Down The Drive - Cincinnati Bearcats Basketball 2018-19 PreviewA Cincinnati Bearcats blog for the moderately intelligenthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48741/downthedrive-fave.png2018-11-06T14:19:25-05:00http://www.downthedrive.com/rss/stream/177179612018-11-06T14:19:25-05:002018-11-06T14:19:25-05:00Nine Predictions for 2018-19 Cincinnati Bearcats Basketball
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Cincinnati at UCLA" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CS0AHxjvBey8d53OQRbOteqU_4g=/0x0:3280x2187/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62201775/usa_today_10481836.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>What can the Bearcats do as an encore to a largely spectacular 2017-18 season? </p> <p id="Iosrgc">In a way, the 2017-18 season was both the best and worst for the <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/">Cincinnati Bearcats</a>. They won a program record 31 games, won the regular season and tournament championships in the American Athletic Conference and were a No. 2 seed in the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/a/march-madness-2018-ncaa-tournament">NCAA Tournament</a>. They also collapsed in the second round of the Big Dance and then had to say goodbye to three of their best players in Gary Clark, Jacob Evans and <span>Kyle Washington</span>.</p>
<p id="0PEB4i">Whatever happens in this coming season, it is unlikely to match the highs <em>and </em>lows of last year. That’s not to say that the Bearcats are going to be bad. Rather, it indicates that this year’s team is probably going to trend back toward the middle, although not fall to mediocrity entirely. So while the sky was the limit last year and the floor was still pretty high, we’ll need to adjust those expectations this time around. </p>
<p id="tbWOKH">For the Bearcats to reach their ultimate potential this season, they need a few things to happen. </p>
<p id="gSeOjv"><span>Jarron Cumberland</span> has to rise to prominence outside of Clifton. He’ll need to be one of the best scorers in the American Athletic Conference and be a shoe-in for all-league honors. </p>
<p id="0Ec2SI">Next, <span>Trevor Moore</span> and <span>Keith Williams</span> each need to take steps forward in their progression to give UC depth and production on the wings. </p>
<p id="FVUdhe">After that, a new guy will need to break out. <span>Rashawn Fredericks</span> is the obvious candidate there, but <span>Logan Johnson</span> could be a difference maker if he can knock down shots and gets the chance in a crowded backcourt. </p>
<p id="t50jO1">Lastly, some combination of Trevon Scott, <span>Nysier Brooks</span>, <span>Eliel Nsoseme</span> and <span>Mamoudou Diarra</span> need to be able to dominate the frontcourt in a manner similar to Clark and <span>Washington</span>. If you add those three things to what you expect (suffocating defense and a winning culture), then there’s no reason to believe the Bearcats won’t be able to pull off another excellent season. </p>
<p id="D1ZOz5">Those are all pretty vague requirements and aren’t a guarantee of what’s to come. That’s what predictions are for and that’s why you’re here. Without further ado, here are this year’s Down the Drive approved predictions. </p>
<h2 id="jIaWXP">
<span>Jarron Cumberland</span> will average the most points per game by a Bearcat since Sean Kilpatrick</h2>
<p id="aBuqVV">In his final season with UC, Kilpatrick averaged 20.6 points per game. Since then, the Bearcats have featured a number of perfectly capable scorers. Jacob Evans and <span>Troy Caupain</span> were the best two of that time, but neither scored more than 13.5 points per game. Obviously that didn’t make a big difference in the standings, but an all hands on deck approach to offense may not work this year.</p>
<p id="zZUNvU">That’s where Cumberland steps in. He is going to be given plenty of chances and his offensive versatility should lend itself to lots of big-time scoring efforts. He already proved what he was capable in last year’s NCAA Tournament (22 points per game) and that was before he became the de facto leader on the roster. Cumberland’s usage percentage rivaled that of Jacob Evans last year and was third among players who appeared in all 36 games. If he can improve his efficiency, then the shot opportunities will be there. All they have to do is fall and this prediction will come true. Expect something in the range of 15 to 17 points per game. </p>
<h2 id="7wS5m6">
<span>Cane Broome</span> will also average in double figures, but no other player will average more than 8.5</h2>
