Preview: West Virginia at Cincinnati
January was one to forget for Wes Miller and the Bearcats.
Cincinnati finished the month 2-6, with a two-game win streak sandwiched in between two three-game losing streaks. Miller's team has struggled to develop a consistent identity at both ends of the court, but the most concerning part has been their toughness and physicality being questioned after being out-rebounded in seven consecutive games.
"I don't think there's anything I can say here to make an excuse for us not being a better rebounding team in competition recently," Miller told media Thursday afternoon. "That's an area that's a standard. If it's not up to standard, it's inexcusable and I have no words to give an excuse to make it better. It's not good enough. It is what it is. It's being addressed, It's been addressed
Miller went on to question his team's "competitive character" stating his team has to find a way to be better when it comes to loose balls, rebounding, and defensive edge.
"Everyone's competing, everyone's trying. We're in the Big 12," Miller said. "If you're not competing, you get ran out of the gym immediately. There's not a team in this league that doesn't compete or play hard."
During league play, Cincinnati has lost to Baylor by 20 points, Kansas by 14 points, Texas Tech by 10 points, and BYU by 28 points, which was the worst loss by Cincinnati under Miller since a 28-point loss to Ohio State during the 2022 Maui Invitational.
With frustration boiling over into the fanbase following a 69-66 loss to Utah to wrap up UC's two-game road trip out west, critics have come out of the woodwork to voice their disappointment and frustrations publicly.
"I get it. That comes with it. It's part of the responsibility," said Miller. "You don't get it both ways. You don't get to run out to a great crowd and have this passionate fanbase, and we all want that, and players want that. You want to coach somewhere like that...and then get to say boohoo when you're struggling and people are on your tail. You don't get it both ways."
With social media being so prevalent in the day-to-day routine of the 18-23 year olds participating in college athletics, Miller described how he keeps his team from allowing the criticism to become a distraction.
"I want the passionate fans. I want people to want it and if we're being really damn honest, the support for our program, for me, for our players, it's been tremendous. We owe them better fight and better performance. We all know that."
Miller and his team will try to get back on track Sunday afternoon when the West Virginia Mountaineers come to Cincinnati.
(Photo: West Virginia Athletics)
West Virginia (13-7, 4-5 Big 12) also enters Sunday's contest on a three-game losing streak following losses to Arizona State (65-57), Kansas State (73-60), and Houston (63-49).
First-year head coach Darian DeVries currently has the Mountaineers No. 43 in the NET Rankings and No. 51 in KenPom.
West Va ranks 106th in adjusted offensive efficiency but it is their defense that has helped carry them to Quad 1 wins over Arizona, Gonzaga, Iowa State, and Kansas.
Defensively, West Va ranks No. 26 in adjusted defensive efficiency (95.5) , as well as No. 18 in opponent effective field goal percentage (45.7)
West Va by the numbers:
- Offensive turnover % - 16.1 (89th)
- Defensive turnover % - 20.0 (58th)
- Defensive 3pt % - 28.9 (10th)
- Defensive 2pt % - 47.0 (47th)
- Defensive block % - 12.5 (54th)
- Offensive steal % - 8.5 (58th)
- Defensive steal % - 11.9 (45th)
Players to know:
6'3" Sr G Javon Small (19.1 pts, 5.0 ast, 4.9 reb, 42.5 FG%, 34.8 3pt%, 88.6 FT%)
Cincinnati is extremely familiar with Small after seeing him his freshman and sophomore years at East Carolina, as well as last season while at Oklahoma State. The senior guard currently leads the Big 12 in scoring, but was limited to just 8 points in the loss to Houston. It was the first game this season that Small hasn't reached double figures. He has nine 20-point games this season, including a 31-point effort in a win over Gonzaga.
Wes Miller on Small:
"How you defend Javon Small is obviously a huge key and the job you do on him. We've played against him multiple times now. He's a terrific player. They (West Va) do a lot for him. I still got quite a bit of film to watch but they do a lot for him with the ball in his hands. They do a lot to get it it out of his hands and kind of run him off some stuff and get it back in his hands. They're very creative in the way they utilize him. You're not going to completely hold him down but you got to make his night as difficult as possible."
6'8" Soph F Amani Hansberry (9.6 pts, 5.6 rbs)
Hansberry made the switch from Illinois to West Virginia this past season and has had a breakout sophomore season. The 2023 Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year leads the team in rebounds per game and is third on the team in free throw shooting (80.6%). Hansberry is a mobile big man that has a good feel for the game and ability to impact the game from multiple spots on the floor.
6'6" FR G Jonathon Powell (8.7 pts, 2.4 reb, 37.7 FG% , 36.4 3fg%)
Powell has had an up and down freshman season, but has four games in Big 12 play where he has reached double figures scoring. His best game was a 17-point effort against Oklahoma State, in which he made 5-of-7 from three. The Centerville (OH) native initially signed with Sean Miller and Xavier but ultimately landed at West Virginia after asking for his release from his National Letter of Intent.
6'8" 5th yr Sr Toby Okani (8.2 pts, 4.1 reb, 1.4 ast)
Okani is in year one with the Mountaineers after spending two seasons at Duquense and two seasons at UIC, prior to arrive in Morgantown. Okani has struggled to find a rhythm from three, but makes 43.7 percent of his field goal attempts. Primarily known for his defense, Okani led the Missouri Valley Conference in blocks last season (2.0) and was named to the MVC All Defensive Team.
6'4" SO G Sencire Harris (6.0 pts, 4.5 reb)
Harris spent his freshman season at Illinois but decided to transfer to West Virginia this past off season as a redshirt sophomore after sitting out last season. A Canton (OH) native, Harris has scored in double figures just twice this season and has really struggled to get going from outside, making just 9.8% of his three-point attempts. From a scouting perspective, Harris is primarily known for his ability to impact the game with his athleticism and length.
6'11" 5th yr Sr C Eduardo Andre (5.8 pts, 4.4 reb, 1.1 ast)
Primarily a guy who does his best work out of the pick-and-roll when flashing to the basket, Andre is making 72.7% of his field goal attempts. Eduardo scored 15 points against Kansas and pulled down 10 rebounds against Oklahoma State. Originally from London, England, Andre spent his first two seasons at Nebraska and then transferred to Fresno State for two season, prior to committing to West Virginia this offseason.
6'0" GR G Joseph Yesufu (4.5 pts, 1.6 reb, 37.7 FG%, 29.3 3PT%)
Yesufu has had an interesting journey to West Virginia. After spending his first two seasons at Drake, Yesufu spent his next two seasons at Kansas. Yesufu played just six games last season at Washington State. He scored 18 points against Colorado on January 12th.
Final Thoughts
West Virginia is one of the highest volume three-point shooting teams in the country. The Mountaineers are 12-of-67 from three during their three-game losing streak. Cincinnati will have to do a better job defending the perimeter than what we have seen the past three games.
West Va likes to utilize the high ball screen to get their guards downhill going to the rim to force the defense to collapse, resulting in kick-outs to shooters.
The Bearcats are coming off a season high 12 steals and 19 forced turnovers. With how good West Va has proven to be defensively, UC will have to take advantage of transition opportunities and convert opportunities around the rim.
This game is another must win as UC tries to get back on track and get back on the right side of the bubble picture in the NCAA Tournament. UC opened as a 5.5 point favorite.