Preview: Cincinnati at BYU

Cincinnati basketball will begin a five day, two-game road trip to Utah on Saturday night when the Bearcats travel to Provo, UT for a late-night tip off against the BYU Cougars.

 

Both teams enter Saturday night with identical 12-6 records. The Cougars are 3-4 in Big 12 play following an 83-67 win at Colorado, while the Bearcats dropped to 2-5 after Tuesday night's 81-71 home loss to Texas Tech.

 

 

UC made 52% of their field goal attempts and also converted 14-of-19 free throws, but were out-rebounded 34-27, while also allowing Tech to make 12-of-31 of their 3-point attempts in the loss.

 

The Bearcats played well enough offensively to win the game, but struggled to get stops after limiting Tech to 1-of-8 start from three to begin the game. 

 

"The fact of the matter is we got to try to put 40 minutes together in the aspects that we can be good in and the aspects that we put value in," Cincinnati head coach Wes Miller told media Thursday afternoon. "We didn't do that in the last game. Hopefully we're getting some confidence as a group that we're trending in the right direction,"

 

Attention will now turn to a BYU squad that presents similar challenges offensively, as what Cincinnati saw against Tech.

 

The Cougars rank 38th in Kenpom and are 43rd in the NET ratings. Offensively, BYU ranks 30th in offensive efficiency, 67th in defensive efficiency, and score at a 58.6% clip inside the 3-point line, which ranks 12th nationally. 

 

"They're very prolific (offensively) like Texas Tech," Miller said. 

 

"They can rain three's like Texas Tech can do. They probably get to them slightly differently, but same thing, you got to get set in transition and not give them up.  You can't give up any on offensive rebounds like we did against Texas Tech. Their style of play is subtle or significantly different but the same idea, you got to guard the three-point line."

 

In their win over Colorado, BYU shot a season-high 58.5 percent from the field and placed three players in double figures, including a game-high 25 from Richie Saunders as the Cougars picked up their first road win in 329 days. 

 

"Saunders is so aggressive on the catch, that's what I've seen," Miller said when asked what Saunders bring to the BYU offense. " He does a great job attacking close-outs and straight-line driving and his floater has become so dynamic. He's always had a lot of game, but you know he can shoot the ball."

 

Despite a coaching change to Kevin Young during the off-season, Wes Miller noted Thursday that while it is a new coach and scheme, returning players from last season's team are finding shots in a similar fashion this season.

 

"Obviously a coaching change, the styles change a little bit but the way some of those returning players are playing within the new program, it's very similar to how they played last year with a different coach. So they're still playing very similarly in terms of the way that they're looking for their shot or playing aggressively, especially off the three-point line."

 

Cincinnati was able to go on the road and pick up a win at BYU last season, but will have to play with similar effort and consistency at both ends of the court this season to escape the Marriott Center with a win.

 

The Cougars are 9-1 at home this season, two of those wins coming in Big 12 play, and are outscoring opponents at home this season by more than 26 points per game (88.1-62.0), while shooting 51.3 percent from the field, 36.5 percent from three and 66.0 percent from the free throw line. Six different Cougars are averaging 10 or more points per game at home this season, including a team-high 14.8 from Richie Saunders.

 

BYU by the numbers:

 

• BYU ranks 18th in effective field goal percentage and are rebounding 35.5% of their misses, which ranks 31st nationally. 
• The Cougars have been an elite defensive rebounding team, allowing the opposition to rebound just 22.4% of their misses. That mark ranks 2nd nationally. 
• BYU averages 11.2 turnovers per game but rank 42nd in assist/turnover ratio (1.5).
• BYU makes 35.9% of their 3-point attempts, which ranks 76th nationally. The Cougars haven't defended the three as well, ranking 239th in 3-point defense. 
• One of Cincinnati's strengths is blocking shots. BYU ranks 47th in offensive block percentage (7.5) and are 69th in defensive block percentage (11.9).

 

 

Players to know:

 

6'5" Jr F Richie Saunders (14.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.4 apg)

 

Saunders has been extremely efficient this season, making 52% of his field goal attempts, as well as 43% of his 3-point attempts. His best game of the season was a 30-point effort against Arizona State to open Big 12 play. In that game, he made 6-of-11 from three. He has scored 25 or more points in two of the last four games. In his worst games this season, he has struggled to get going from three. Running him off the 3-point line will have to be a priority for UC defensively. 

 

Over the past four games, Saunders is averaging 19.8 points per game, while shooting 57.1 percent from the field, 52.2 percent from three and 73.3 percent from the free throw line. 

 

6'9" Fr G Egor Denim (10.7 pts, 5.8 ast, 4.2 reb)

 

Denim is an extremely rare and unique prospect in the fact that he already has experience playing high level Euro-League ball, which has made the transition to Division I basketball seamless. At 6'9" he has the ability to impact the game as a big point-forward, initiating the offense and showcasing his playmaking ability with his passing. Denim has shown a soft touch around the rim, making 42.3% of his field goal attempts, and also has an impressive handle when driving and either finishing in the lane or kicking out to a teammate. 

