Mick Cronin will miss Cincinnati's game due to unruptured aneurysm

Mick Cronin wasn't in his usual spot on the bench Saturday afternoon against VCU.

The Cincinnati coach missed his team's ugly 68-47 loss after doctors discovered he has an unruptured aneurysm. Cronin had asked for a routine check-up because he had been experiencing lingering headaches.

"Thank you to everyone for your concern, prayers, and support. I am ok. I am very fortunate to have such great friends and family," Cronin tweeted just before tip-off. "I want everyone to know I am going to be ok!! I just can't coach for precautionary reasons with my medical condition.

"Obviously not coaching was a tough pill to swallow, but as a teacher I ask my players to be smart and make the right decisions. To listen to the people that know what's best for you. It is time for me to listen now, to my Doctors and follow their game plan. I hope to be back ASAP but that will not be my call. As I love to say "I am always day to day." so that really applies now."

Cronin is not expected to return to the bench until he undergoes further testing next week. Associate head coach Larry Davis filled in Saturday and will continue to do so as long as Cronin is absent.

Cronin, now in his ninth season as Cincinnati's head coach, has taken the Bearcats to the NCAA tournament each of the past four years and reached the Sweet 16 in 2012. His team entered play Saturday with a 7-2 record and momentum after posting its biggest win of the season earlier this week against San Diego State.

That didn't carry over Saturday because Cincinnati couldn't solve VCU's Havoc defense, nor could the Bearcats get a hand in the face of the Rams' array of outside shooters. The Rams forced 15 turnovers and buried 15 of 31 threes, four apiece from Treveon Graham and Melvin Johnson.

Nonetheless, Cincinnati's poor performance was understandable given concern over Cronin.

"The most important factor here is Mick's health, which is bigger than any game," Director of Athletics Mike Bohn said. "We will support him and his family to the fullest extent and want Mick to be our coach for a long time. We have faith in Larry Davis and our outstanding coaches and support staff to lead the program today. We are blessed to have an outstanding medical team here at UC and thank them for their efforts."