SMU

[Bearcat_NTS]

Seems our guys have cleared that hurdle of knowing they're good, but not being above playing hard. Coach Cronin has talked about the chemistry and maturity of the group. As fans we've talked about the frustration of getting into the Top 25 and changing who we were in order to get there. Cronin has also talked about making sure we aren't "too cool" to do the little things like in the Marshall game. It just feels like it's all sinking in. The team wants to play hard, takes pride in playing hard, and has confidence and a team first attitude in the process. They no longer get get much out of reading their own press clippings. It's all about the work. Here's to hoping we continue to see the swagger we so often see against the lesser teams. We were picked to win the league for a reason. Time to show SMU who's going to be running things in this conference from here on out.

Cincinnati is 4-2 vs SMU and really should be 5-1 if it weren't for an epic collapse last season. It will be very disappointing if they lose this game.

 

[Madman81]

We had >10k for the last two home games against Marshall & Tulane. No reason not to sell this one out (although I get the 9 on a Thursday start time isn't ideal - except for you Jacob).

Win this one on Thursday and we'll have a stranglehold on the conference.

Go Cats!

there is always a reason not to sell out - we have probably 1000+ seats that offer a worse experience than watching the game on tv from your couch.

 

[Emperor Snapper]

Semi is for real - an NBA-level talent. Clark has a big task ahead of him. I think this is a game where they really need to focus on attacking the basket. SMU has a very solid lineup, but the bench is thin. A tightly called game probably works to Cincinnati's advantage.

 

[UCalum08]

I love me some central time. 8 pm is perfect!

LOL! I am glad it works out well for one of us. I'm still going but it will make for getting up at 3:30 am on Friday a little more rough. As long as we win, I'll be riding high!

 

[UCalum08]

It directly effects me. I was considering getting tickets, but I get up at 6am for work, and really don't feel like sitting in a parking garage until midnight. Then driving back to Blue Ash.

Apparently the high is 60 on Thursday, though. Maybe that'll help.

Come on man! I work at 430 am on Friday and I am biting the bullet. Life is too short.

 

[2bearcatdad]

there is always a reason not to sell out - we have probably 1000+ seats that offer a worse experience than watching the game on tv from your couch.

That is true, but if everyone thought that way no one would ever attend an NFL game. You gotta go for the experience!

I do think the quality of the television coverage is one of the biggest problems the NFL has. I'm not tempted to go to Bengals games in the slightest. Of course, I get my football fix on Saturdays in Nippert, so I may be a little jaded.

 

[Queens_NYC]

I saw SMU get blown out at the Garden against Michigan earlier in the season. Ojeleye was the only one that showed up that night- he truly is a man amongst boys. If we set the tone early defensively, I like our chances of being able to grind out a win.

 

[juckerrules]

I saw SMU get blown out at the Garden against Michigan earlier in the season. Ojeleye was the only one that showed up that night- he truly is a man amongst boys. If we set the tone early defensively, I like our chances of being able to grind out a win.

286 = how many free throws we have taken so far
362 = how many free throws they have taken so far

control their perimeter shots like we did vs. Houston
don't allow them to get us in foul trouble
hit our own free throws

 

[GarradJ21]

9 PM is great.. Its a Thursday night..not a Monday or Tuesday. At least the next day is Friday. College kids have to love this being later. Thirsty Thursday. Place will be a great atmosphere, especially what the last 2 home games had.

 

[justinhub2003]

Smu could be a top 20 team if they had a PG. shake Milton is having to the run the point but he isn't a true point guard.

This will be a battle. But if we win big it's because of our pg play and their lack of any

 

[GarradJ21]

It's big time that we won our first two tougher conferece away games. We have positioned ourselves well to go into the Crosstown Shootout game at 17-2. SMU might be our last test until that game. I just really don't see us losing this game. We owned them last year too besides the last 3 minutes of game 1.

 

[UCBearcats]

SMU is not a good team, we will beat them at home. IMO this is the best team I've seen Mick assemble at UC because we have 4 legitimate threats to score at any point in the game. It keeps us from getting too stagnant for too long on the offensive end. This team is good enough that I expect us to win the games we should win and this is one of those games.

I'm most interested to see how we perform against a good team, XU will be the next test and I think we'll learn a lot about how much this team has improved over the course of the season during that game. Are we a legit contender or are we just a good team feasting on a bad conference??

UC - 73

SMU - 61

 

[jacobkdoyle]

@CoachCroninUC
Welcome back students!! Free tickets for the SMU game are available. We need your support in Fifth Third on Thursday night!!
#ArmouRED

 

[NKY Bearcat]

I highly doubt this sells out. Nothing against the fan base or our team. 9pm is just a rough time slot. With it being on regular ESPN, I can see a lot of people saying to themselves they will just watch it on tv before going to bed. I still expect over 10k, just not a sellout.

That being said, I will be at the game celebrating turning the big 3-0.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

I highly doubt this sells out. Nothing against the fan base or our team. 9pm is just a rough time slot. With it being on regular ESPN, I can see a lot of people saying to themselves they will just watch it on tv before going to bed. I still expect over 10k, just not a sellout.

