UC on espn classic tonite at 5
- Thread starter swg
- Start date
Help Support BearcatTalk:
Here is a preview I found of the game.
I expect one Cincinnati Bearcats to be jumping through the roof tonight! Eric Hicks, coming off a 1-13 performance from the field, scoring just 3 pts against Providence, will be ready to go tonight! Even with a couple sore ankles, Hicks will definitely bring it tonight against Villanova: “It’s just a little sore; I’ll be fine,” Hicks said. “We’re playing Villanova, I’m fine.”
Expect that mentality from the entire Cincinnati team tonight. With seniors James White, Eric Hicks and Jihad Muhammad in the starting line-up and Devan Downey and Cedric McGowan, they are going to have to be ready for a 40-minute assault from the Villanova 4-guard line-up. The spotlight will most likely fall on Downey, Cincinnati’s freshmen point guard, on how he handles the on-the-ball pressure of Villanova and their three-quarter court trap. If he is forced to give up the ball early, the Cincinnati offense will have to find another way to get into a rhythm and not be sped up by the backcourt pressure. Hicks should find the boards and the paint his personal playground and the atheletic and imposing 6′6 forward will be looking to bounce back with a vengeneance tonight.
For Villanova, the target is definitely painted squarely on their backs. They are the #2 ranked team in the country and the hype surrounding them since their victory over Connecticut has continued to grow. This is definitely a dangerous game as they will have to battle a charged up atmosphere in Cincinnati with the crowd on top of them and avoid the natural urge to think about Connecticut coming up on Sunday. Key players to watch tonight on the Villanova side are Kyle Lowry and Randy Foye. This seems like a physical and intense match-up that these two will excel in. With Lowry slashing to the basket and Foye shooting over the UC guards, they will eventually free up Allan Ray on the perimeter for his 3-pt shot.
Neither team is very deep, but Villanova does have the ability to bring in Jason Fraser, Dante Cunningham and Shane Clark to rotate their guards for some rest and to match-up a little bigger. Cincinnati will be able to stay very athletic on the floor, but backcourt depth is a concern when handling the Villanova pressure.
I think the atmosphere is going to keep the Bearcats in the game from start to finish. However, in the end, the four-guard line-up of Villanova causes key match-up advantages down the stretch that the Bearcats will not recover from. It will be an intense and physical match-up that will be a great one to watch. The 4-pt favored Wildcats will get all they can handle.
http://www.nbebasketball.com/w3/2006-0223/big-east-game-preview-villanova-cincinnati-2/
I expect one Cincinnati Bearcats to be jumping through the roof tonight! Eric Hicks, coming off a 1-13 performance from the field, scoring just 3 pts against Providence, will be ready to go tonight! Even with a couple sore ankles, Hicks will definitely bring it tonight against Villanova: “It’s just a little sore; I’ll be fine,” Hicks said. “We’re playing Villanova, I’m fine.”
Expect that mentality from the entire Cincinnati team tonight. With seniors James White, Eric Hicks and Jihad Muhammad in the starting line-up and Devan Downey and Cedric McGowan, they are going to have to be ready for a 40-minute assault from the Villanova 4-guard line-up. The spotlight will most likely fall on Downey, Cincinnati’s freshmen point guard, on how he handles the on-the-ball pressure of Villanova and their three-quarter court trap. If he is forced to give up the ball early, the Cincinnati offense will have to find another way to get into a rhythm and not be sped up by the backcourt pressure. Hicks should find the boards and the paint his personal playground and the atheletic and imposing 6′6 forward will be looking to bounce back with a vengeneance tonight.
For Villanova, the target is definitely painted squarely on their backs. They are the #2 ranked team in the country and the hype surrounding them since their victory over Connecticut has continued to grow. This is definitely a dangerous game as they will have to battle a charged up atmosphere in Cincinnati with the crowd on top of them and avoid the natural urge to think about Connecticut coming up on Sunday. Key players to watch tonight on the Villanova side are Kyle Lowry and Randy Foye. This seems like a physical and intense match-up that these two will excel in. With Lowry slashing to the basket and Foye shooting over the UC guards, they will eventually free up Allan Ray on the perimeter for his 3-pt shot.
Neither team is very deep, but Villanova does have the ability to bring in Jason Fraser, Dante Cunningham and Shane Clark to rotate their guards for some rest and to match-up a little bigger. Cincinnati will be able to stay very athletic on the floor, but backcourt depth is a concern when handling the Villanova pressure.
I think the atmosphere is going to keep the Bearcats in the game from start to finish. However, in the end, the four-guard line-up of Villanova causes key match-up advantages down the stretch that the Bearcats will not recover from. It will be an intense and physical match-up that will be a great one to watch. The 4-pt favored Wildcats will get all they can handle.
http://www.nbebasketball.com/w3/2006-0223/big-east-game-preview-villanova-cincinnati-2/