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The Cincinnati Bearcats defeated the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes 82-74 on Sunday to improve to 25-4 on the year.
If you’re wondering what that has to do with Kentucky, you’re in the same boat as me. But Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin attempted to find a way to relate the two in a weird postgame press conference.
Cronin was asked about UC’s defense slipping recently, and had this to say:
Cronin response to DEFENSE slipping the last few games: "I don't know what people expect. I'm allowed to answer you however I want and I'm going to give you a stat. Kentucky, Indiana and Louisville this year combined for 32 losses. Tell me how long it's taken us to lose 32 games" pic.twitter.com/MBv9ERvWQ3
— Mark Slaughter (@MarkVSlaughter) February 25, 2018
I’m not really sure how to respond to that, or how there’s any correlation between how long it has taken one single team to have 32 losses compared to how long it’s taken three teams combined to have 32 losses, but I’ll do the math for Cronin.
From the start of the 2014-15 season, to this point in the 2017-18 season, Cincinnati has lost exactly 32 games. So, the answer to Cronin’s question is less than four years. It’s taken less than four years for Cincinnati to lose 32 games.
In that same less than four-year span, Kentucky has lost 24 games. Do with that what you will.
Also, Cronin has been to the Sweet 16 once in his coaching career. Indiana, Kentucky and Louisville have all been to the Sweet 16 or further multiple times since 2011.
That’s right, Cronin has as many trips to the Sweet 16 as Calipari has national championships. He’s also made it to the Round of 32 just four times, the same number of trips Kentucky has to the Final Four under Calipari.
(And for what it’s worth, Louisville has lost 36 games in that span, and Indiana has lost 52).