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Cincinnati Basketball: Top 10 Players to Play for Head Coach Mick Cronin

By Tristan Freeman

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KY - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Mick Cronin of the Cincinnati Bearcats gestures from the sideline during a game against the Memphis Tigers at BB
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KY - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Mick Cronin of the Cincinnati Bearcats gestures from the sideline during a game against the Memphis Tigers at BB /
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SACRAMENTO, CA – MARCH 17: Troy Caupain #10 of the Cincinnati Bearcats is pursued by Kamau Stokes #3 of the Kansas State Wildcats during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Golden 1 Center on March 17, 2017 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA – MARCH 17: Troy Caupain #10 of the Cincinnati Bearcats is pursued by Kamau Stokes #3 of the Kansas State Wildcats during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Golden 1 Center on March 17, 2017 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

3. Deonta Vaughn – Cincinnati Bearcats (2007-2010)

Career stats: 14.6 ppg 3.5 rpg 4.0 apg

Cincinnati was going through some tough times as a program between 2006-2010 and Big East Basketball was unforgiving to them. In a couple of years, the only thing keeping them from falling completely flat was Vaughn, who was one of the best scorers in the league.

He had his best season his sophomore year where he averaged 17.3 ppg and 4.2 apg, one of two players who scored more than 6.4 ppg. Vaughn simply didn’t have enough depth in both the backcourt and frontcourt to keep Cincinnati near the top of the league. But he was good enough to keep Cronin from really being on the hot seat.

2. Troy Caupain – Cincinnati Bearcats (2014-2017)

Career stats: 9.6 ppg 3.6 rpg 3.8 apg

On paper, it doesn’t seem like Caupain was the greatest point guard in the world. But what can’t be accounted for is his leadership and tenacity on defense. In the last few seasons, the Bearcats have become one of the best team defenses in the country, with Caupain having a big part to do with it.

He’s the all-time assist leader in Cincinnati school history, even with only three seasons as a starter. He spent his first year playing behind the No. 1 player, learning from him and excelling.

1. Sean Kilpatrick – Cincinnati Bearcats (2011-2014)

Career stats: 15.3 ppg 4.3 rpg 2.0 apg

After serving as a sixth man his freshman year, Kilpatrick became one of the best scorers in school history, second to only the legendary Oscar Robertson in total points in a career. The scoring production went from 9.7 all the way to 20.6 ppg his senior season, leading the team to a 27-7 record in the inaugural year in the AAC. He also became the first All-American coached by Cronin himself.

Next: Ranking the current statuses of the old Big East teams

Kilpatrick was one of the players to lead the Bearcats to their consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament while helping develop Caupain to become the next great Cincinnati basketball player. Cronin has benefitted nicely from having players being able to take over when a star is leaving. So who’ll be next in the 2019 season?

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