A FEW MO' THINGS, 12/28/12

Let's start with the Bearcats.

And since they won, we'll begin with football.

Of the bowl games UC has played since they started actually competing in bowl games on a regular basis, yesterday's was the best actual football game.

Or so it appeared.

Since I was handling UC hoops play-by-play, I didn't see much football, though as I bang this out, I am watching a replay of the win over Duke.

Still though, it looked like a pretty entertaining game, one that didn't exactly appear winnable as the Bearcats fumbled their way through a miserable first ten minutes, the early blows softened only by the fact that Duke football is kinda like Kansas City Royals baseball.  When you remember that they actually do have a team, you remember that they're really not that good.

I guess Duke hoops fans can be grateful that the Blue Devils football team provided them with something to watch when basketball wasn't o-, oh wait, I forgot....

Duke basketball fans will see their favorite football team play Alabama a week from Monday.  My bad.

Anyway, I'm not sure there's that much to dissect, and other than simply being happy for departing seniors and a fun team that had a good, if still slightly underwhelming season.

Belk Bowl wins are not the standard we want this football program to meet, but it ain't like Cincinnati's football history is littered with many postseason victory and double-digit win seasons.

Recent history however, is.

For the fifth time in six years, the Bearcats have won ten games.  And for the fifth time in seven bowl games, the Bearcats have returned to Cincinnati with the hardware.

New fans of the program might yawn at such things.  Followers who go back a little farther realize that this program has just capped off its best and most prolific stretch ever.

The question now becomes, if it hadn't already, what's next?  Cincinnati football is moving into a critical time.  With the conference situation still uncertain, and lingering questions about how much UC fans will invest in their program, Tommy Tuberville will have to, at worst, maintain what his predecessors have built. 

Actually, he'll probably have to do better.

Want people to invest in the newer, renovated Nippert?  Winning teams these next few seasons will be almost mandatory.  Want the school's football and athletic profiles raised all conferences look for their next school to poach?  Nothing short of what's become the norm, and probably something beyond, will be necessity.

Things will have to improve from 2012 - the offense must get more consistent and there has to be more stability at quarterback, and a number of very, very, good seniors will have to be replaced. 

Tommy Tuberville takes over a program where the standards are as high as they've ever been.  That's always a challenge for any coach moving into a new gig where winning has become the norm.  The problem is, he's only going to be a success if the standards get even higher.  And he'll have to do it during the most important, and perhaps difficult time in the history of the program. 

The job he moves into is enviable.  The task in front of him, perhaps not so much.

-What I stayed to watch, and was honored enough to call, was inevitable.

The Bearcat basketball team, much like me during my college years, has a scoring problem.

We knew going into the season that the Cats were going to be a guard-centric team, and that a lot of scoring would have to come from perimeter shots.  But even when they're falling, and UC did make 11 threes last night, someone, from somewhere, will have to deliver buckets.

Last night, no one else delivered buckets.

Cincinnati went 8 for 38 on two-point shots.  Given that few Bearcats have mid-range games (perhaps the most disappointing thing about Rubles is that he hasn't shown one), you don't need to be Ken Pom (a guy who might be the least fun guy to watch hoops with ever) to determine that UC is missing a ton of shots from within a few feet of the bucket.

That's been a problem for a few weeks, look no further than the Xavier win, but finally caught up to the Bearcats last night, in a winnable game against a very good team that UC held to just 55 points at home.

The question is, with guys with low offensive ceilings like Jackson and Mbodj, and with a team that has good players still prone to poor shooting nights (SK has missed 17 shots in two of the last three games), where will the offense come when the Bearcats need buckets from a big guy?

-Amateur Night New Year's Eve is coming.  Here's some tips.  Don't Be That Guy on Monday night.

-BENGALS v. RAVENS

Remember late September, when in an effort to drum up relevant Reds talk and ignite as the team steamrolled toward the playoffs, we had to have the silly "who would you rather play" discussion?

