No. 14 Cincinnati returns to campus Sunday and can glance to rebound from its first lack of the season in opposition to visiting Howard.
Cincinnati (6-1) fell 68-60 at Villanova on Tuesday as a part of the Large 12-Large East Combat. The Bearcats scored the primary basket of the sport, however that was once their handiest lead as they shot a season-low 38.3 % (23 of 60) from the ground. Villanova shot 48.9 % (23 of 47), the easiest charge the Bearcats have allowed this season, together with 54.2 % (13 of 24) within the first part.
“I did not like us defensively within the first part in any respect,” Cincinnati trainer Wes Miller stated after the sport. “I did not assume we carried over our recreation plan or did the issues smartly that we worth.”
Jizzle James, the son of former NFL celebrity working again Edgerrin James, led the Bearcats with 19 issues. The sophomore guard’s 14.6 issues in line with recreation is 2d at the workforce in the back of Simas Lukosius’ 16. