Down The Drive - Cincinnati Bearcats Basketball 2017-18 PreviewA Cincinnati Bearcats blog for the moderately intelligenthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48741/downthedrive-fave.png2017-11-09T14:08:02-05:00http://www.downthedrive.com/rss/stream/161728332017-11-09T14:08:02-05:002017-11-09T14:08:02-05:00Eight Predictions for 2017-18 Cincinnati Bearcats Basketball
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<img alt="Kansas State v Cincinnati" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dc0LW3iDLeB154-iRCKBBab9Zyc=/0x175:3712x2650/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57534379/654619116.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>An “elite eight” of predictions. That’s what we call foreshadowing. </p> <p id="OAjpOh">We made it. In less than 24 hours, <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/">Cincinnati Bearcats</a> basketball will be back in our lives full force. They will open the season against the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/teams/savannah-st-tigers">Savannah State Tigers</a> at BB&T Arena tomorrow at noon sharp. But there is a whole season to be played after that. With expectations seeming to grow by the minute for this UC squad, its time we sit down and set them ourselves, with eight (this number will come up again) predictions.</p>
<h2 id="BYNBcw">1. Jacob Evans will average at least 15 points per game and lead the team in scoring</h2>
<p id="aJ8gug">There are a number of players who will be gunning for Evans’ scoring crown from last season when he put up 13.5 points per game. <span>Cane Broome</span> is a volume scorer, <span>Kyle Washington</span> was only a shade behind Evans just last year and <span>Keith Williams</span> and <span>Trevor Moore</span> are freshmen who can score the rock. But that doesn’t matter. Evans is the best offensive option on the team and he’ll get the bulk of chances. With Troy Caupain and <span>Kevin Johnson</span> gone, there will be some cracks that need to be filled, which is why Evans should not only lead the team in scoring, but post a career-high in points in the process.</p>
<h2 id="OaRkee">2. <span>Cane Broome</span> will set a career-high in assists</h2>
<p id="egB2IH">Broome accumulated a total of 165 dimes in two years at Sacred Heart. He won’t reach that combined number, but with loads of talent around him, I’d expect UC’s new starting point guard to at least reach the 100-assist mark, which would be far beyond the best mark of his career. A crafty scorer, Broome has the handles to run an offense smoothly. He’s just got to show the instincts and court vision of a distributor just a bit more than he did at Sacred Heart. </p>
<h2 id="hQNhjb">3. Keith Williams will play more minutes than any other freshman</h2>
<p id="FSTF0T">With such a deep and experienced roster, most of the new guys won’t get on the floor very often. However, Mick Cronin has been willing to play high impact rookies early, as shown with Evans and <span>Jarron Cumberland</span> in recent years. In UC’s two exhibition games against Bellarmine and Embry-Riddle, Williams played 21 and 15 minutes, respectively. That was more than Moore, <span>Eliel Nsoseme</span> and <span>Mamoudou Diarra</span> and makes sense, since someone has to fill in as the offensive spark off the bench now that Cumberland is headed to the starting lineup. </p>
<h2 id="xInZ0v">4. <span>Nysier Brooks</span> will play at least 13 minutes per game</h2>
<p id="rkv03w">This isn’t the most exciting projection, but Brooks really developed nicely down the stretch and has shown off improved ability through the offseason and into the exhibition portion of the schedule. He played an excellent game in limited minutes against Bellarmine, finishing with 11 points and four rebounds over 14 minutes. He also had 14 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks in the Red/Black scrimmage. While Gary Clark and <span>Washington</span> will take the bulk of time in the froncourt, someone will need to spell them and Brooks will be first in line and, now that he has a year under his belt, his minutes will grow as well. </p>
<h2 id="Dr4kdG">5. At least one Bearcat will be on the American Athletic Conference first team</h2>
<p id="95nktJ">When the coaches of the AAC <a href="http://theamerican.org/news/2017/10/13/MBB_1013171801.aspx">voted on their preseason favorites</a>, they made some odd choices. Picking UC to win the league was smart, but it came with a puzzling lack of hardware for the individuals on the team. Not a single Bearcat was predicted to earn first-team all-conference honors. You can argue that UC is a team without a star and is greater by the sum of its parts, but it still seemed a bit contradictory. To be fair, Evans, Washington and Clark were all selected to the second-team, but I expect at least one of them (probably Evans) to get a promotion.</p>