<p id="4mf3ee">Unless Cumberland wants to go out and score 70 points per game, somebody else will have to do some scoring. <span>Broome</span> is the obvious fit. He has a history of offensive success (see his time at Sacred Heart) and as a point guard, he’ll have the ball in his hands quite a bit. However, unlike <span>Justin Jenifer</span>, another point guard, <span>Broome</span> has the ability to create his own shot, knock down attempts from all ranges and craft points out of nothing. Broome was the sixth man off the bench last year and he still averaged 23.2 points per 100 possessions. He’s going to start this year and should manage to get his scoring average up into double digits. </p>
<p id="NSQV7a">After Cumberland and Broome, however, there are no proven and consistent scorers. <span>Williams</span> and <span>Moore</span> both have deep range and solid offensive potential while newcomers like Rashawn Fredericks and <span>Logan Johnson</span> will be top options in the future. For this year, after Cumberland and Broome, the rest of the team will be filled with a lot of guys who score some, but not a ton. </p>
<h2 id="nIkLup">Trevon Scott will record at least five double-doubles</h2>
<p id="5sHOnk">Last Thursday, the Bearcats played an exhibition game against Tusculum. It was a tune-up for Wednesday’s season opener with Ohio State and an easy way for the team to get back into the swing of things. All results from the contest need to be taken with large helpings of sodium, but Scott ripped down 10 rebounds as a starter. It was a promising showing for a player who is already a skilled glass-cleaner. Scott ranked third on the team in total rebounding percentage last season and is now a starter. He isn’t going to be throwing up 10 points or 10 rebounds every night, but if he can find his way to 10 points once in a while, he’ll have a real shot at posting more than a few double-doubles. </p>
<h2 id="gYPNR2">Rashawn Fredericks will be the highest scoring newcomer</h2>
<p id="SjnGtk">Speaking of that exhibition game, Fredericks made his case as the team’s eight or ninth man. That could be enough for him to score more than most of the other newcomers. He only scored five points in the exhibition, but took six shots and played 20 total minutes. Since the majority of the depth is made of returning players like Moore, Williams and <span>Nsoseme</span>, there is only going to be so many chances for new players. Fredericks already has some collegiate experience and the scoring skill to be an offensive pinch-hitter, so he;s the natural choice to be a new guy who produces. </p>
<h2 id="eOTA48">10 different players will start a game</h2>
<p id="vQe144">Seven players started at least one game for the Bearcats last season, but that was with a starting lineup that was largely locked in from the jump. Cumberland and <span>Jenifer</span> are the only returning starters, and Broome was a starter a few times, but after that, there are a lot of guys with varying degrees of playing experience but without proven track records as starters. Mick Cronin is entering a new era for the program and that will mean finding the best combination for the first and second units. Some experimenting will be required and that will mean giving someone besides the opening night starters a chance. </p>
<h2 id="4qwfff">The Bearcats will win the Crosstown Shootout</h2>
<p id="eCYF8Z">Both UC and Xavier are programs in flux. For the Bearcats, its due to player turnover. Clark, Evans and Washington will not be easily replaced. On the other side, Xavier is entering a completely new time after head coach Chris Mack left for Louisville. The Musketeers aren’t going to suddenly regress to a 10-win team by any means, but things will be difficult. The Bearcats still have their identity to lean on and more than a few talented holdovers, whereas Xavier has to replace a new coach and guys like <span>Trevon Bluiett</span> and <span>J.P. Macura</span>. It also helps that this game is at Fifth Third Arena. From where I’m standing, this looks like UC’s turn to grab the edge back in this ancient rivalry. </p>
<h2 id="bnGAYd">The Bearcats will be ranked at some point during the season, but won’t finish there</h2>
<p id="DtHihZ">UC is receiving 21 votes in the preseason top 25 from the Associated Press. That has them ranked 34th in the country, technically. A win against Ohio State in the opener and a hot start through November and December, which feature some pretty big-time games, would vault the Bearcats into the national rankings once more. However, the American Athletic Conference has gotten a lot better all of a sudden, so even if they can survive the gauntlet of the non-conference schedule, which features games against Ohio State, Xaiver, Mississippi State and UCLA, with 10 or so wins, the Bearcats are going to have some troubles in the new year. When all is said and done, this is still a 20-23 win team, but that might not be enough to secure enough votes to be ranked. </p>
<h2 id="pvNsZA">The Bearcats will reach the American Athletic Conference title game, but fall short</h2>
