Preview: Cincinnati at Utah

The Bearcats will wrap up a five-day, two-game road trip to Utah on Tuesday night when they travel 87 miles from Provo to Salt Lake City for a 10 pm tip off against the Utes.

 

Coming off their worst loss of the season, Wes Miller and his team will have to have a short memory and find a way to get past yet another poor offensive showing. 

 

"You gotta prepare to try to win a game on Tuesday night. We can't change what happened tonight. Can't change it. It's college basketball," Miller said following the loss at BYU. " People get their asses kicked. It's part of the whole thing. It happens. It's happening more to us than I'd like it to happen, but it's happening. You gotta respond. We'll respond. We got a group of kids that aren't going to give in. We gotta play better while we respond and we all know that."

 

 

The 80-52 loss to BYU tied for largest margin of defeat under Wes Miller, tying the 28-point margin of defeat suffered in 2022 against Ohio State in the Maui Invitational. 

 

Cincinnati made just 5-of-28 3-point attempts, while Simas Lukosius was the only Bearcat to reach double figures, scoring 14 points.

 

For UC to get things back on track, it will have to start on the defensive end of the court. UC has now given up 80+ points in consecutive losses, including 52 points to BYU in the second half.

 

"I'm never one of these guys that sits up here and doesn't give the other group credit," Miller said. " They shot the eyes out of it, scored 50 (in the second half). That pisses me off as somebody that values the way we defend."

 

Utah (11-8, 3-5 Big 12) enters Tuesday night also trying to end a two-game losing streak following losses at Houston (70-36), as well as at home against Baylor (76-61).

 

The Utes are currently ranked 78th in the NET and 89th in Kenpom. Utah ranks 110th in offensive efficiency, 78th in defensive efficiency.

 

(Photo: Utah Athletics)

 

 

Utah by the numbers:

 

• Utah ranks 73rd in offensive effective field goal percentage (53.3), 35th in defensive effective field goal percentage (46.4).
• Utah rebounds 33.9% of their misses on the offensive end, which ranks 65th nationally.
• Utah ranks 55th in 2-point % (55.5), while ranking 22nd in 2-point defense, allowing just 45.4%.
• Utah has struggled from the free throw line, ranking 358th at 62.3%, and come in to Tuesday night making 33.7% of their 3-point attempts.
• The strength of Utah has been their ability to share the ball. As a team, they average 18.9 assists per game (6th nationally) and are 21st in assist/turnover ratio (21st).

 

Players to Know:

 

6'6" 5th yr Sr Gabe Madsen (14.8 pts, 2.7 ast, 2.5 rbs)

 

Madsen is a familiar name and face for Bearcat fans as the Rochester (MN) native committed to Cincinnati out of high school prior to opting out during COVID after two games. 

 

Madsen has a reputation as a big-time shot maker and shooter but has struggled to find his shot during Big 12 play, making just 12-of-64 attempts through eight games. Madsen scored 20 points against Iowa State and 17 against TCU, but has been limited to single digits in his six other games in conference play. Despite those struggles, Madsen is still a 37% 3-point shooter for his career and has made 85.5% of his free throw attempts this season. Madsen ranks fourth in the conference with 2.7 3-point field goals made per game. 

 

 

6'8" Jr F Ezra Ausar (11.1 pts, 4.7 reb)

 

Ausar is familiar with the Bearcats after averaging 12 points, 11 rebounds against UC during two games with East Carolina as a freshman when both teams were still in the American Conference. 

 

An All-AAC freshman team selection, Ausar opted for a fresh start following his sophomore year, making the decision to transfer to Utah this past offseason.

 

Over the last five games, Ausar is averaging 15.0 points and 5.2 rebounds with a .587 shooting clip during that five-game stretch. The Atlanta native has also led the Utes in scoring in three of those five games – averaging 22.0 points those three games. While not much of a 3-point threat, Ausar has a solid handle as a big wing, and is efficient from the field, making 52% of his field goal attempts for the season.