<h2 id="SShpK2">6. UC will win the American Athletic Conference</h2>
<p id="bbwTkM">Third time is a charm, right? This is the third-straight season I’ve predicted the Bearcats would win the league and so far I’m 0-for-2. It’s not as if they haven’t been close. Last year, they went 16-2 in league play and reached the conference championship game. Unfortunately, SMU went 17-1 and beat them in said game. The year before that they went a respectable 12-6 (Temple won with a 14-4 mark) and got ousted in four overtimes by eventual champion UConn during the conference tournament. The field will be tough again this year what with Wichita State in the mix, but this is the best team Cronin has had in a while. The opportunity that presents won’t be squandered.</p>
<h2 id="GJl9rK">7. ...and make the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament</h2>
<p id="O0ghEN">That’s right. You heard me. This is the deepest and best team in the AAC and one of the best in the country overall. In his <a href="http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology">first bracket projection of the season</a>, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi pegged UC as a No. 3 seed, which would put them in the running for a deep run in the tourney, a place that has been filled with more speed bumps then green lights recently. In addition, the Bearcats are No. 11 in KenPom’s preseason ratings (that’s in the Elite Eight ballpark) and <a href="https://www.si.com/college-basketball/2017/10/31/ncaa-351-team-preseason-rankings-projections-seeds">No. 6 according to Sports Illustrated</a>. It’s a foregone conclusion that UC will make the tournament, but this is the year they play deep into March.</p>
<h2 id="m1VuX8">8. One Bearcat will be a second round pick in the NBA Draft</h2>
<p id="doFukQ">Technically, this is a prediction for next offseason, but I really think there is a decent chance that someone (Evans again) plays well enough for a team at the pro level to take a flyer on them in the second round. According to <a href="http://www.nbadraft.net/2018mock_draft">NBADraft.net’s most recent mock</a>, Evans is slated to go No. 53 overall to the Washington Wizards. That seems right. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2017/11/9/16628166/eight-predictions-for-2017-18-cincinnati-bearcats-basketballPhil Neuffer2017-11-08T14:11:01-05:002017-11-08T14:11:01-05:00Returning Player Refresher: Gary Clark
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Cincinnati at Tulane" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/If5qnmVrxpIORf6_QHcMQIhUAB4=/0x32:2561x1739/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57522015/usa_today_9828380.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>This is Cary Clark’s team. That’s not a problem at all.</p> <p id="14HOCI">If the 2016-17 <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/">Cincinnati Bearcats</a> were Troy Caupain’s team, then this year’s version belongs to Gary Clark. Kyle Washington may also be a senior and Jacob Evans could be the biggest star, but Clark is the straw that stirs the drink. He has filled that underlying and unassuming role since he got on campus, starting in 101 games over the last three years. As he ventures out for his final season, Clark has a chance to be the leader for one of the best Mick Cronin teams. </p>
<p id="NycIhA">Clark isn’t your typical MVP, but that’s the role he was born to play for the Bearcats. Over the course of three seasons he has been nothing but consistent, and that continued last season when he improved offensively while continuing his fine work on the boards and defense. </p>
<p id="FH9Myt">It is the last two categories where Clark shines the most. The 2016 American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year posted his third-straight campaign with a defensive rating below 92 last season, although the 91.9 reading was a career-high and coupled that with the best offensive rating of his three years (126.9). There’s no reason to worry, however. Clark didn’t suddenly decide he wanted to be an offensive guy, as he ranked second on the team in defensive rating and had more defensive win shares (2.4) than anyone else on the roster. </p>
