Mick Cronin has the Bearcats right where they should always be; on top. Back-to-back AAC champions, and they were both so sweet A determined Cincinnati team showed up today, and Jarron Cumberland led the charge.
Make that ???? ? ???? @American_MBB Tourney ??????!#Bearcats | #AmericanHoops pic.twitter.com/MgcwHkvRPc
— Cincinnati Men’s Hoops (@GoBearcatsMBB) March 17, 2019
Cumberland Show
It is truly Cumberlands world and we are all living it. His 33 points led the team, and broke the record for most points in an AAC title game. Jarron Cumberland shot 13 free throws, and made ten, just one less than the entire Houston team. The AAC player of the year averaged almost a point per minute, and outscored Houston’s 2 leading scorers… combined. Cumberland went on to win the MVP, following Gary Clark’s ways of last season.
✔️ Player of the Year
✔️ Most pts in an @American_MBB Championship title game
✔️ AAC Tournament MVP
✔️ Leaving no question who’s the best #Bearcats | #AmericanHoops pic.twitter.com/dyAFBiUDtu— Cincinnati Men’s Hoops (@GoBearcatsMBB) March 17, 2019
The supporting cast was phenomenal as well. Broome played a great game, scoring 15 points off the bench. Cane Broome also shot 3/5 from deep, while hitting some big shots to extend the lead. Trevon Scott and Nysier Brooks worked hard down low, hauling in 15 combined rebounds. Everyone showed great effort and will to win, resulting in the double-digit victory.
A Dynasty?
Cincinnati is underrated on a national level year in and year out. The stats show the success this program has had since the beginning, especially this decade.
- 10 straight 20+ win seasons
- Two 30+ win seasons in the past 3 years (chance to be 3 in March Madness)
- Nine straight NCAA tournament appearances
- Nine of last ten seasons ranked in the AP Poll
- Two national championships
- Six Final Four appearances
- Six straight years finishing top 12 in total defense in the NCAA (one of two teams)
- Three straight AAC title appearances, two straight wins
Cronin has this program at an elite level every single year. The program is nearing its prime, and every year this team seems to be contenders for the conference. The final step is to compete on the national level yearly, and this could become a true dynasty like the 1950s UC teams.
Recap
Cincinnati’s win over Houston was near perfect. A 12 point victory as underdogs that featured great basketball on both offense and defense. Cincinnati gets the March Madness auto-bid for the AAC, which was not needed. UC was projected a 7 seed with a loss, and they won, leading to them getting a 7 seed? I am uncertain wether the committee took this game into account. A 7 seed is manageable, however, as Cincinnati will play the Iowa Hawkeyes in Columbus, OH, a prime location. If the Bearcats come out with the passion they had against Houston, the nation needs to be on watch.
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