Or should I say when others had to have the silly "who would you rather play" discussion?

For the most part, I'm avoiding the same thing this week.

The Bengals will go on the road to play every game in the playoffs.  Their opponent (or hopefully, opponents) will be one of a handful of good, dangerous teams who've qualified for the postseason with records at least as good as theirs, and probably better.

Some match up better, others might play in more difficult environments, all would be difficult to beat, and the Bengals will have to be at their best to win next weekend.

Maybe winning this weekend would help.

Should the Bengals go all-out against Baltimore?  If they do and win the game while no one gets hurt?  Yes.  If they do and multiple Bengals suffer critical injuries, then no.

We've tried the "rest the guys and look ahead to the playoffs" thing here.  Didn't work.  And we've seen the Bengals lose the regular season finale when it meant something, back into the playoffs, and subsequently lose.

Needless to say, the Bengals under Marvin Lewis have never gone into the postseason with much momentum.

Will momentum matter next month?  No idea.

Would going into the playoffs with some momentum hurt?  No it wouldn't.

As long as no one gets hurt......

This team can make a run.  The same people who'll tell you they can't laughed at the idea of the Giants game signifying a turnaround, scoffed at the idea of a 5-5 team being in the hunt, wrote them off for good after the Dallas loss, and gave them no chance last Sunday against Pittsburgh.  We've got a good team here, and a team with a puncher's chance after they get their tenth win on Sunday.

Bengals 20 Ravens 17

-Do people still find this clown funny?  Interesting?  Anything other than extremely annoying?

On to week 17, or as Steelers fans are calling it, "the sorta playoffs."  Tampa Bay fans are starting to know what Rutgers fans knew all along about Greg Schiano.  Atlanta (-3.5) cruises past Tampa Bay....Bills. Jets.  The Battle Of Who Could Care Less, Part One.  Buffalo (-3.5) wins.....Three predictions for Bears/Lions: Calvin Johnson gets his 2,000 yards, some moron will claim that he's better than Jerry Rice, and Detroit (+3.5) will keep it close only to lose to Chicago....The Battle Of Who Could Care Less, Part Two.  Tennessee wins.  Jacksonville (+4.5) covers.  People who watch sink into deep depression....The Colts are good, and a nice, sentimental pick in the postseason.  But they're not as good as the Texans.  Yet.  Houston (-3.5) wins at Indy....Everyone else: "what character the Saints have shown, still having a chance at a .500 season."  Me:  "Screw the Saints, they sanctioned a program that put players at risk, got caught, and have spent the seasons acting like martyrs.  New Orleans (-4.5) gets their precious 8-8 season after beating Carolina....The Battle Of Who Could Care Less, Part Three.  Andy Reid is quitting, or something.  New York (-7.5) rolls Philly....Watching the Steelers and Browns play a regular season finale with as much meaning as a Ke$ha lyrics book has to make you happy, right?  Pittsburgh (-6.5) wins.  Cleveland loses. We point and laugh.....You've watched the NFL, right?  Denver (-15.5) hammers KC....I'm resisting temptation here, and I'll pick Green Bay (-3.5), barely, over Minnesota....The Bengals will play the Patriots next weekend after New England wins, but fails to cover this weekend, against Miami (+10.5)....What's next for Carson Palmer?  Does anyone care about him anymore?  San Diego (-4.5) beats Oakland. Bye Norv....Brian Hoyer.  LOL. San Fran (-14.5 pounds Arizona....A Bengals/Seahawks Super Bowl could happen.  Don't laugh.  Hard.  Seattle wins.  St. Louis (+10.5) covers....Unlike the game on Thanksgiving, Cowboys/Redskins Part Two will be fun to watch, and Washington (-3.5) will get a win, and a division title, over Dallas.

-The radio show is back on Monday.  Enjoy the last weekend of the year. 2012 happened.  This guy made an annoying video about it.  I decided to put it on my blog.  You'll watch.