<p id="yXM7iN">Clark’s defensive stylings are built on his instincts, quick hands and long frame. He reads opposing players well, is active and able to disrupt the path of the ball whether its being dribbled, passed or shot. He combined for 3.0 steals and blocks per game last season, although his block and steal percentages were both the lowest of his career. But that’s where numbers come up short in player evaluation, because when you needed a stop, Clark was the guy to produce it. </p>
<p id="JL9utU">The same could be said of a rebound, no matter what side of the floor you want to discuss. Clark averaged a healthy 7.9 boards per game, but he didn’t just pad his totals with defensive boards, he also worked hard on the offensive glass. In fact, the always active offensive rebounder ranked second in the AAC in the category, reaching past 100 for the second-straight season. His rebounding totals were down from the previous season, but that can be partially put on the arrival of Washington, a stellar rebounder in his own right. </p>
<p id="XBKLi7">Clark’s effort on the offensive boards led to more than a few buckets, which came a bit more frequently to Clark in his junior season as his usage rate hit an all-time high of 18.7 percent. While his scoring total only elevated slightly (10.8 from 10.4), Clark expanded his range, taking more than one three a game, while improving his ability to finish around the rim. He set a personal best in field goal percentage (.529) thanks to lethally efficient work close to the basket, while his true shooting (.585) and effective field goal (.554) percentages were both the best of his career. With a PER of 24.9 to boot, Clark was as well rounded a player as you could find in the AAC. </p>
<p id="Vf0kgF">Cronin and the Bearcats are going to get the same type of player this season. We know who Clark is, and its <a href="https://ohvarsity.com/gary-clark-is-a-problem-the-origin-3e9c6890c8cc">more than just a problem</a>. He’s a pillar of consistent excellence who can take over games on defense, clean the glass and provide a steady and improved offensive game. And now he’s the undisputed leader of the team. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2017/11/8/16624740/returning-player-refresher-gary-clark-cincinnati-bearcats-basketball-previewPhil Neuffer2017-11-07T14:01:01-05:002017-11-07T14:01:01-05:00Returning Player Refresher: Jacob Evans
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Memphis at Cincinnati" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kw2EebMP6j28GBmp-pYitd4UfFY=/0x0:2639x1759/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57503399/usa_today_9909280.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>It was once said that this game is about getting buckets. Evans does that better than anyone in a Bearcat uniform. </p> <p id="Hv2AM2">There has been a lot of talk this offeseason about scoring. That’s an odd thing to happen to the <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/">Cincinnati Bearcats</a>. Fair or not, they are a pigeonholed as a defensive juggernaut that is painful to watch on offense. With the breakouts of <span>Kyle Washington</span> and <span>Jarron Cumberland</span> last season, as well as the additions of <span>Cane Broome</span> and freshmen <span>Keith Williams</span> and <span>Trevor Moore</span>, there is a lot expected on the offensive side this year. While all those players are excellent, and will make UC even more offensively dynamic, let’s not forget who the No. 1 scoring option is. </p>
<p id="4rGSbG">Jacob Evans was the leading scorer for the Bearcats last season and he should be once again this year. While his 13.5 points per game scoring average wasn’t Sean Kilpatrick-esque, it was better than anyone else on the roster. Plus, its not like he couldn’t mess around and drop 20 on some poor opponent’s head. In fact, he had six 20-point outings as a sophomore, including back-to-back 20-point showings in the American Athletic Conference Tournament. </p>
<p id="X3Rdbj">What is most exhilarating about Evans the scorer is just how damn efficient he is. After posting shooting splits of .372/.333/.804 as a freshman, he really improved his shot and finishing moves. During last season, he knocked in 47.3 percent of his shots from the floor, including an impressive 41.8 percent from long range. He made nearly two triples per game, while only taking 4.6 attempts from such a distance. With a true shooting percentage of .597 and an effective field goal percentage of .570, Evans was not just chucking up shot after shot and hoping some went in. He was careful with shot selection and made the difficult ones too. His offensive work led to the third-highest PER on the team (22.8) as he led the team in offensive win shares (3.8) and win shares overall (6.0), barely squeaking past <span>Gary Clark</span>. </p>