That being said, I will be at the game celebrating turning the big 3-0.

Awesome way to spend a birthday!

I love being this excited for UC basketball games days in advance. Such a great feeling.

 

[justinhub2003]

Some notes on SMU:

--Our 3 point defense will once again be tested as SMU shoots the 3 39% as a team which is good for 28th in the country.

--4 out of their 5 starters can shoot the 3. Their 6th man/only bench guy will shoot it, but not at a high clip.

--This team has essentially is a 6 man rotation. Harry Froling and Tom Wilson both transferred mid year.


--they are a team with great size but not a great sized player. Tallest guy is 6'8. Shortest guy in the rotation is 6'5. In the starting lineup, its 2 6'6 guards, a 6'8 big man, a 6'6 wing, and a 6'7 PF/F.

--Gary should guard Semi. BUT that leaves Kyle to Ben Moore who is an all effort guy and put up 15 points in SMU's win over us last year with 5 blocks and then 12 points the next game. We need Kyle to defend and rebound other wise, we might need to call on Tre.

--Compared to last year, SMU defends better this year but also doesn't play offense as well. UC ranked 2nd in the conference in offensive Tempo. The 3 years prior to this we were ranked 10th each year in offensive Tempo.

-- they play slow. The American Is the 31st ranked conference in Tempo.

--Semi Ojeleye like Gary Clark, is a problem. Kenpom has him 2nd in American POY behind Dedric Lawson. The bright side of that list, we have 2 plays in the top 5 for AAC POY

--SMU is TO prone. they lack a PG and I really think Justin Jenifer maybe able to cause some havoc on the defensive end with some hounding of Milton.

- They don't generate TO. Would be nice if we kept the TO to under 10

 

[CHEER CINCY]

I love all the "die-hards" saying an ESPN nationally televised 9pm game against a future NCAA team and conference opponent is TOO LATE. Hysterical. The irony of this board continues to impress me.

UC- 69
SMU- 61

9pm games simply equates to better pregame for everyone. The Shoe should be en fuego Thursday. Our last tune up against a quality opponent before the Fighting Pizza ATM's come to campus on the 26th

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Some notes on SMU:

--Our 3 point defense will once again be tested as SMU shoots the 3 39% as a team which is good for 28th in the country.

--4 out of their 5 starters can shoot the 3. Their 6th man/only bench guy will shoot it, but not at a high clip.

--This team has essentially is a 6 man rotation. Harry Froling and Tom Wilson both transferred mid year.


--they are a team with great size but not a great sized player. Tallest guy is 6'8. Shortest guy in the rotation is 6'5. In the starting lineup, its 2 6'6 guards, a 6'8 big man, a 6'6 wing, and a 6'7 PF/F.

--Gary should guard Semi. BUT that leaves Kyle to Ben Moore who is an all effort guy and put up 15 points in SMU's win over us last year with 5 blocks and then 12 points the next game. We need Kyle to defend and rebound other wise, we might need to call on Tre.

--Compared to last year, SMU defends better this year but also doesn't play offense as well. UC ranked 2nd in the conference in offensive Tempo. The 3 years prior to this we were ranked 10th each year in offensive Tempo.

-- they play slow. The American Is the 31st ranked conference in Tempo.

--Semi Ojeleye like Gary Clark, is a problem. Kenpom has him 2nd in American POY behind Dedric Lawson. The bright side of that list, we have 2 plays in the top 5 for AAC POY

--SMU is TO prone. they lack a PG and I really think Justin Jenifer maybe able to cause some havoc on the defensive end with some hounding of Milton.

- They don't generate TO. Would be nice if we kept the TO to under 10

I'd personally put Washington on Ojeleye when Clark and Washington are in together, play him straight up, and tell Scott he's going to have to be ready to play in case Washington gets fouls. Ojeleye will not beat us by himself. I think Ben Moore is the most underrated player in the conference and I'd like Clark to keep him from crashing the boards.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

I'd personally put Washington on Ojeleye when Clark and Washington are in together, play him straight up, and tell Scott he's going to have to be ready to play in case Washington gets fouls. Ojeleye will not beat us by himself. I think Ben Moore is the most underrated player in the conference and I'd like Clark to keep him from crashing the boards.

Does Ojeleye step out and shoot as well as the stats suggest? Or is he like Clark where he only shoots wide open 3s where he can set up? I don't watch much SMU. I may change my mind on this.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

SMU is a talented team and as Justin mentioned play "position less" basketball (because they don't have a PG). I think Ben Moore is one of the most underrated players in the country. Shake Milton is another one of my personal favorites and with Ojeleye they have three special players.

With that being said, they are not a good road team and haven't been for the last three years. We should win this game and it will be disappointing if we don't. They are going to play that packline style of defense and not allow us to score in the paint consistently. If we hit perimeter shots we should be comfortably ahead all night. If we struggle it will look like the senior day game last season.