Cincinnati v Stetson Preview
Cincinnati (9-2) will look to up their win total to 10 on Friday night as Stetson (7-5) visits Fifth Third Arena for a 7 pm tip off.
The Bearcats defeated Merrimack, 65-49, Tuesday night while Stetson is coming off a Tuesday night win over Florida International, 80-68.
The 49 points by Merrimack were UC's fewest points allowed since Nov. 2021 and a season-low for the Warriors.
By the numbers:
- Offensively, Stetson ranks 64th nationally in points scored (946) and 93rd in points per game (78.8)
- The Hatters shoot 47% from the field, which ranks 85th nationally and they are also top 50 in 3-point fielf goal percentage (37.3%).
- Coach Donnie Jones has the best free throw shooting team in the country. Stetson has seven different players shooting 80% or better from the free throw line and have a team average of 81.8%. That ranks 1st nationally.
- Cincinnati has out-rebounded its opponent in every game this season. Its 12.8 margin is fourth nationally. Stets enters Friday night's match up 114th in total rebounds (34.8).
- Both teams have shared the ball well, averaging 16 assists per game.
- Stetson averages 2.8 blocks per game, which ranks th nationally.
- Cincinnati is currently 39th in the Kenpom rankings. Stetson is 231st and has losses to #278 Nebraska Omaha and #313 Chicago State.
Players to watch:
- 6'3 Jr Guard Jalen Blackmon (22.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.7 apg, 47.6% FG, 47.5% 3FG)
Simply put, Blackmon is a bucket-getter. He has scored in double figures in every game this season, with his season low being 11 points against Houston. He shoots the rock extremely well from outside, which is big reason for him scoring 20 or more points in 8 games this season. He is also a 90% free-throw shooter.
Blackmon was the Atlantic Sun Newcomer of the year last season after spending a year at Grand Canyon and was a preseason All A-Sun team selection.
- 6'11 Jr Center Aubin Gateretse (11.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 70% FG)
The Belgium native has struggled against the high major competition on Stetson's schedule (4 pts v Houston, 8 pts v UCF) but scored a career high 26 points against Milwaukee while pulling down 11 rebounds.
Gateretse has three double-doubles this season with the other two coming against Coastal Carolina (13 pts, 17 rbs) and Stetson's most recent opponent, Florida International (16 pts, 12 rbs).
- 6'2 Sr Guard Stephan Swensen ( 10.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 6.5 apg, 38,5% FG)
Swensen isn't a threat from beyond the arc (21.3 %) but is the Hatters' primary distributor and guy that they count on to run the offense and set others up. He had a season-high 14 assists in the win over FIU and 10 assists against Milwaukee.
Despite the shooting struggles from 3-point land, he is a 96% free-throw shooter and has missed just one of 24 attempts.
- 6'6 Sr Guard Alec Oglesby (10.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.7 apg, 41.9 % FG, 40.7% 3FG)
Ogelsby is another guy that can fill it up from outside. He has connected on 19-of-46 attempts from outside and is also a 94% free throw shooter. The former Cleveland State commit is averaging 20 ppg over Stetson's last two games.
- 6'6 Fr Guard Tristan Gross (5.3 ppg, 2,5 rpg)
Gross shoots 39% from the field and from 3-point range and has had mixed results in terms of efficiency and scoring. He scored 9 points against Houston and had a season high 11 points came against Milwaukee.
- 7'0 Jr Center Treyton Thompson (5.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 50% FG)
Thompson scored 12 points against UCF and pulled down 8 rebounds but has four games where he hasn't scored a point. He will try to stretch the floor out to the three-point line but he is shooting just 27.8% on 18 attempts.