<p id="mabrIA">A slight jump in usage percentage also showed that Mick Cronin was putting even more trust in his sophomore small forward, particularly after Evans came through and ripped the starting job away from <span>Shaq Thomas</span> the previous year. That trust was clearly built on Evans’ improvements offensively, but also went hand-in-hand with his work in other areas. While his rebounding rate went down, Evans became a more willing passer as a sophomore, averaging 2.7 assists per game. In addition, he put in the work defensively, snagging 1.3 steals per game while posting a solid defensive rating (96.5). </p>
<p id="byYIYF">Evans has now graduated to the role of leader. Other than <span>Clark</span>, there is no player on the team more important to the cause. Evans is the alpha scorer for a UC team that has watched expectations grow this summer and fall. He will be given every chance to take another step forward as a junior, especially as he plays with arguably the deepest team Mick Cronin has had since 2013-14 or 2011-12. On a team with so many contributors, not everyone can be a star, but Evans will be. If you need UC’s AAC Player of the Year and first-team all-conference contender, he’s your guy. Just wait and watch the buckets fall.</p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2017/11/7/16617370/returning-player-refresher-jacob-evans-cincinnati-bearcats-basketball-previewPhil Neuffer2017-11-06T14:09:01-05:002017-11-06T14:09:01-05:00Returning Player Refresher: Jarron Cumberland
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<img alt="Kansas State v Cincinnati" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/I2nZghJvERPSWg8s74SjIP8bvAE=/0x0:3353x2235/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57475077/654633100.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>He arrived in more ways than one last season. In 2017-18 he will have a real chance to make an even bigger statement. </p> <p id="cXu9O2">We always knew <span>Jarron Cumberland</span> was going to be good. I’m just not certain we knew it would be so quickly and in such big spots. He scored in double figures five times in the first 19 games of the 2016-17 season, but it was not until game 20 that he really arrived. With the <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/">Cincinnati Bearcats</a> attempting to end a three-game losing streak to arch rival Xavier, Cumberland contributed 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting in a performance that may not jump off the page, but was impressive for how varied and skilled it was. He knocked down threes and showed no fear working his way to the rim while playing in a rivalry that could have easily eaten him and spit him back out. </p>
<p id="F6hH0P">Offensive prowess is what Cumberland was always going to bring to the table. He can be a physical player who is willing to put the ball on the deck while having a quick release from beyond the arc as well. As a freshman, the four-star prospect quickly made himself a go-to guy for the offense off the bench. He averaged 8.3 points per game with shooting splits of .493/.355/.644. Projected out over 40 minutes, Cumberland would have averaged 17.5 points per game while his offensive rating trailed only <span>Gary Clark</span> and <span>Jacob Evans</span> among Bearcat players. </p>
<p id="Y578Rh">His underlying shooting numbers were also stellar, with a true shooting percentage of .602 and an effective field goal percentage of .587 to go with a PER of 21.7. If you’re curious, that last number was better than those of <span>Troy Caupain</span> and behind only <span>Clark</span>, <span>Kyle Washington</span> and Evans on the team.</p>
<p id="0lFNrE">When it came to the other end of the floor, Cumberland wasn’t a shut down defender, but he did his part and is only going to get better. His 96.4 defensive rating was pretty great for a freshmen, who is still learning to defend at the college level, but he has certainly gone through a bunch of the curriculum already. </p>
<p id="oDmJPk">Aside from points and defense, Cumberland didn’t add a ton. He averaged just 2.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game, which was fine since <span>Clark</span>, <span>Washington</span>, <span>Nysier Brooks</span> and <span>Tre Scott</span> had the boards on lock (and will again this season) while <span>Caupain</span> and <span>Justin Jenifer</span> did most of the distributing. I’d like to see him make some more passes this season, but not too many since his best skill is scoring. </p>