<p id="wnt0qR">UCF. Houston. Wichita State. SMU. Even new-look UConn and Memphis. All of these teams are going to challenge the defending AAC champion Bearcats. Some have been overrated early on and others are the real deal. UC is probably not going to repeat its run to regular season and tournament crowns, but it has enough talent to be one of the teams in the conversation. With Cumberland and Broome, this team has enough firepower to push through to at least the final, but that might be the extent of the potential. However, predictions for March made in November are always difficult to nail, so perhaps when Cumberland is cutting down the nets at FedExForum, you can come back and remind me how wrong I was. </p>
<h2 id="85KO8S">The Bearcats will be a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament and lose in the second round</h2>
<p id="PKf3cD">Last year might have been the best Bearcat team since Kenyon Martin was on campus and even they couldn’t get past the second round. That run of falling short of the Sweet 16 (and beyond) will break one day, but this year doesn’t look like the time. With that written, this is still a team who will easily make the field of 68 and if Cumberland or Broome (or anyone really) gets hot, anything can happen. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/11/6/18066894/nine-predictions-2018-19-cincinnati-bearcats-basketball-jarron-cumberland-mick-cronin-cane-broomePhil Neuffer2018-11-05T14:02:06-05:002018-11-05T14:02:06-05:00Returning Player Refresher: Jarron Cumberland
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament-Second Round-Cincinnati Bearcats vs Nevada Wolf Pack" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UZ0fapEzhedAah3OPuQPFGLwF7w=/0x0:5062x3375/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62187703/usa_today_10717376.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This is Cumberland’s team now. </p> <p id="BRFd6E">There’s a new face of the <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/">Cincinnati Bearcats</a> men’s basketball program. For the last few years, it was Gary Clark. Before that it was Troy Caupain. Now it’s <span>Jarron Cumberland</span>’s turn. </p>
<p id="5pFNnW"><span>Cumberland</span> was heralded as a four-star recruit two years ago and he has quickly risen from promising freshman to the team’s best player. He certainly played like it in the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/a/march-madness-2018-ncaa-tournament">NCAA Tournament</a> last spring. In the first round, against a pesky Georgia State team, Cumberland stood out on a roster that included Jacob Evans and Gary Clark by scoring a career-high 27 points, ensuring the Bearcats would advance. He fueled a surge in the second round, scoring 17 points before fouling out against Nevada. It’s tough to believe the Bearcats would have lost if Cumberland had not missed 13 total minutes in that contest. </p>
<p id="hl1clJ">The ascension during March was just a continuation of what Cumberland has been doing at UC: constantly improving. After serving as a scorer off the bench as a freshman, he took to the starting lineup fairly well, especially in terms of volume. His scoring average went up by more than three points per game, while his minutes share went up by roughly 10. </p>
<p id="XZId1B">Since he was playing against first units most of the time, rather than feasting on backups, Cumberland’s efficiency numbers did take a hit. He scored fewer points per 100 possessions (24.1 compared to 26.8) and only shot 40.9 percent from the floor. Diving deeper, Cumberland was still attempting three-pointers on a little more than 50 percent of his shots, but that didn’t stop declines in his true and effective field goal percentage. </p>
<p id="2KELNI">What buoys expectations for the steps he’ll take this year is what he did down the stretch as a sophomore. He shot a bit better from the field (.418) and 35.3 percent from three-point range during seven games in March. While those numbers were only slightly better than his full season averages, the best sign was Cumberland’s ability to get to and capitalize at the free-throw line. He shot nearly four free throws per game and made 77.8 percent of them. Cumberland is great at putting the ball on the deck and creating shots near the rim. That causes a lot of contact, but he’s only made 66.3 percent of his collegiate foul shots. If he can be more effective there, he’ll be more effective everywhere. </p>
<p id="2aJGvT">Breaking away from his scoring, Cumberland may have shot less efficiently and scored less on a per 100 possession rate, but while those numbers dipped some as he became a starter, his work in other areas got much better. He produced gains in rebounding and assists, while transforming from a passable defender into a pretty effective one. He may not be winning any defensive player of the year awards, but his 91.1 defensive rating and 2.6 defensive win shares showed he could more than hold his own. </p>
<p id="jMS6t8">Cumberland will no longer be able to just be a guy, no matter how solid, on this team. He played with Clark, Evans and <span>Kyle Washington</span>, so he was able to be more of a gap-filler than the focal point the last two years. The spotlight will be on him alone now. Sure, the Bearcats need everyone to step up, but for them to really excel, they need Cumberland to take the leap to stardom. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/11/5/18063176/cincinnati-bearcats-basketball-preview-returning-player-refresher-jarron-cumberlandPhil Neuffer2018-11-02T11:16:01-04:002018-11-02T11:16:01-04:00Returning Player Refresher: Cane Broome
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Cincinnati at Houston" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/u5Ypci7JXDymwgp-YOIckMA6_Eg=/0x0:2869x1913/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62089083/usa_today_10617019.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Broome was an electric jolt off the bench as junior. He could fit there or the starting lineup this season. Either way, he will be one of Cincinnati’s best players. </p> <p id="0NXNWJ">Not everyone is cut out to be a sixth man, but it certainly seems like <span>Cane Broome</span> was. </p>
<p id="TonZgR">When <span>Broome</span> transferred from Sacred Heart to Cincinnati, he might not have done so because he wanted to provide depth off the bench. However, after starting three of the first four games of last season, he found his role as sixth man extraordinaire. The Bearcats went 31-5 and won the American Athletic Conference title, so it sure seems like it worked out. </p>
<p id="OEkWDU">Now, despite not starting all that much, <span>Broome</span>, a point guard by trade, was still on the floor all the time. He played 698 total minutes, which was only six fewer than regular starter Justin Jenifer. Broome was often on the floor as part of the Bearcats’ crunch-time lineup as well, what with his lightning quick ball handling and explosive offensive ability. </p>
<p id="R75kHp">While he never matched the audacious scoring totals he racked up at Sacred Heart, Broome was a constant presence at the top of the scorer’s list for the Bearcats. He tallied 15.4 points per 40 minutes and 23.2 per 100 possessions. His 113.8 offensive rating was above starter <span>Kyle Washington</span> and the fifth-best mark on the team. He scored in double figures 13 times, including a four-game stretch at the end of February. </p>
<p id="b6F55F">Always a volume shooter <em>and</em> scorer at Sacred Heart, Broome adjusted his game to a degree with UC. He set a career-high in three-point accuracy (.390) and overall field goal percentage (.463) while also being more selective with his shots. Part of that was there were fewer shot opportunities and plays run for him on offense, but his own restraint was evident in the metrics, as he put together his best seasons in true (.568) and effective field goal percentage (.541). </p>
<p id="Qo8TGN">You would think efficiency like that would belong in the starting lineup, but Broome was kept on the bench partially because of a difference in ball security compared to Jenifer. Broome’s aggressive style sometimes got him in trouble, as he had a 17.8 turnover percentage. He did counter that with improved distribution powers, obliterating his previous career high with a 26.2 assist percentage, averaging 8.2 per 100 possessions, which led the team.</p>
<p id="iyoPaO">The biggest question mark about Broome’s game was how he would take to UC’s defense-first philosophy. Those concerns were washed away in a flurry of defensive success. Broome is still not going to overpower guys at 6’0” and 165 pounds, but he makes up for that with exceptional speed and quick hands. He averaged 2.7 steals per 100 possessions, which was the third-best mark by a Bearcat, and finished with a more than acceptable defensive rating of 92.8. </p>
<p id="hhQQKZ">Now that Broome has proven he can be a sixth man, he may need to transform himself once again. With the Bearcats replacing three starters and working in a few new guys, Broome may be asked to return to a starting role. There’s also the chance that Cronin will keep him as the offensive leader of the second unit. It’s likely that different lineups will be used early on as Cronin figures out what works best. That should be fine with Broome, who has proven that he can be just as effective as a sixth man as a starter. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/11/2/18053974/cincinnati-bearcats-basketball-preview-returning-player-refresher-cane-broomePhil Neuffer2018-11-01T15:11:01-04:002018-11-01T15:11:01-04:00How will the Bearcats replace Gary Clark?
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Cleveland State at Cincinnati" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/GJ1MPIv-mN2mGKcvuQF0eOGMR5c=/0x0:4778x3185/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61983865/usa_today_10492586.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>How do you replace a player like Gary Clark? How do you catch a cloud and pin it down? </p> <p id="qdhzmU">On Tuesday, Gary Clark scored 11 points and grabbed four rebounds while playing a career-high in minutes. The only problem was, it wasn’t for the <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/">Cincinnati Bearcats</a>. Instead of strapping on the red of UC, Clark was repping the red of the NBA’s Houston Rockets. While seeing him get a shot at the professional level is great for Bearcat supporters, it is also a harsh reminder that for the first time since 2014, the Bearcats are entering a season without Clark on the roster. </p>
<p id="TCMXB5">In the year before Clark’s introduction, the Bearcats were playing their first season in the American Athletic Conference. In Clark’s final campaign, they finally won that conference, both in the regular season and during the league tournament. Clark helped build that championship winning team and was easily the most important player of the last four years for the program. Replacing him will take time and will be the most difficult part of Mick Cronin’s job this year and the years to follow. </p>
<h2 id="Odyp0r">What the Bearcats lost</h2>
<p id="TBTgzb">Clark was named the AAC’s player of the year last spring, but its not like he waited until his final season to stand out. He was a two-time defensive player of the year and made it to the all-league team twice as well (second in 2016 and first in 2018). As long as Clark was on the floor, the Bearcats had a chance to win and win they did. They went 106-33 during Clark’s four years and the 6’8” forward from Smithfield, North Carolina supplied 23.7 win shares along the way. He was the best player on some of the best teams in program history and helped UC win 30 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time ever. </p>
<p id="FDLexF">Clark was everything a UC player is supposed to be. A fantastic defender, aggressive rebounder and constantly evolving offensive contributor, Clark may not have the program records of Oscar Robertson or the first round draft selection of Kenyon Martin, but he belongs in that sacred inner circle. </p>
<p id="ZDbyqa">Now before I start waxing poetic too much, let’s look at what the Bearcats are going to be without in a purely basketball sense. We’ll start with defense, where Clark was transcendent. He set a career-best defensive rating of 81.6 last season and was one of the rare big men who could not only block shots, but force turnovers as well. His motor never stopped running on defense, allowing him the ability to guard traditional big men and stretch fours alike. He was a great help defender as well and the real engine of UC’s stifling pressure. Figuring out who will be the focal point of the defense is one of the many challenges left in his absence. </p>
<p id="eYu5Lu">His work on the boards will be missed as well. Clark was the team’s best player on the boards last year and it wasn’t particularly close. He averaged 8.7 rebounds per game. <span>Kyle Washington</span> came in a distant second with 5.5. Clark wasn’t just the beneficiary of good positioning on defensive possessions either, he worked hard for offensive rebounds and that leads us to his offensive game. </p>
<p id="82qETg">When he first came to UC, Clark was an undersized power forward who needed work to become an impact player on offense. By the time he graduated he had developed a solid array of post moves, a reliable mid-range jumper and, most recently, a three-point shot. He had a three-point attempt rate of .204 last season and made 43.5 percent of his attempts. He was never a volume shooter from long range, but the fact that he could spread the floor made him an even more effective player than he already was. </p>
<p id="zB6IYo">Clark wasn’t just great compared to the rest of the Bearcats. He was great compared to the entire nation. He led the way in both offensive and defensive win shares a year ago and was the only player in the country to rank among the top 10 in offensive and defensive rating. Did I mention that replacing him is going to be really, really difficult? </p>
<h2 id="R7D6rb">Who needs to step up in his absence? </h2>
<p id="TWrsI5">The key for the players tasked with filling Clark’s shoes is to not try to do too much. Clark was a generational talent, so it is going to take an all hands on deck approach to patch together a semblance of his efforts. Trevon Scott is probably the guy who will technically take his spot in the starting lineup, and his solid production on both sides of the floor emulate Clark, just to a lesser degree. A big step forward from Scott, along with other former Clark understudies such as <span>Eliel Nsoseme</span> and <span>Nysier Brooks</span>, will really help keep things from collapsing. </p>
<p id="SPbt99">In a more literal sense, freshman <span>LaQuill Hardnett</span> will replace Clark if only because he will be wearing No. 11 this season. </p>
