Assuming a 29.5-inch NCAA basketball fits into a 56.5-inch circular rim at the CU Events Center in Boulder, the University of Cincinnati men’s basketball team should have the one of its best opportunities to earn a victory in the Big 12.
Of course, with Big 12 numbers looking like they were drawn on the sidelines of county fairs, this won’t be handed to them. from Colorado Buffaloes are also 0-4 in this highly competitive league and probably won’t shake against a team that has scored 88 points in its last two games.
“There’s a lid on right now,” UC coach Wes Miller said of the scoring woes. “It will happen. It always does. We have good players, it will definitely happen. They will find their rhythm, their feeling and their fluidity. I believe in it.”
Cincinnati Bearcats Weaknesses
Although the Bearcats held No. 11 Kansas to a season-low 54 points and had several leads, they were outscored 16-3 down the stretch and finished with just 40 points, tying a low set in 1993 when No. 9 Bob Huggins’ Bearcats beat UAB 40-38 when there was a 45-second shot clock.
Pre-shot clock, Gale Catlett’s Bearcats were held to 38 in a 1978 loss to Georgia Tech in the Metro Conference tournament at Riverfront Coliseum. In this same building, Louisville held Tony Yates’ Bearcats to 37 in 1984. Ed Badger’s Bearcats were held to 31 by Louisville in the 1981 Metro Tournament. In the infamous “stall” game against the n #2 Kentucky (also at the Coliseum/now Heritage Bank Center), UC lost to the Big Blue 24-11.
The Buffaloes can be dangerous. They then defeated the No. 2 Connecticut in Maui 73-72 and nearly eliminated UCF in Orlando, losing 75-74. On Sunday, they came back from 11 points down at halftime to close the gap on No. 21 West Virginia, but the Mountaineers pulled away late to win 78-70. Based on the Buffaloes’ current standings, a UC win in Boulder would be good, but it would be a Quad 2 triumph.
3 keys for Cincinnati Bearcats basketball to win against the Colorado Buffaloes
1. Cincinnati Bearcats shooters have to shoot, shots have to fall
Of course, this isn’t a scientific diagnosis, but UC’s shooting ability has declined significantly since the start of Big 12 play. They’re shooting 36 percent from the field, 26 percent from three-point range and at 52% from the free throw line. Dan Skillings is the only Bearcat averaging double figures and shooting a solid 12 of 25 from 3-point range. In contrast, starters Simas Lukošius and Jizzle James are a combined 2 of 24 from deep, averaging five and six points over the four games.
“You tell them to keep shooting,” Miller said. “Keep shooting the ball. We believe in our guys.”
UC’s third-leading scorer in Big 12 games is Day Day Thomas, who comes off the bench and scores just 6.5 points, but he’s 4 of 13 from three.
2. One way or another, unified communications must make a clean slate
Although January was a nightmare, the Bearcats need to regain the confidence they had when they beat Ohio State in an exhibition in October. This team looked like a wire-to-wire Top 25 team instead of one that has been rejected by the polls in recent weeks. It’s hard not to hear the boos during a tough time, but it should be used as motivation to right the ship.
“We’re humans, we hear it,” Miller said of “cat calls.” “I signed up for this, so I’ll never be the guy that stands up here and complains with fanfare. I love our fans. I love the support we have here. I understand they’re frustrated that we We didn’t do it.”
3. UC must continue to defend closely
Although they are 0-4 in the Big 12, they have held their opponents below their scoring average. Colorado has lost every game when it has scored fewer than 70 points. UC only allows 66 points per game in the league. The problem is they only score 55.5 per game.
“Just trust the work we do every day,” UC forward Dillon Mitchell said. “Now it’s just about reacting, continuing to stay in the gym and continuing to work. Don’t let that make us lose confidence that our shots aren’t falling. Just trust our work, come on on the pitch and play freely, play with confidence I think that’s the most important thing and eventually we’ll get there and the shots will start falling our way.
Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Colorado Buffaloes Scouting Report
Advice: Wednesday, 9 p.m. (Eastern) CU Events Center (11046)
Television/Radio:ESPN+/700WLW
Series: UC leads 7-1 (Colorado won last game Dec. 18, 1982, 79-65)
Colorado Buffaloes Scouting Report
Save: 9-6 (0-4 Big 12)
Coach: Tad Boyle (15th season, 307-189)
Offense: 74.5 points per game
Defense: 71 points per game
Projected starting lineup
(Position, size, statistics)
RJ Smith (G, 6’3″, 7.1 ppg)
Andrej Jakimovski (F, 6’8″, 11.1 points per game)
Julian Hammond III (G, 6’2″, 14.3 points per game)
Assane Diop (F, 6’8″, 4.5 points per game)
Elijah Malone (C. 6’10”, 10.1 points per game)
Cincinnati Bearcats Scouting Report
Save: 10-5 (0-4 Big 12)
Coach: Wes Miller (fourth season, 73-48, 258-183 overall)
Offense: 73.1 points per game
Defense: 60.5ppg
Projected starters
(Position, size, statistics)
Dan Skillings Jr. (GF, 6’6″, 12.7 ppg)
Simas Lukošius (GF, 6’8″, 12.3 points per game)
Dillon Mitchell (F, 6’8″, 10.9 points per game)
Jizzle James (G, 6’3″, 10.5 ppg)
Aziz Bandaogo (C, 7′, 8.7 points per game)
Players to watch
from Colorado Julien Hammond III is somewhat unique as this is his fourth year at the same school. Staying in one place is an oddity in college basketball in 2025. Hammond is Colorado’s leading scorer and has scored 20 or more points five times this season. He had 23 in Sunday’s 78-70 loss to No. 21 West Virginia and a season-high 26 against UCF. If UC can do what Arizona State did to it on Jan. 4, that would improve its chances. Hammond did not score and was 0 of 7 from the field in a 20-point loss to the Sun Devils.
Dan Skillings Jr.. was the Bearcats’ rock during the Big 12’s slide. He is the only starter whose league average is better than his overall average (15.8 in Big 12 games, 12.7 over the season). The rest of the starters are below their season averages over the last four games.
“We have a lot of guys that aren’t in their rhythm offensively at the same time here for two weeks,” Miller said. “Dan’s not one of those guys. He’s generally not a guy to call a lot of specific plays because he finds shots and finds opportunities.”
Rankings
KenPom.com: Cincinnati is No. 39, Colorado is No. 86
NCAA NET: Cincinnati is No. 41, Colorado is No. 86
This article originally appeared on the Cincinnati Enquirer: What does Cincinnati Bearcats basketball need to do to get a win in Colorado?