<p id="pWuHPm">As he enters his second season, Cumberland is about to see a whole lot more time on the floor. He averaged 19.1 minutes per game last season as a chief reserve, but with Caupain and <span>Kevin Johnson</span> gone, he will not step into a starting role beside Evans, Clark, Washington and Cane Broome. He only played 22 minutes in UC’s exhibition against Bellarmine, but he was part of the starting group and had 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting. But that’s in an exhibition in which just about everyone got more than 10 minutes. Cumberland is part of the extremely bright future for this Bearcats program and that future is now. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2017/11/6/16609684/returning-player-refresher-jarron-cumberland-cincinnati-bearcats-college-basketball-previewPhil Neuffer2017-11-02T07:56:46-04:002017-11-02T07:56:46-04:00Cincinnati Looks Just Fine in 89-61 Exhibition Win over Bellarmine
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Cincinnati at Connecticut" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/YtceoL1NYk13W-6AW4sJUumSpg4=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57435179/usa_today_9919255.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>With the entire roster featured, the Bearcats rolled to an easy exhibition win as they continue to gear up for the regular season. </p> <p id="ZVZloi">It wasn’t regular season college basketball, but it was close. The <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/">Cincinnati Bearcats</a> played their first exhibition game of 2017 yesterday and looked very good doing so, crushing Bellarmine by a score of 89-61. </p>
<p id="t7zB8G">Minutes were spread around the entire roster, with <span>Gary Clark</span>, <span>Jarron Cumberland</span> and <span>Justin Jenifer</span> the team leaders, each playing 22 minutes. Eleven players logged at least 10 minutes, including freshmen <span>Trevor Moore</span> (17 minutes), <span>Keith Williams</span> (21) and <span>Eliel Nsoseme</span> (11). </p>
<p id="rR16qF"><span>Kyle Washington</span> led the charge, scoring 15 points in as many minutes, making 6-of-11 field goal tries, including 1-of-3 from beyond the arc. He also secured four rebounds. <span>Clark</span> was up to his old tricks as well, adding five boards and three blocks to his seven points, which came on 3-of-5 shooting. Clearly <span>Washington</span> and <span>Clark</span> are going to be an incredible duo down low, but both hit a triple in the exhibition so expect a bit more spacing as well.</p>
<p id="GjyTbY">Both Williams and Moore showed the scoring acumen that made them such intriguing prospects, netting 12 and 11 points, respectively. Williams did all his work from inside the three-point line (6-of-10), while Moore let it fly from long range, nailing three treys. Cumberland (12 points) and <span>Nysier Brooks</span> (11) each finished in double figures as well. The sudden development of Brooks as an offensive contributor has been fun to watch. Whether or not that translates into the regular season remains to be seen, obviously, but if his scoring touch has improved, he’ll be pushing for more minutes. </p>
<p id="wqGmmL">Both Jacob Evans (two points, three assists) and <span>Cane Broome</span> (five points, four assists), were more subdued on the scoring side of things, which will certainly change as both should be playing with their eyes on the basket rather than on distributing. Still, a willingness to share the ball from two of the best scorers on the roster shows how balanced this team is. </p>
<p id="X5rZMU">Obviously, all of the results from this game (including a 54-16 advantage in points in the paint) need to be taken with a giant grain of salt. Teams like Wichita State, Xavier and other challengers are not going to be as easily dispatched as Bellarmine. But this little appetizer should satiate us a little until UC tips off the regular season on Nov. 10 against Savannah State. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2017/11/2/16597420/cincinnati-bearcats-college-basketball-preview-looks-just-fine-in-89-61-exhibition-win-bellarminePhil Neuffer2017-11-01T15:24:02-04:002017-11-01T15:24:02-04:00Returning Player Refresher: Kyle Washington
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Cincinnati at Houston" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/pJ_aP1Pie0SzurKP4dwS_CGSbrY=/0x0:3965x2643/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57424679/usa_today_9796074.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>A lot was expected of Washington in his first season after transferring from NC State. He didn’t disappoint.</p> <p id="ptSz9C">Transfers don’t always work out. Sometimes the fit isn’t as good as it appeared on paper. Those are two sentences that have nothing to do with <span>Kyle Washington</span>, who transferred to Cincinnati after playing for NC State. <span>Washington</span>’s seamless transition from Wolfpack member to Bearcat was one of the brightest threads in the 2016-17 tapestry for UC basketball. Now entering his senior season, Washington is the second half of one of the best frontcourt duos in college basketball. </p>
