No. 18 Cincinnati can deliver 300th to Cronin (Feb 18, 2017)
CINCINNATI -- University of Cincinnati basketball coach Mick Cronin won't allow people to make 300 career wins about him. But, considering the condition of the program when he took over in 2006, perhaps more people should.
With a win on Saturday against Tulsa, No. 18 Cincinnati (23-2, 12-1 AAC) will give Cronin his 300th career win and 231st since taking over a program in shambles following the unceremonious ouster of Bob Huggins and abrupt departure of Huggins' successors.
Cronin has guided the Bearcats to six straight NCAA Tournament appearances after beginning his career at Cincinnati with two losing seasons.
Still, don't expect Cronin to pat himself on the back. He chooses instead to credit the players and assistant coaches who helped him along the way.
"I don't really think about stuff like that," Cronin said of reaching 300. "I'm interested in our 24th win. We're having a great season. I want to make it all about them."
Following seven years as an assistant at Cincinnati and Louisville, Cronin went 69-24 in three seasons as head coach at Murray State, including a NCAA Tournament appearance in 2005.
Cronin is sitting on 299 career wins with his Bearcats set to face Tulsa (12-13, 6-7 AAC), which has lost five straight. The Golden Hurricane took the Bearcats to the brink in a 57-55 loss on Feb. 1.
Tulsa led by 11 points with six minutes left, but Cincinnati roared back in the closing minutes. Troy Caupain's 10-foot jumper with four seconds remaining was the game-winner.
"Their quickness to the rim hurt us," said Cronin of the first meeting. "We gave up too many easy layups. It was a learning experience. We've got to do a much better defensively against."
Tulsa's losing streak is its longest since 2004. In this stretch, the Golden Hurricane is shooting just 35.5 percent from the field and 32.7 from 3-point range while averaging just 53.8 points.
The Hurricane have received a boost lately from true freshman Martins Igbanu, who was inserted into the starting lineup six games ago after starting just four games previously. In his last six starts, Igbanu has averaged 8.3 points and 4.2 rebounds.
Cincinnati also has received solid contributions from a freshman.
Guard Jarron Cumberland is averaging 7.5 points off the bench, but he's stepped up in some of the biggest games of the year, including 15 points in a win over crosstown rival Xavier. He's shooting 39 percent from 3-point range and continues to improve at both ends of the floor.
Bearcats junior forward Kyle Washington was named to the AAC weekly honor roll after averaging 12.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks. On Wednesday at South Florida, Washington had 13 points and nine rebounds to help Cincinnati rebound from a loss at SMU.
Cincinnati leads the all-time series versus Tulsa 24-11, including a 14-2 mark at home. The Bearcats have won 23 straight games at Fifth Third Arena.
Whether he likes it or not, a win on Saturday will be a coronation of Cronin's head coaching career. With plenty left for his team to accomplish come March, Cronin will do his best to keep things in perspective.
"It makes it easier to coach at this level if you stay grounded to the reality," Cronin said. "Most of these kids are going to play professionally, not in the NBA, but other places. Life is still more important than basketball."
