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Some games need marketing and whatnot to build up hype. This isn’t one of those games. The No. 10 Cincinnati Bearcats will be out for revenge against the No. 11 Wichita State Shockers, with the American Athletic Conference title on the line at Charles Koch Arena. Fittingly, this game will be played at high noon, as the two best teams in the AAC finish the regular season in the most epic way imaginable.
- Tipoff: 12 p.m. ET
- Television: CBS
- Announcing crew: Andrew Catalon (play-by-play) and Steve Lappas (analyst)
- Radio: 700 WLW
- Announcing crew: Dan Hoard (play-by-play) and Terry Nelson (analyst)
- Series history: A blistering offensive effort from the Shockers at BB&T Arena ruined a Sunday for the Bearcats a few weeks ago. Despite that 76-72 loss, the Bearcats still lead the all-time series 18-12. However, playing in Wichita has produced more parity, with the Shockers owning a slim 8-7 advantage at home.
If this is Mick Cronin’s best team, then Sunday is the time to prove it. Even though the Bearcats have already clinched at least a share of the league crown, no UC team has won a conference championship outright since 2002. With a win on Sunday that drought will end. The Bearcats (26-4, 15-2 AAC) have won three-straight games since falling to Wichita State earlier this season and are building momentum for a big run in March.
Here are the starters for the soon to be AAC champion Bearcats.
- Justin Jenifer (G) - 124.3 offensive rating/94.8 defensive rating
- Jarron Cumberland (G) - 109.2/89.0
- Jacob Evans (G/F) - 121.7/87.4
- Kyle Washington (F) - 113.9/85.9
- Gary Clark (F) - 135.1/79.8
This isn’t just a big one for UC. Wichita State (24-5, 14-3) has won seven-straight games and really elevated its reputation after a bit of a slow stretch during the middle of the season. However, the Shockers still need to win on Sunday to clinch their own share of the AAC title. UC will just have to disappoint them.
Here are the starters for the Shockers.
- Landry Shamet (G) - 130.8/105.1
- Austin Reaves (G) - 126.4/102.8
- Shaquille Morris (C) - 124.5/97.7
- Zach Brown (F) - 112.4/102.1
- Rashard Kelly (F) - 117.7/100.0