<p id="k1lp8l">Washington made his presence felt immediately last season. He scored at will, rebounded like crazy, blocked shots like a madman and handed out assists. In the first eight games of the 2016-17 season, the 6’9 forward looked like an All-American. He posted a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds, which paired nicely with five assists and two blocks, in the opener against Brown. In those first eight games he kept those numbers up, averaging 17.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, while shooting 59.2 percent from the floor. That torrid pace didn’t continue exactly, but it certainly built the foundation for a stellar campaign.</p>
<p id="JxL1fW">One of the things that Washington did best was complement his frontcourt partner Gary Clark. Whereas Clark is a dominant defender and rebounder, Washington provides more of a scoring punch. Don’t get it twisted, Clark can still score and is a more efficient offensive force. Washington is no slouch on boards or D, but his offensive output was superior to that of Clark at least in terms of volume, which opened up more opportunities as teams struggled to figure out how to defend both of them. </p>
<p id="uWdAFF">Washington set a career-high in points scored (12.9 PG) and field goal percentage (.510) and he even showed an ability to stretch the floor, knocking down 35.7 percent of this three-point tries. He posted an offensive rating of 115.1 and 2.4 of his 4.4 win shares came on the offensive side of things. He ranked behind only Clark in PER (23.9) and behind only <span>Jacob Evans</span> in points produced (421). Additionally, the offense really ran through Washington when he was on the floor. His usage rate (27.3 percent) was the highest on the team. </p>
<p id="H3F5wf">Washington and Clark weren’t just well-paired offensively, they worked well together on defense. While not nearly the same one-on-one defender as Clark, Washington was adept at protecting the rim, ranking second on the team in block percentage (5.0), while producing a defensive rating of 93.8, which ranked third on the roster. His willingness to come in and defend like any self-respecting Bearcat <em>and</em> provide interior scoring that was lacking turned him into an irreplaceable member of the team. </p>
<p id="CEJJhn">Two years of work from Washington will not be enough for him to become an all-time great for the program. However, with shades of Kenyon Martin in his game, Washington will be a critical piece as the Bearcats embark on a encore to last year’s 30-win squad. And to think he didn’t even start his college career here. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2017/11/1/16592302/returning-player-refresher-kyle-washington-cincinnati-bearcats-basketball-previewPhil Neuffer2017-10-31T14:04:02-04:002017-10-31T14:04:02-04:00Returning Player Refresher: Nysier Brooks
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Xavier at Cincinnati" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7ICNZyCW3uiX5WnJdfUADOoEo04=/0x0:1704x1136/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57371797/usa_today_9840327.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>If you need a block, Brooks is your guy. </p> <p id="ibaHCZ">I’m glad I’m writing <span>Nysier Brooks</span>’ RPR after the <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/">Cincinnati Bearcats</a> played their Red/Black scrimmage on Saturday. The reason for that is simple: Brooks balled out in the exhibition. His 14 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks showed a lot in an exhibition game that doesn’t mean anything in the standings, but did <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/2017/10/29/16566626/things-we-learned-from-cincinnati-bearcats-basketball-preview-red-black-scrimmage">give a glimpse into how this year’s team will perform</a>. </p>
<p id="ltK1cs">Now, that glimpse is obviously skewed. <span>Keith Williams</span> played 37 minutes and as good as he might be, he won’t be getting anywhere near that many minutes this season. That means that Brooks’ numbers were also more inflated than they will be during the season, obviously, but it doesn’t mean he will not take a step forward on the development side.</p>
