Cincinnati will travel to Houston (24-4, 16-1) on Saturday to take on the fourth ranked team in the country.
The Cougars wrapped up the Big 12 regular season title Monday night with a 69-61 road win over Texas Tech, who also happened to be the only team to defeat Kelvin Sampson's Cougars.
Wes Miller met with the media Thursday afternoon to discuss what makes preparing for Houston so difficult.
"I think they've won more games in the last four years than anybody in college basketball, so that speaks for itself," Miller said when questioned about the game prep. "Second Big 12 title (in two years in the league) speaks for itself. We know how hard the league is. We just have to have a great prep and go down there and compete. I think it's that simple."
"These guys on our team, at this point, have played a number of big games against really, really good opponent and in really tough environments and we're going to have to rely on that experience and wisdom."
After starting league play 2-7, UC has won 5 of their last 7 games, including their last two with home wins over TCU and Baylor. The Bearcats most recent stretch has the team playing with more confidence.
"Over the last 3 weeks or so, they reset. They hit the reset button in a really healthy way and they've always been working, but they're working with more intention," Miller explained. "They're playing with more confidence. They're playing more connected on both ends. I think that looks like they're playing harder, I don't know if I would say that because I don't think we weren't not playing hard, but it's more life in their play collectively and I think that started with a mindset shift and we have to continue to do that and build on that. "
Other topics covered during Miller's media session included:
- Preparing for Houston defensively
- Difference in Dillon Mitchell over the last two games
- Simas Lukosius update after returning from injury
- Perimeter play/Shooting of Milos Uzan, Emmanuel Sharp, and LJ Cryer
- How Miller's team has regained their confidence and the mindset of his team heading in to Saturday
- Defending the inside duo of Joseph Tugler and J'Wan Roberts
- Josh Reed's consistency and his increased playing time over the last six games
