Cincinnati v Oklahoma Preview

Tomorrow night at 9 pm on ESPNU, the Cincinnati Bearcats (9-0) take their first trip out of Ohio, traveling to Oklahoma City to play the Oklahoma Sooners (5-5). Technically, it's a neutral site game, but you and I, we know the truth. This is a road game. The Bearcats haven't really been tested this season. The Sooners have been not great. The Sooners have played 2 close games so far, an overtime win against North Carolina Central, and a loss to Chaminade in Maui by 4. The Sooners have won 2 in a row, against no one, after losing 5 straight. The worst loss of the bunch was probably to the worst team they played in that span, Virginia. The Sooners have won their last 2 games by double digits, and they are a Big 12 team, so they should not be taken lightly. The Bearcats have dominated Saturday night games so far, destroying Dayton, Toledo, and Utah Valley State. Let's get into a little breakdown between the two schools. This will be the last of this type of breakdown, as we go to the full out previews once the Bearcats have played 10 games. 

Record: 9-0

Scoring

1. Dion Dixon 12.3
2. Yancy Gates 11.1
3. Sean Kilpatrick 10.7
4. Cashmere Wright 10
5. Rashad Bishop 9.9

Rebounding

1. Ibrahima Thomas 6.7
2. Yancy Gates 6.6
3. Rashad Bishop 3.9
4. Darnell Wilks 3.4
5. Justin Jackson, Wildebeest 3

Assists

1. Cashmere Wright 4.4
2. Yancy Gates 1.8
3. Dion Dixon 1.8
4. Sean Kilpatrick 1.8
5. Darnell Wilks 1.6

Steals

1. Cashmere Wright 2
2. Ibrahima Thomas 1
3. Larry Davis 1
4. Rashad Bishop 1

Blocks

1. Yancy Gates 1.9

3 Point Percentage

1. Rashad Bishop 58.3%
2. Dion Dixon 42.9%
3. Sean Kilpatrick 41.5%
4. Larry Davis 41.2%
5. Cashmere Wright 40.7%

 

Record: 5-5

Scoring

1. Andrew Fitzgerald 15
2. Cade Davis 14.3
3. Steven Pledger 12.4
4. Cameron Clark 7.4
5. Nick Thompson 5.8

Rebounding

1. Andrew Fitzgerald 6.2
2. Nick Thompson 4.9
3. Cade Davis 4.7
4. Cameron Clark 4.1 
5. CJ Washington 3.3

Assists

1. Carl Blair 3.9
2. Steven Pledger 2.5
3. Calvin Newell 2.5
4. Cade Davis 2.2
5. Nick Thompson 2

Turnovers

1. Andrew Fitzgerald 3
2. Carl Blair 2.8
3. Steven Pledger 2.4
4. Nick Thompson 1.8
5. Cade Davis 1.7

 

The biggest bugaboo for Oklahoma this season has been turnovers. The Sooners turn the ball over 23% of their trips, which is in the bottom third of the nation. Cincinnati for perspective, turns the ball over 17%, which is 17th. The Sooners shoot the ball very well, 36th in effective field goal percent, and are quite good at scoring 2s, 3s and free throws. They don't get to the line very much, kind of negating that advantage. The Sooners are very good at keeping teams off the offensive glass, something UC has done very well this season. The Sooners are horrible at 3 point defense, 325, and the Bearcats are the 48th best team in the nation at 3%. That should definitely be something to keep an eye on. 

Here are a few keys to the game. 

1. Keep up the passing. Cashmere Wright is up to 63 in the country with his assist rate. His great passing has gotten other people in the passing mindset, as UC has really poured in the assists lately. The Bearcats have also been helped by the fact Rashad Bishop hasn't missed in two games, and Dixon and Kilpatrick have been highly efficient, along with Yancy Gates. The Bearcats play much better when everyone gets involved. 
2. Intensity. The Bearcats have been great at keeping the foot on the gas all 40 minutes the past couple of weeks. That hasn't been the case all season long, as the Bearcats have seemingly gone lax, and let the opponent get back in the game. The OU talent level is higher than some of the foes UC has faced so far, and on the road, you can't let them hang around. 
3. Rebounding. The Bearcats solid defensive play has been really helped by their kick ass rebounding on both ends. They get more shots with their offensive rebounding, and they hold opponents with their defensive rebounding. The key to good defense is to not let your opponent get shots. That's what rebounding does for you. That's why it's a key. The keyiest of all keys really. 

I'm a little concerned for this game. I don't think Oklahoma is very good, and I don't think Jeff Capel is that great a coach. I do worry about the Bearcats maybe having a bit of ego, and having seen OU play in Maui and writing them off. That's something that can't be done. This isn't a huge test, but it's a test. I think it's one that the Bearcats pass. 

Cincinnati 74 Oklahoma 66