<h2 id="gffKXQ">How difficult will it be to replace him?</h2>
<p id="5choX3">This is where preseason optimism is supposed to get me to say that some combination of Scott, <span>Brooks</span>, <span>Nsoseme</span> and even <span>Mamoudou Diarra</span> will make the drop-off from Clark be less severe. However, attempting to completely replace Clark’s efforts both as a player and team leader is a fool’s errand.</p>
<h2 id="dTPS5I">What did he do after leaving UC?</h2>
<p id="tnVDFS">Clark wasn’t taken in the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-draft">NBA Draft</a> like UC teammate Jacob Evans, but he signed with the Rockets after the draft. He’s played in five games for them so far. He’s already shown that his three-point improvement was no fluke, hitting five triples in 38 total minutes, while posting a PER of 12.5.</p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/11/1/18050574/cincinnati-bearcats-basketball-preview-replacing-gary-clarkPhil Neuffer2018-10-31T15:03:01-04:002018-10-31T15:03:01-04:00Returing Player Refresher: Justin Jenifer
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Memphis at Cincinnati" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vKZ6gNuWADb6qTv5TPPcXkd204k=/0x0:3183x2122/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61969825/usa_today_10533445.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>It doesn’t seem possible, but Jenifer is a senior this year. During his first three seasons, he has filled in many of the gaps for UC and received very little credit. That won’t continue in 2018-19. </p> <p id="kR3sLN">It’s been a blink and you might miss it type of career for Justin Jenifer. But that’s really only if you weren’t paying enough attention. While it certainly feels like he just got to campus, the 5’10” point guard from Baltimore is now a senior leader for the <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/">Cincinnati Bearcats</a>. </p>
<p id="wJ7z4P">That’s right. Jenifer has played three full seasons with UC already, and largely in the shadow of other players. He began his career at the foot of program giant <span>Troy Caupain</span> and last year was considered the backup before the season to transfer Cane Broome. However, early in the year, it was apparent that Jenifer’s skills were better suited for the starting lineup and that is where he played for much of the season, making 33 starts and averaging nearly 20 minutes per game. </p>
<p id="hc2ND4">Now what about those skills? First off, Jenifer has never been and isn’t likely to turn into a major scoring threat. He can make some shots when his number is called, but Jenifer’s real strengths lie in making the players around him look better. Only Broome averaged more assists per 100 possessions and recorded a higher assist percentage than Jenifer last year. </p>
<p id="dGXBkb">However, while Broome had the edge in dimes, Jenifer excelled in not only sharing the ball but keeping it under lock and key. He tied with Gary Clark for the second-lowest turnover percentage on the team (2.1) and had a total of only 24 across 704 minutes played. Careful ball handling and the occasionally spectacular drive to the rim made Jenifer a valuable offensive player, even if it didn’t always appear that way on the stat sheet. His 12.1 PER was obviously pretty low, but he was worth 1.4 offensive win shares while posting the second-highest offensive rating on the team (122.9). </p>
<p id="u9fjkF">Jenifer won’t be able to hide on offense and let everyone else do the scoring this season. He can do all the distributing he wants, but as a senior pegged for plenty of playing time, he will need to have a bit more offensive punch. A 35.8 percent three-point shooter during his career, there are part of his game that aren’t all that bad, but a bit more efficiency will go a long way. </p>
<p id="KLNHfN">Now that we’ve covered Jenifer’s unique offensive profile, it’s time to look at how he stacks up on defense. To put it simply, he’s a decent defender, but far from a great one. His size limits his ability to shut down larger perimeter players, but he still moves pretty well within UC’s scheme, creating pressure and making passing lanes shrivel up. His defensive rating of 96.3 was a bit closer to average than some of the other players on the team, and actually ranked last on the team among players who played in at least 30 games. </p>
<p id="ObqAjq">Once again, Jenifer can’t be hidden on defense, but he really doesn’t have to be. Relativism is a big reason for why his defensive profile doesn’t stick out. When everyone else on the team is capable of all-league defensive seasons, anything less than excellent looks weak in comparison. Don’t let that fool you. Jenifer may not be the best defender the Bearcats have to offer, but that doesn’t mean he’s a bad one either. </p>
<p id="3c38sL">Jenifer was once a fairly touted recruit, and now his time at UC is nearing its end. While he isn’t going to end up with his name plastered over the program’s record books, there’s no denying that he has provided far more positives than negatives during his tenure. As a senior, he will be asked to do more than ever before and should he succeed, he will be the one casting the shadow for the younger guys. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/10/31/18045628/cincinnati-bearcats-basketball-preview-returing-player-refresher-justin-jeniferPhil Neuffer2018-10-30T14:20:02-04:002018-10-30T14:20:02-04:00Returning Player Refresher: Trevor Moore