 

Denim had seven assists in the win over Colorado and is one of two freshman in NCAA Division I men's basketball to be averaging 10.0 points, 5.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game. His 87 assists this season are the 10th most by a freshman in program history. 

 

 

6'5 Sr G Trevin Knell (10.1 pts, 2.4 rbs)

 

A 6th-year grad student, Knell takes a lot of pressure off Saunders out on the perimeter with his ability to also knock down the three at a high clip. Knell made 9-of-14 from deep against UC last season, scoring 27 points to lead the Cougars. 

 

This season, Knell is making 44.1% of his 3-point attempts as well as 48.7% of his field goal attempts. Knell excels at scoring on off-ball action but has also shown an ability to score off the dribble as well. During Big 12 play, Knell has seen his production fluctuate, being held to single digit scoring in games where he hasn't shot the ball well from outside.

 

Wes Miller on Trevin Knell:

"He's a guy that, every time he comes off a screen, every time he catches the ball in transition, or just around some of the action they run, he's a guy that can just rise up and shoot it even when you're right there and guarding him. We've seen that before. I think he did that all year in league (last season) as well."

 

6'6" Sr F Fousseyni Traore (9.7 pts, 6.3 rbs, 1.9 ast)

 

Traore is one of the most efficient players in college basketball, converting 62.2% of his field goal attempts. Traore is shooting 33% from three but leads the team in free-throw shooting, making 83.3% of his opportunities.

 

Traore is a strong force in the paint and rebounds extremely well for his size. The mobile forward has good post moves and attacks the rim with aggression. 

 

 

6'9" Fr F Kanon Catchings (8.7 pts, 2.7 rbs, 1.1 ast)

 

A former top-35 recruit, Catchings has lived up to his high school ranking during his first season in Provo. After scoring 11 points to open Big 12 play, the freshman has struggled since, averaging just under 4 ppg over the last six. 

 

Despite the recent struggles, the talent is undeniable. Catchings is a versatile forward with the size, skill set, and scoring ability to excel at the next level one day. A Brownsburg, IN native, Catchings excels in transition where he can use his athleticism, as well as off the dribble.

 

 

6'4" RS-Jr Dawson Baker (8.3 pts, 2.1 rbs, 1.6 ast)

 

Baker has proven to be a quality depth addition, scoring 8 or more points in four out of seven Big 12 games. The redshirt-junior scored in double figures in all four games prior to Big 12 play beginning, and is coming off a 3-for-3 effort from beyond the arc in the win over Colorado.

 

 

6'8" Jr F Keba Keita (6.6 pts, 8.5 rbs)

 

A transfer from Utah, Keita has been an outstanding addition to the front court of BYU, leading the team in rebounds and second on the team in field goal percentage (60.5).

 

Keita isn't much of a shot blocker but uses his athleticism well for offensive rebounding and making plays around the rim on the offensive end of the floor. 

 

 

6'4" Jr G Dallin Hall (6.6 pts, 2.4 rbs, 3.9 ast)

 

Hall is used in the second most used lineup by Kevin Young, and for good reason. Hall ranks 15th nationally in effective field goal percentage during conference play (56.0) , 9th in free-throw rate (48.0), and 4th in true-shooting percentage (61.9).

 

Overall, Hall is making 38.4% from the field, 36.7% from three, and 78.3% from the free throw line. Hall's best game was a 14-point effort against Oklahoma State, in which he made all three of his attempts from beyond the arc. 

 

 

6'7' Grad Mawot Mag (5.2 pts, 1.7 rbs)

 

Mag scored 11 points in the win over Colorado and also pulled down five rebounds. Mag has a strong frame with wide shoulders and will step out and take the occasional three. Inside the arc, Mag is making 52% of his field goal attempts. 

 

 

Final Thoughts:

 

This will be another game where Cincinnati's defense is challenged, The Cougars have depth, size, shooting, and athleticism to put extreme pressure on a defense from beyond the arc, as well as in transition. 

 

UC is currently second only to Tennessee in 3-point defense (26.9 percent) and seventh nationally in allowing 60.6 ppg, in addition to seventh in KenPom defense and 39th overall. 

 

If the Bearcats aren't able to find a way to limit the looks from deep by BYU, it is going to be extremely difficult for them to win the game, as the Cougars have also proven to be a difficult match up with how physical they are defensively, as well as their ability to rebound at a high level and limit second chance opportunities. 

 

UC has made 75% of their free throw attempts over the last three games and will have to take advantage of any free opportunities they get on the road Saturday night. 

 

At the end of the day, UC winning will come down to James, Skillings, Lukosius , and Mitchell all playing at the level they're capable of. Simas Lukosius is making 49% of his field-goals in wins and 24% in losses.

 

 With 13 games remaining, this is likely a must win if Cincinnati is going to start putting together the type of resume that will be needed to make the NCAA Tournament. 

 

 

Wes Miller Previews BYU