	2-2	1.000	3-4	.750	2	0	0	0	2	1	15
Thu 3/17	@ CHI	L 102-118	21	3-7	.429	1-3	.333	5-6	.833	1	1	0	1	1	0	12
Tue 3/15	vs PHI	W 131-114	23	6-9	.667	3-4	.750	4-4	1.000	3	2	0	0	0	1	19
Sun 3/13	vs MIL	L 100-109	22	8-13	.615	3-6	.500	0-0	.000	1	1	0	0	2	1	19
Fri 3/11	@ PHI	L 89-95	24	4-7	.571	0-3	.000	2-2	1.000	3	0	0	0	2	2	10
Tue 3/8	@ TOR	L 99-104	15	3-7	.429	2-4	.500	0-0	.000	0	0	0	0	2	1	8
Sat 3/5	@ MIN	L 118-132	26	6-13	.462	3-5	.600	4-4	1.000	3	0	0	1	0	0	19
Fri 3/4	@ DEN	W 121-120	20	4-11	.364	2-5	.400	2-2	1.000	2	0	0	0	1	0	12
Tue 3/1	@ LAL	L 101-107	21	3-8	.375	2-4	.500	0-0	.000	1	1	0	0	2	0	8
March			22.0	5.1-9.5	.537	2.2-4.1	.537	2.3-2.5	.920	1.8	0.6	0.1	0.2	1.3	0.6	14.7

Cincinnati's best scorer ever (2nd to only Oscar Robertson) is making the city proud once again.  Who cares if Brooklyn flat out sucks.  I just wish his career could of ended better instead of an early exit in the NCAA Tournament with an upset loss to Harvard. 

Here Is Why Mick Cronin Isn't Leaving Cincinnati, Sorry UNLV Fans

Recently rumors have been swirling that Cincinnati head basketball coach Mick Cronin will be leaving for the UNLV job.  Not too say that this move can't happen, but I, in no possible way believe this will happen and here is why. (Keep in mind I could 100% Dead WRONG)

Cronin is connected to Cincinnati in too many ways.  Cronin grew up here and attended LaSalle High School.   Also Cronin is a Cincinnati alum and here is what his brother Dan, tweeted on Monday.
         
Keeneland Dan ‎@fatbaldguyracin

"The lure of your Alma Mater is big hell if Bethel College Tenn calls I would drop everything and take the job in 3 seconds pack in 10 min"

Next, Cronin's daughter is her in Cincinnati in which he has custody rights to.  Also I'm not sure if you really want to raise a child in Las Vegas because his daughter would be flying back to see her Mom... A LOT.

Cronin may be doing this to ensure a renovation to 5/3rd arena and just saying that he has other options.   Also, the Bearcats are on the verge of getting into the Big 12 conference and if that happens in the next couple of years (hopefully months) then Mick would have left for a Mountain West school...

Lastly, is this even a big step up.  UC and UNLV fans were arguing if this was a step up on twitter last night.  If you have to argue about it then is it really that big of a step?  By the way Cronin would be taking a pay cut.  From what I read in the Cincinnati Enquire a source told them that UNLV could go up to the 2 million mark if the had to.  Mick makes 2.2 at Cincinnati right now. 

I get it, Cronin and some fans do not get along and there are some situations where it is a good move for Cronin and UC to move on, but not right now.  I firmly think Cronin will be back coaching in the Queen City next year. 

5 Most Memorable UC Basketball Games This Year

This season probably wasn't what we wanted, but here are MY 5 most memorable games from this season.  Too bad that only one of these games resulted in a win....

5. Xavier L 65-55
I only put this on here because it was my first time ever going to a game at Cintas Center.  I did sit next to some really chill X fans but that was about it, the rest of the fans were all horrible.  We even got are seats taken, TWICE.  The best moment from this game was when UC opened the 2nd half on a 10-0 run to get the game to 42-36.  I remember the guys I was sitting with and I just going absolutely crazy.

4. Iowa State L 81-79
This was one of the loudest and biggest crowds I saw in 5/3rd for a long time.  Bearcats battled back to take the lead, but Iowa State who was ranked 11th at the time hit a three with 21 seconds to win. 

3. UConn (First Game) W 58-57
We all though UC was going to blow another late lead.   Bearcats trailed 57-53 with just 1:45 when Jacob Evans got a steal and a layup at the other end. Best moment was with 16 seconds left Gary Clark got an and-1 and made the free throw to put the 'Cats up 58-57.  UConn missed three shots on the final possession.

2. St. Joe's L 72-70
It is still so fresh in our minds.  Here was my full thoughts on the game here. The best moment had to be when Jacob Evans took the game over and gave UC a late lead. 

1. UConn L 104-97
This game will be remembered for a long time.  Best moment was KJ hitting a three with 0.8 seconds left to take the lead and we all know what happened next.  I've already sworn to never talk about it again...

Bearcats Heartbroken Again, My Thoughts On The Game

Well, it's over.  The season from hell has finally ended on a play everyone in Cincinnati could of predicted.  A two point loss with some heartbreak for an ending.  This was the Bearcats 6th two point loss of the year. 

Honestly, I'm not sure how I feel on this Saturday morning. I am mixed with shock, anger, and joy.  Shocked because I still don't believe what has happened this season.  Angry because; WHY US.  Why does it happen to us.  The joy is coming from knowing I get to watch the rest of the tournament.

I think we can all agree that this team was special.  We knew the ending and yet we still stood by and supported this team.  My heart almost broke when they had the camera on Octavious Ellis for a good 7 seconds as he began to cry.  Ellis may have not always of made the smartest decision, but he was are player and all of Cincy should be feeling a little sad. 

Say what you want about the clock, but the refs made the correct call.  However, Ellis was wacked in the damn head and......a no call.  I'm not going to harp on officiating.

Could anyone possible think of a worse way for a senior class to go out.  Losing on a 3/4 court shot and then thinking you made a great play to send it to overtime only to find out that your college career is over a couple minutes later. 

My first thought is that I can't wait for next year (But we said that last year).  Now we can put all our effort in rooting against Xavier. 

We'll all float on....till next time 'Cats fans.