<p id="SXZfgL">At 6’11 and without an outside shot, Brooks is a traditional big guy, especially in terms of Bearcats basketball. He defends well, whether its one-on-one or in help situations. He also blocks shots, grabs rebounds and pretty much just out hustles whoever he is matched up with. Brooks only averaged 8.5 minutes per game last season, meaning that hustle was only felt for short periods. However, he did start to see more time on the floor in the second half of the season, seemingly supplanting <span>Tre Scott</span> as the top frontcourt option off the bench. In the final five games of the season, Brooks played at least 10 minutes four times, including both NCAA Tournament games. Now, he didn’t produce much in the box score during that time, but he showed that Cronin’s trust in him, even if its just as a reserve, had grown. </p>
<p id="KXCEyd">On a per game basis, Brooks’ numbers obviously aren’t anything to marvel at. He averaged 2.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.7 blocks per game. If you extrapolate that over 40 minutes, you’re left with solid, if not spectacular production (11.3 points, 7.6 rebounds) except when you look at his blocks. Brooks would have averaged more than three rejections per game if he played all 40 minutes. Of course, that’s never going to happen. Even Troy Caupain didn’t do that, but the fact remains, Brooks can protect the rim. In fact, he led the Bearcats in block percentage last season (9.2 percent). The next closest player was <span>Kyle Washington</span>, who was a whole four percent below him. </p>
<p id="GZ8Rjq">In year two for Brooks, minutes may be a little more generously passed his way, especially if he really has improved as a scorer and a rebounder, as he illustrated in the Red/Black scrimmage. He was fine offensively last season, in that he put the ball in the basket on the rare occasions he had, shooting 52.8 percent from the floor. But his offensive game, which may never be as spectacular as that of, say, <span>Washington</span>, needs to catch up with his defensive work at least a little. Brooks had a defensive rating of 95.3, which is pretty good. His offensive rating (99.2) did not meet that standard or come particularly close to it. </p>
<p id="mCs9en">Now that he has a year under his belt, Brooks will be expected to improve, even if he plays a similar role to last season. It looks like he’s ready to do just that. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2017/10/31/16566736/returning-player-refresher-nysier-brooks-cincinnati-bearcats-college-basketball-previewPhil Neuffer2017-10-30T14:25:01-04:002017-10-30T14:25:01-04:00The 10 Most Important Games for Cincinnati Bearcats Basketball
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: AAC Conference Tournament-Cincinnati vs SMU" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/QRCLrzbK4JBQmjCnot1ZFW7g2Bs=/103x0:2898x1863/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57363641/usa_today_9938068.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Every game matters. These ones just matter a little more. </p> <p id="t3z7HN">Last season, the <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/">Cincinnati Bearcats</a> won a bunch of games. Thirty to be exact. And you can’t get to that kind of win total with out some wins against stiff competition or without a few dramatic finishes. There were plenty of those. There was the overtime grinder against Iowa State. The surprisingly thrilling finish against Marshall. Difficult clashes against Temple. The two-point win over SMU. And the biggest one of all, the return of the Crosstown Shootout title belt. </p>
<p id="8X6SCW">The Bearcats have a rather tough schedule this season, so more epic contests will abound. Here are the ones that will provide the most drama.</p>
<h2 id="rxe96N">10. Jan. 4 at Temple</h2>
<p id="YuphSk">The Owls were a real thorn in the side last season. Although UC swept the season series, they were tougher games than you might have expected. Temple may only be ranked No. 67 by KenPom this season, but Fran Dunphy always finds a way to coach up this guys. Plus, the Owls will be sporting the stylings of <span>Obi Enechionyia</span> and <span>Quinton Rose</span> once more. This team isn’t expected to be awesome, as it was picked seventh in the American Athletic Conference preseason poll, but it could surprise some teams. Cincinnati can’t be one of them.</p>
<h2 id="pAl6lU">9. Feb. 3 at UConn</h2>
<p id="ZVwD8X">Every game against UConn is a rock fight. It doesn’t matter if the Huskies are at the top of the AAC heap or if they’re down near the bottom. These two former Big East teams are the closest thing to a rivalry the AAC has and they play like it. Well, except for last season, when the Bearcats won by margins of 14 and 20 points. Still, traveling to take on the Huskies isn’t a trip that should be taken lightly. </p>
