Preview: Cincinnati at Villanova
After a short Thanksgiving break, the No. 14 Bearcats return to the court Tuesday night in the Big 12-Big East Challenge against the Villanova Wildcats (4-4).
Cincinnati enters the game looking to remain unbeaten (6-0) while Villanova is still trying to find their way under third year head coach Kyle Neptune.
"We're a work in progress," said Neptune in his most recent media availability. "We're trying to get better every day. We've had a few good days of practice, and I think on both sides of the ball we have a lot we can get better at. Our guys in the locker room know that and we're excited to get better each day."
Villanova has suffered home losses to Columbia and Virginia but have shown the ability to be a dangerous team, as seen in their one-point loss at Maryland.
The former Big East rival is currently 92nd in the NET ratings, but 61st in Kenpom's ratings. The Wildcats are 31st in offensive efficiency, averaging 77.8 points per game. Villanova is also 9th in the nation in free throw percentage (80.9%) and 33rd in three-point percentage (38.6%).
The Wildcats bolstered their lineup ahead of 2024-25 with the return of second team All-BIG EAST selection Eric Dixon, as well as a group of transfers headed by Wooga Poplar, Jhamir Brickus, Enoch Boakye, and Tyler Perkins alongside a four-player recruiting class that ranked among the top 20 recruiting classes in the nation.
After last Wednesday's 77-59 win over Alabama State, Cincinnati head coach Wes Miller gave his thoughts on what is waiting for Cincinnati in another tough road contest.
" We've got a big game on Tuesday against a really, really good, talented team on the road that is hungry. We better get our butts in gear," a disappointed Miller told media following the game."
Players to know:
6-foot-8 Grad. forward Eric Dixon
- Dixon currently ranks second in the nation in scoring at 25.1 points per game after a 38-point performance against Maryland and 16 points in Nova's most recent win over Rider. Dixon can do it all. He has made 54% of his three-point attempts, converts 91% of his free-throws, and also pulls down 6.6 rebounds per game. The fifth year grad-student will be at the top of the scouting report for the Bearcats.
6-foot-5 Sr. G Wooga Poplar (12.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg)
Poplar comes to Nova after starting 29 games as a Miami Hurricane last season. A high-volume three-point shooter, Poplar has been inconsistent through the first eight games, converting just 31 percent of his three-point attempts. The Philly native has finished in single digits in three of the past four games. He scored 19 points and pulled down six rebounds in a one point loss to Maryland.
5-foot-11 Grad. G Jahmir Brickus (12.1 ppg, 4.5 apg)
Brickus has knocked down 12-of-16 three-point attempts over his past three games and is currently second on the team in 3-point percentage (53.1). The Pennsylvania native started all 33 games for LaSalle last season, earning third team All A-10.
6-foot-5 Sr G Jordan Longino (9.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.8 apg)
Entering his third year in Villanova's program, Longino is known as an athletic and powerful guard that can make plays both in the lane, as well as out on the perimeter. Streaky would be the best way to describe his shooting ability from deep. He has converted just 6-of-18 attempts from deep over his last four games and is currently at 27.8 percent for the season.
6-foot-4 Soph G Tyler Perkins (8.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg)
Perkins earned Ivy League Rookie of the Week three times last season at Penn after starting 27-of-29 games during his freshman season. Perkins has been up and down this season, scoring in double figures in four of eight games, but is knocking down 35.3% of his attempts from deep. He was just shy of a double-double, scoring 12 points and pulling down nine rebounds in a November 19th win over Penn.
6-foot-11 Sr F Enoch Boakye (5.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg)
Known primarily for his rebounding and shot-blocking, Boakye gives Nova experience and athleticism in the post. Boakye averaged 7.9 points, 7.9 rebounds per game last season at Fresno State, finishing the season making 63.4 percent of his field goal attempts. The Canada native is currently at 66.7 percent from the field this season.
6-foot-9 redshirt-freshman guard Kris Parker, 6-foot-6 freshman Josiah Mosely, and 6-foot-9 redshirt junior Nnanna Njoku all add depth to the Nova rotation.
Final Thoughts:
Cincinnati enters Tuesday night 6-0 for the second-straight year, having shot 50 percent or better in the first five games. The Bearcats are currently 9th in Kenpom and 11th in the NET ratings.
UC has used balanced scoring through the first six games with four or more double-figure scorers in each of those six games. James, Lukosius, and Mitchell have all reached double figures in each game.
Wes Miller's team is currently second nationally in shooting (53.6 percent) and lead in effective field goal percentage (61.4). Five Bearcats are shooting 50% or better through the first six games.
Simas Lukosius had an "off night" against Alabama State, making 4-of-10 three's, but Lukosius is still third nationally at 57.9 percent from deep and 21st in assist/turnover ratio at 4.0.
Defensively, Miller's team hasn't allowed more than 60 points in any game this season Cincinnati is 10th nationally in allowing 25.2 percent from deep.
All in all, UC has dominated a poor schedule the way a top-15 team should. Villanova will test Cincinnati's perimeter defense and it will be the first time we see the Bearcats go up against a true "star" that has the type of offensive power to single handedly keep a team in a game.
The Bearcats enter Tuesday night as a 4.5 point favorite.
Cincinnati has the better team but Villanova has the shooting and talent to upset the Cats if they don't come out prepared for a physical battle from the opening tip.