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament-First Round-Cincinnati vs Georgia State" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bP2p0dezKDZTbKZ5OP4gN9F9SzA=/0x20:2487x1678/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61955945/usa_today_10710826.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In his second season, Moore will attempt to go from a reliable reserve to a standout starter. </p> <p id="D6kYB0">There were a few games during his freshman season that <span>Trevor Moore</span> flashed the skills of a future star. Perhaps know performance was as telling as a 14-point outburst against UCF in February. The <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/">Cincinnati Bearcats</a> destroyed the Knights in the game (77-40), so they didn’t really need a ton from <span>Moore</span>, but he came in and absolutely cooked for 13 minutes, drilling 4-of-7 shots from the floor, including 2-for-3 from beyond the arc. </p>
<p id="X1WeYw">As a freshman entering the program along with a very similar player in <span>Keith Williams</span>, Moore was always going to have to compete for minutes, and his showing against UCF proved that he was the future wing that Mick Cronin could trust as the season ran into March. Moore was the team’s eighth man last year, playing 12 minutes per game and providing equal parts competent offense and stifling defense. </p>
<p id="aovGq5">While <span>Williams</span> struggled to find his shot, Moore was comfortable right away. He posted an 107.2 offensive rating and a true shooting percentage of .491. There is still room to improve and diversify his offensive game, especially since he attempted 78.1 percent of his shots from beyond the arc, but Moore has already laid a great foundation. Aside from his shot, Moore made smart decisions with the ball, leading to few very turnovers. In fact, only Gary Clark and <span>Justin Jenifer</span> had lower marks in turnovers per 100 possessions. As Moore becomes a bigger part of the offense this season, maintaining his ball security talents will be key. </p>
<p id="Qxq89m">For all the strides Moore made on offense, he was nothing more than a competent stand-in on that side of the floor. Where he made the greatest impact was on defense. Of his 1.6 total win shares, 1.1 came on defense. He was a better defender by the defensive rating metric (89.5) than starter <span>Jarron Cumberland</span> and he could be a real defensive difference maker this season. Assuming he is in the starting lineup, Moore could easily take on opponent’s best scorers, freeing <span>Cumberland</span> up to expend more energy on offense. </p>
<p id="LQUrAw">Whether Moore has a starting role remains to be seen, of course. Even after saying goodbye to three starters from last year, the Bearcats return a rather deep squad and minutes should be divvied up between at least eight or nine guys. Moore wasn’t one of the Bearcats who really captured headlines during the offseason exhibitions, but the star quality is still there. Just how close it gets to the surface will determine how much of a leap Moore takes as a sophomore. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/10/30/18041038/cincinnati-bearcats-basketball-preview-returning-player-refresher-trevor-moorePhil Neuffer2018-10-29T14:15:02-04:002018-10-29T14:15:02-04:00Returning Player Refresher: Keith Williams
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Cincinnati at UCLA" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nYwx_bK1f-A9uMyP3eHMSkV4tHE=/0x119:3544x2482/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61943149/usa_today_10481713.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Williams is a fearless offensive player. Now he needs to be an efficient one as well. </p> <p id="Sc2n0j"><span>Keith Williams</span> is a shooter. He isn’t afraid to shoot early in games, in the middle of them or at the very end. He doesn’t mind putting up shots from beyond the arc, mid-range or in the lane. If there’s one thing he is always going to do, its shoot the ball. </p>
<p id="Vsa01T">As <span>Williams</span> enters his sophomore season for the <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/">Cincinnati Bearcats</a>, its clear that he’s going to be taking a lot more shots. That was made evident throughout the summer and into this fall, as Williams consistently was among the team leaders in field goal attempts during exhibition games and during the red and black scrimmage earlier this month. He took 18 shots in the scrimmage, which was second on the team and more than <span>Jarron Cumberland</span>, <span>Justin Jenifer</span> and <span>Trevor Moore</span>, among other returning contributors. He took 31 combined shots in the three summer exhibition games as well. </p>
<p id="b6ARPj">Now that we’ve established that Williams likes to shoot and will be asked to do so more often, its time to look at what happens after the ball leaves his fingertips. A sometimes streaky offensive player, Williams introduced himself to the Bearcats by scoring 10 points in each of his first two games, including last year’s season opener when he took 12 shots. He didn’t score in double figures again, and slowly ceded time on the wing to fellow freshman Trevor Moore, but he still saw time in 33 games, averaging nearly 10 minutes each time. </p>
