UC's Mick Cronin out for rest of season

University of Cincinnati men's basketball coach Mick Cronin was remarkably upbeat Friday, despite the announcement that Cronin will not coach another game this season.

Cronin will not direct his team in games or practices for the rest of the 2014-15 season for health reasons, UC announced at a press conference which Cronin attended. The event was standing-room-only in UC's Fifth Third Arena media room, including most of Cincinnati's major media outlets and various website reporters.

The 43-year-old Cronin will stay with his team in an advisory role that includes directing the coaching staff, game planning and recruiting. Associate head coach Larry Davis will continue leading the Bearcats during Cronin's absence.

UC announced Dec. 20 that Cronin had a brain aneurysm, and the coach has missed three games since. Friday, the update from UC on Cronin's condition was that he has a non-life threatening vascular condition known as arterial dissection. His treatment and recovery includes rest, medication and keeping a normal blood pressure.

"I feel great," Cronin said. "The way I look at it, I'm extremely lucky. Unfortunately, the word 'aneurysm' maybe scared some people a few weeks ago. Obviously time was of the essence, trying to figure out, should I be coaching a game? Was I in any danger? Once we ascertained that, I was shut down from coaching to try to make sure my blood pressure was under control."

Cronin's condition was discovered in mid-December during a routine workup scheduled after a complaint of lingering headaches. He has missed three games since, with UC going 2-1 under Davis.

"I'm not going to an island for the next three months," Cronin said. "I've been at work every day since the 26th (of December)."

Cronin has a 169-110 record in his ninth year as UC coach, and the Bearcats have reached the NCAA tournament in each of the last four seasons. Cronin has continued to view this year's games on television.

"Watching the game is my biggest problem," Cronin said jokingly. "I'm not a brain surgeon, but I've been hanging out with them."

On a serious note, Cronin said:

"I've got to be smart. I know you're going to ask what caused it, and they don't know. The way I look at it, I'm extremely lucky. It's not going to be easy (not coaching), but we've got a great young team that's going to continue to develop. This is obviously a little unusual, but it could be worse."

Cronin said he will be re-evaluated in about three months, with a goal of 100 percent health.

"If I follow orders, there's a high chance that I'll be onward and upward, won't ever have to deal with it again the rest of my life," Cronin said. "I've got to be smart enough to listen."

The longterm outlook is positive, Cronin's doctors say.

"The prognosis is excellent," UC Health Director of Neurosurgery Dr. Norberto Andaluz said in a statement.

"We are optimistic in this case," Dr. Mario Zuccarello, chair of the UC Health department of neurosurgery, said in a statement. "Coach Cronin's career is not jeopardized by this condition and we all look forward to seeing him back on the court next season and enjoying a successful career thereafter."

UC (9-3 overall) next plays Southern Methodist on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Fifth Third Arena in the American Athletic Conference season opener for UC. SMU (10-3 overall) is 1-0 in AAC play. In the AAC preseason coaches poll, SMU was voted to finish second and UC fourth.

After Cronin spoke Friday, Davis took the podium at the press conference. Davis mentioned the challenges UC's staff has faced, including their early years together. Cronin and his staff undertook a major rebuild after UC coaches Bob Huggins and Andy Kennedy departed.

"He'll overcome it," Davis said of Cronin. "He's used to fighting the fight."

UC did not make its players available for media interviews Friday. The players will be available for comment after the SMU game on Saturday, UC spokesman Andre Foushee said.

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WHAT IS ARTERIAL DISSECTION?

According to UC, basketball coach Mick Cronin has, "A non-life threatening vascular condition known as arterial dissection."

In medical terms, a carotid artery dissection is, "A separation of the layers of the artery wall supplying oxygen-bearing blood to the head and brain and is the most common cause of stroke in young adults."

According to the Cleveland Clinic:

"Sometimes a stroke is the first sign of carotid artery dissection and emergency treatment is required. More commonly, symptoms develop over a period of hours or days, even in patients who have traumatic injuries. Symptoms are general rather than specific and include headache, neck and face pain (especially pain around the eyes), vision disturbances such as double vision or a droopy eyelid, a sudden decrease in sense of taste and weakness on one side of the body.

Stroke can develop hours, days or even a week after these symptoms begin. This is the most serious risk of carotid artery dissection."

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