Preview: Cincinnati at Kansas State

The 17th-ranked Cincinnati Bearcats (10-1) return to the court Monday night to open Big 12 play on the road at Kansas State.

Coming into the season, the return of Dan Skillings, Simas Lukosius, and Jizzle James had fans excited about the potential of the Bearcats offensively. While UC has shown flashes of how efficient they can be at that end of the court, it is the consistency of their defense that has carried them to their best non-conference record since 2012-13.

The defense is currently ninth nationally in allowing 58.5 ppg, and has an 11-game streak of allowing under 70 points. UC is also 10th nationally in allowing 27.5 percent from beyond the arc.

UC is fifth nationally in KenPom defense, 48th in offense and has 35 offensive boards the last two games. Overall, UC is 22nd in Kenpom's ratings and 19th in the NET rankings.

Kansas State enters Big 12 play having lost three-consecutive games following an 84-65 loss at Wichita State on December 21st.

With a record of 6-5, the Wildcats are tied with Arizona for worst non-conference record in the league.

Following their loss to Wichita State, Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang told media that the lack of consistency of his team has been the most disappointing part of the Wildcats rocky start.

"I would say consistency," Tang responded when asked what he found most troubling over the first 11 games. "If we can't get the eight or nine guys that are playing, playing at the level that they're capable of playing together every night....As a coach, it's hard to figure out what to do if you don't know what you're going to get from each guy every night."

Kansas State currently ranks 93rd in defensive efficiency, 107th in offensive efficiency, and 90th overall in Kenpom's ratings. The Wildcats are also 121st in the NET rankings after finishing 0-5 in Quad 1/Quad 2 games during non-conference play. 

K-State is currently averaging 78.1 points on 46.3 percent shooting, including 36.1 percent from 3-point range with 9.4 makes per game. The Wildcats have hit on better than 50 percent from the field in 5 of 11 games with 4 double-digit 3-point games. The team is 6-0 when scoring 74 or more points and 0-5 when they don't.

Kansas State by the numbers:

Effective FG%: 53.9 (71st)

Turnover %: 17.6 (178th)

Offensive Rebound %: 33.9 (74th)

2P %: 53.7 (108th)

FT%: 66 (309th)

Block%: 9.3 (183rd)

Players to watch:

6'4" Jr G Brendan Hausen (13.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg)

After spending two seasons at Villanova, Hausen has made a smooth transition to Coach Tang's starting lineup. The Texas native currently leads the team in scoring and has scored in double figures eight times this season. Hausen is a career 40% shooter from deep and is currently leading the team in both 3-point shooting (43.2) and free throw shooting (72.4). Hausen will be at the top of the scout in terms of perimeter defense. He made 4-of-8 from beyond the arc in the loss to Wichita State and also knocked down 6-of-10 from deep in a loss to St John's. 

6'9" Sr F David N'Guessan (13.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg)

N'Guessan has been the Wildcats' most consistent player through the first 11 games. Prior to being held to nine points at Wichita State, N'Guessan had reached double figures in all ten games to begin the season. The Netherlands native was apart of Virginia Tech's 2022 ACC Tournament Championship team and was also a key contributor during K-State's Elite 8 run in 2023. N'Guessan has been extremely efficient this season, connecting on 67% of his field goal attempts. That mark leads the team.

5'11" Jr G Dug McDaniel (9.6 ppg, 4.5 apg, 2.7 rpg)

After being suspended for six games while at Michigan last season, McDaniel opted for different scenery this offseason and chose Kansas State as his destination. There have been questions about the relationship between McDaniel and Tang, but there is no denying the talent of the DMV product. His 4.5 assists per game currently leads the team. His best game of the season came against Arkansas Pine-Bluff, posting 18 points, ten assists, five steals. McDaniel played just six minutes and did not score in the Wildcats' most recent loss.

6'10" Sr F Coleman Hawkins (9.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 4.2 apg)

At 6'10, Hawkins possesses a unique skillset. The big man currently leads the team in rebounds per game, but is also second on the team in assists per game due to his ability to put the ball on the floor and attack the rim, while also dishing out to teammates for open looks. Hawkins was a preseason All-Big 12 Second Team selection and was also named Preseason Conference Newcomer of the Year after being named All-Big 10 Second Team last season while at Illinois. Hawkins initially declared for the 2024 NBA Draft and was invited to the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago but decided to withdraw at the end of May. 

6'4" Sr G Max Jones (8.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.4 apg)

Jones transferred to K-State following two seasons at Cal State Fullerton (2022-24) and two seasons at Division II Tampa (2020-22). The Florida native had his best game of the season in a loss to Drake, scoring a season high 12 points. Jones has made atleast one 3-pointer in five consecutive games. 

6'1" Fr G David Castillo (3.4 ppg)

The true freshman was rated as a consensus 4-star prospect by all major recruiting services while also ranking as a top-15 point guard nationally and the No. 1 prospect in the state of Kansas. While not much of a scoring threat, Tang has been comfortable enough with the freshman to have him in his starting lineup. 

6'5" Jr G CJ Jones (6.9 ppg, 1.6 rpg)

Jones spent his first two seasons at UIC and should be familiar with the Bearcats after scoring 13 points in Fifth Third Arena last November in a loss to UC. Jones has scored seven or more points in seven of the last eight games for K-State. 

6'7" Soph G Macaleab Rich (6.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg)

After not playing against St John's or Drake, Rich came off the bench to lead the Wildcats with 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting and 3-of-5 from deep against Wichita. 

Final Thoughts:

Cincinnati has the better roster and team but this is a road game against a team that is desperate for a win and momentum. UC has dominated this series, having won 8-of-9 meetings, including a 74-72 thriller last season in Cincinnati. The Bearcats were able to force K-State into 19 turnovers in that game and scored 29 points off those Wildcat miscues. Still, it took a Simas Lukosius three-pointer with 9.9 remaining to win the game. UC led by 13 in that game with 15 minutes left. 

The Bearcats have the better back court but both Bandaogo and Mitchell will have their hands full with the duo of Hawkins and N'Guessan. UC is 12-1 in games where Bandoago scored double figures. Start there as a primary key for UC to leave Manhattan, KS with a win. 

Simas Lukosius leads UC in scoring but has made just 5-of-25 from deep over the last three games. Having him closer to his season average (42%) will go a long way in determining how successful the Bearcats are during league play. 

This will be the first game K-State has played at home since December 1st and their students are still on Christmas break. Could be something to watch as both teams try to shake off any rust from a long holiday break. 

UC is currently favored by 3.5 points with the over/under set at 140.5 points.