<p id="1s5UQ6">However, during his freshman season, despite his love of shooting, Williams went through the type of rookie pains you might expect. He only made 38.5 percent of his shots, including a dismal 14.8 percent from three. His true shooting percentage (.424) was therefore quite low and since he isn’t much of a distributor, his offensive contributions were lacking, as he had an offensive rating of 84.2. With Jacob Evans, <span>Gary Clark</span> and <span>Kyle Washington</span> all gone this year, it is going to be exceptionally important that guys who get a lot of shot opportunities make them. Williams falls directly into that group. If he can take <em>and </em>make more shots this season, the Bearcats will have a player made to create instant offense. </p>
<p id="CSnPOu">Mick Cronin isn’t a big fan of one-dimensional players, however, so Williams will need to at least hold his own on defense. He did more than that as a freshman, with a defensive rating of 90.5. He got help from plenty of experienced defenders and was usually going up against second units for opponents, but he moved well and can be a real disruptive force, as he averaged the second-most steals per 100 possessions of anyone on the team. </p>
<p id="ZV5KFU">The three and D role is a term that is thrown around a lot in the NBA nowadays. As the college game shifts toward the professional trends, what with elevated scoring and three-point reliance, three and D players are increasingly becoming staples of rosters in the NCAA. Williams fits the mold perfectly since he loves to shoot and he can already defend. If he can just start making more of those shots (especially from long range), then he will have a big role to play all year. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/10/29/18036420/cincinnati-bearcats-basketball-preview-returning-player-refresher-keith-williamsPhil Neuffer2018-10-25T08:07:02-04:002018-10-25T08:07:02-04:00Meet the New Guy: Rashawn Fredericks
<figure>
<img alt="Kansas State v Cincinnati" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/raj1e3ew1hGlsGFJzkuks8WlfYc=/0x101:3000x2101/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61900123/654619142.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 17: The Cincinnati Bearcats mascot performs against the Kansas State Wildcats during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Golden 1 Center on March 17, 2017 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Fredericks is a JUCO transfer who should be contributing from the very first minute of the season. </p> <p id="Dba7KC">A few weeks ago, <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/10/18/17987344/cincinnati-bearcats-basketball-preview-replacing-jacob-evans">we talked about who was going to replace Jacob Evans</a> for the 2018-19 <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/">Cincinnati Bearcats</a>. While <span>Jarron Cumberland</span> is the correct answer, there are other guys who could take on the mantle as well. Among them is Rashawn Fredericks. That’s a rare thing to say about an incoming recruit, but Fredericks isn’t any other recruit. While he’s not a five-star blue chipper by any means, he is an experienced player who will be quickly worked into the rotation. </p>
<p id="oeopeZ">A transfer from Motlow State Community College in Tennessee, Fredericks is a 6’5” scoring wing who has proven he knows what it takes to win. He won state championships with Motlow and earned his fair share of NJCAA hardware, including First-Team All-American honors last season. He can score, rebound and block shots, posting a double-double stat line on the year in 2017-18 (17.7 points, 10.3 rebounds per game), while shooting 46.7 percent from the floor. He has some range and can shoot from beyond the arc and is aggressive inn attacking the offensive glass. </p>
<p id="KCQY9O">Fredericks got some starting minutes during UC’s summer exhibition games and his scoring touch was on full display. He had 10 points and six rebounds on 4-of-8 shooting against Ottawa and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field (2-for-2 from three) for 12 points against McGill. One possible weakness in his game is foul shooting, as he went 4-for-9 from the line in those exhibitions, but that’s an extremely small sample size. </p>
<p id="cygDAw">As <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/4/23/17270348/with-rashawn-fredericks-commitment-bearcats-are-building-a-new-kind-of-team">I wrote back when Fredericks committed</a>, the Bearcats are going to be a team that relies on scoring from its wing players more than ever this season. Fredericks is an excellent addition to a team transitioning to such a strategy. He’ll still need to show he can defend at the collegiate level and improve his efficiency to a degree, but adding a guy of his skill will go a long way in helping the Bearcats maintain its recent run of success. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/10/25/18021246/cincinnati-bearcats-basketball-preview-meet-the-new-guy-rashawn-fredericksPhil Neuffer