<h2 id="TReqxD">8. Dec. 31 vs. Memphis</h2>
<p id="BMlvdC">Memphis is another team that is traditionally competitive but isn’t exactly at the height of its powers right now. Despite that, this matchup with the Tigers is an important one if for no other reason than its the league opener. If UC is going to win the AAC like the league coaches suspect, then getting off to a good start in conference play will be important. </p>
<h2 id="QEgqnl">7. Jan. 16 at UCF</h2>
<p id="dKUXwO">With <span>B.J. Taylor</span> running the show on the court and Johnny Dawkins doing it from the sidelines, the Knights are a team on the rise. While Scott Frost may not have anything to do with that, the fact that UCF is molding into a competitive threat in basketball and football shows that something is going right down in Orlando. The Knights won 24 games last season and that included an upset of UC in late February. Hopefully the Bearcats will be out for revenge this winter.</p>
<h2 id="Yqimpf">6. Feb 11. at SMU</h2>
<p id="0JUHxh">There’s a reason the UConn rivalry has lost some of its luster in the last couple of years and its not just because the Huskies have taken a step back. SMU has risen toward the top of the AAC and pushed UC out of the way to rack up two league titles in the last three seasons. <span>Shake Milton</span> is a contender for AAC Player of the Year and the Mustangs have talent around him, ranking No. 24 according to KenPom. The Mustangs beat the Bearcats twice last season, including a convincing victory in the AAC tourney. It’s time that UC returns the favor.</p>
<h2 id="9sAAQ6">5. Feb. 18 vs. Wichita State</h2>
<p id="BQUckg">SMU and UConn are the chief rivals for UC basketball but the Shockers are next in line. Wichita State is a mid-major program that is stepping into the #Power6 after years of dominating against competition at all levels. Currently No. 4 according to KenPom, the Shockers boast a roster of talented guys like <span>Landry Shamet</span> and a track record of five-straight NCAA Tournament appearances. This will be UC’s introduction and chance to greet its new league mates with a home victory.</p>
<h2 id="MFa3hz">4. Dec. 9 vs. Florida</h2>
<p id="hvWEKb">December is going to be a difficult month for the Bearcats and this is one of the reasons. Big things are expected from the Gators, who rank No. 8 in KenPom’s preseason ratings. This game will be played in Newark, New Jersey as part of the Never Forget Tribute Classic, and it will be a marquee game for the season as a whole. The Gators made it all the way to the Elite Eight last season, so this is a great chance for UC to prove its got the chops to go deep in March before the New Year comes. </p>
<h2 id="FLVAAm">3. Dec. 16 at UCLA</h2>
<p id="EzkzFI"><span>Lonzo Ball</span> won’t be playing for the Bruins but this is still a game to circle on your calendars. UCLA knocked UC out of the NCAA Tournament last season, robbing it of its first Sweet 16 appearance since 2012. This year, even without Ball, the Bruins should be a competitive bunch. They are ranked No. 29 by KenPom after all. That’s not elite level, but its still in the NCAA Tournament bubble. That’s a bubble the Bearcats would like nothing more than to burst for their foes from Southern California.</p>
<h2 id="7AvNLV">2. Dec. 2 at Xavier</h2>
<p id="BJcutg">If the Bearcats can only win one game this season, this is the one any self respecting UC fan would choose. UC finally got the monkey of its back in the Crosstown Shootout last season, dispatching of the Musketeers 86-78 at Fifth Third Arena. A welcoming crowd will not await in this one, which comes rather early in the season. It is also part of an incredibly challenging run in early December for the Bearcats, as this game is followed by the tests against Florida and UCLA.</p>
<h2 id="j2qp3P">1. March 4 at Wichita State</h2>
<p id="IoGQK5">Luckily, we don’t have to worry about UC winning just one game. The Bearcats should win a whole bunch. That’s why Xavier only comes in second on this list. While a win in the Crosstown Shootout is necessary for a successful season, the Bearcats have their eyes set higher. Considered the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the league (with the order depending on who you ask), this finale could decide who wins the regular season title and provide momentum heading into the postseason. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2017/10/30/16563786/the-10-most-important-games-for-cincinnati-bearcats-basketball-previewPhil Neuffer