Preview: Grambling State at Cincinnati
Wes Miller's team will conclude the non-conference portion of their schedule Sunday afternoon in a 4 p.m tip off against the Grambling State Tigers.
Grambling enters Sunday with a 2-9 record and losers of four straight following losses to Delaware State (73-60) and Norfolk State (76-60) Thursday and Friday in the Chris Paul HBCU Classic.
Cincinnati is currently 9-1 following a win over Dayton (66-59) Friday night.
Grambling entered the 2024/25 season as the preseason favorite to win the SWAC Conference after winning the conference in 2023/24 for their first ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
6'1" senior guard Kintavious Dozier was named SWAC Preseason Player of the Year and is currently averaging 10.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game for the Tigers. Dozier has played well against the high major opponents on Grambling's schedule, scoring 15 points against Ole Miss, 19 against Florida, and 17 against USC.
6'5" junior guard Antwan Burnett leads the Tigers in both scoring (12.6 ppg) as well as rebounds (5.3 rpg). He was limited to just three points in GSU's most recent loss to Norfolk State.
Complimenting Dozier and Burnett is 6'2" junior guard Mikale Stevenson.
Stevenson, who is an Indiana native, is second on the team in scoring (11.3 ppg), and leads GSU in assists per game (4.1).
Rounding out the Tigers starting lineup are 6'3" redshirt-freshman guard Chilaydrien Newton (8.5 ppg) and 6'9" senior forward Ernest Ross (8.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg).
6'10' junior forward James Flippin (6.3 ppg) provides front court depth for head coach Donte Jackson.
Grambling by the numbers:
Kenpom: 299
NET: 309
Offensive Efficiency: 290
Defensive Efficiency: 276
Effective FG % : 48.5 (255)
Turnover % : 20 (299)
3P% : 33.5 (167)
2P% : 47.5 (284)
FT% : 68.2 (275)
Final Thoughts:
Cincinnati enters Sunday's contest as a 29.5 point favorite.
Dayton entered Friday night's game against the Bearcats 10th nationally in offensive efficiency. The Bearcats held UD to season-lows in points, field goal percentage (39.2) and a high in turnovers (17). UC has now held opponents to less than 70 points in ten straight games.
I would expect that trend to continue Sunday as Miller's team wraps up non-conference play with a comfortable win that provides an opportunity to get the bench extended minutes as the Bearcats prepare for the Big 12 opener on December 30th against Kansas State.