 

7'1" Sr C Lawson Lovering (9.6 pts, 5.0 rbs, 2.4 ast)

 

After sitting the first five games of the season, Lovering scored in double figures in six of his first seven games, including a 25-point effort against Iowa. Lovering hasn't had the same consistency during conference play, but did have a 13-point, seven rebound showing in the Utes win over BYU. The former Colorado transfer is making 63.6% of his field goal attempts but hasn't been reliable at the free throw line. (41.8%)

 

 

6'4" 5th yr Sr Mason Madsen (9.0 pts, 2.9 rbs, 1.2 ast)

 

Madsen spent his first two season at UC under John Brannen and Wes Miller before deciding to transfer to Boston College. In his first season with Utah, Madsen is leading the team in 3-point percentage, making 42.1% of his attempts. 

 

The twin brother of Gabe Madsen, Mason is averaging just 4 points during conference play, after ending the non-conference portion of the Utes schedule with a 26-point outburst against Iowa. Madsen made 6-of-11 attempts from deep in that game and will have to be a priority on the perimeter for Cincinnati defensively. 

 

 

6'9" Soph F Keanu Dawes (7.6 pts, 5.2 rbs)

 

Dawes was an All-AAC Freshman Team selection last season while at Rice and has been a solid addition to the Utes as a sophomore, scoring 16 points against TCU and Oklahoma State, as well as 11 points against Texas Tech. In the two wins over TCU and Oklahoma State, he was 15-of-20 from the field and averaged 7.5 rebounds.

 

Dawes is a long, athletic forward that uses his strength and quickness to defend multiple positions and is a big-time finisher around the rim, converting 63.5% of his field goal attempts. 

 

 

6'9" Jr G Mike Sharavjamts (6.8 pts, 3.4 rbs, 2.8 ast)

 

Sharavjamts, who began his career at Dayton before transferring to San Francisco last season, has a unique ability and skillset for his size. He has shown the ability to create for others as a big point-forward, while also stretching the floor with his shooting ability. 

 

Sharavjamts makes 35% of his 3-point attempts and 43.5% of his field goal attempts but has not scored in the last two games for Utah, after averaging just under nine points per game during Utah's three-game win streak against Oklahoma State, TCU, and BYU. 

 

 

6'3 Soph G Miro Little (6.6 pts, 4.3 rbs)

 

Little spent last season at Baylor, but chose to transfer following his freshman season after averaging 7.3 minutes per game.

 

Little is a former four-star recruit out of Sunrise Christian who was named to Finland's 2023 FIBA World Cup Roster. Little excels at attacking the basket and is a solid rebounder for his size.

 

 

6'10 Soph F Jake Wahlin (5.7 pts, 4.7 rbs, 44.8% FG)

 

Wahlin hasn't provided much scoring punch for the Utes but has started to attack the glass and is averaging just under 8 rebounds per game over his last four. His two best games this season came during conference play against Oklahoma State (16 points) and Texas Tech (10 points).

 

 

6'3" 5th yr Sr G Hunter Erickson (4.3 pts, 1.8 reb, 1.7 ast)

 

Erickson has had a unique road to Utah, spending his first two seasons at BYU, his third season at Salt Lake City CC, and then his past two with the Utes. Erickson scored 13 points against Baylor in his best game of the season. 

 

 

Final Thoughts:

The Utes are currently 9th in bench minutes and 5th nationally in average height. At 16.5 seconds per possession, Utah ranks 72nd in average possession length. Coach Craig Smith wants his team to get up and down the floor and try to wear the opposition down. 

 

After giving up 80 points in consecutive games, the Bearcats are still second in the Big 12 and 14th nationally at 62.7 ppg allowed. Prior to giving up a combined 27 made three's to Texas Tech and BYU, Cincinnati had ranked second nationally in 3-point defense (26.9 percent). While Utah isn't quite as prolific offensively as the previous two opponents, they are a team that has several guys capable of getting hot deep.

 

With twelve games remaining, this is a must win for Wes Miller and his team. The effort, physicality, and execution at both ends of the floor have to be better and more consistent with the standards that have been a staple of Cincinnati basketball. Lose this game and it will be hard to remain optimistic that this team still has what it takes to return to the NCAA Tournament.