Troy Caupain Season in Review

The Numbers

• 13.0 points, 15.6 per 40 minutes
• 4.8 assists, 5.6 per 40 minutes
• 1.1 steals, 1.2 per 40 minutes
• 375/.324/.788 shooting splits

Every college basketball team in America has its leader. The player that puts everything on the line for 40 minutes a game, the player that goes that extra mile to make sure his team will not fail, the player that motivates his team with his actions on and off the court and the player who is simply the heartbeat of the team.

For the Cincinnati Bearcats Men’s Basketball team, that player is Troy Caupain.

Ever since Caupain arrived on Cincinnati’s campus, the Midlothian, Virginia native has kept a very strong work ethic that has helped him improve every season since his 2013-14 debut. Caupain played a reserve role his freshman season, averaging 5.4 points per game. What made every Bearcat fan impressed was how he finished second on the team in free-throw percentage and assists, while finishing third on the team in three-point percentage. Caupain played a more impactful role his sophomore season, scoring 9.6 points per game while continuing to pace the way in dishing the rock with a team-high 3.6 assists per game.

Oh yeah, remember when he saved the Bearcats season with a running layup at the buzzer to force overtime in the first round of the NCAA tournament against Purdue? That was off the charts.

Fast forward to his most recent season this past winter, and he only got better. Caupain led the Bearcats in scoring at 13.0 points per game and tallied 160 assists for the season, the most for any Bearcat since Cashmere Wright had 169 in the 2010-11 season. He also tallied his first career collegiate double-double against UCF on Feb. 4 with 18 points and a career-best 10 assists. Caupain continued to be one of the most reliable and consistent Bearcats from the free throw line as well, with a steady 78.8 percent average.

Best of the Best

Friday March 11 vs. UConn, AAC Tournament Quarterfinal

As heartbreaking, gut-wrenching and devastating as this four overtime game was, it showcased one of the best performances in Bearcat basketball history. Caupain heroically kept Cincinnati alive with a 37-point, 10 rebound performance, while playing 56 of the 60 minutes without committing a single turnover. Caupain’s 37 points were the most point any Bearcat player has scored in a single game under Mick Cronin, and the most points in a game since Steve Logan dropped 41 against Southern Miss in 2002. Caupain put the Bearcats on his back like any leader would with his incredible play on that faithful Friday afternoon.

For Next Year

With graduating seniors such as Octavius Ellis and Shaq Thomas leaving the program, more responsibility will fall on Caupain in his final season as a Bearcat. His leadership will go a long way in how the 2016-17 season will go for the Bearcats. However, if these last three seasons are indicative of how Caupain will lead the team, UC will be in good hands. In the offseason, Caupain has picked up some accolades. He was named first-team AAC all-conference, and was named to the NABC All-District 25 second team. Caupain has one more chapter to write in Cincinnati this upcoming season. It is his team now, and he has one more chance to take the Bearcats to the next level and finish off his already illustrious UC career in style.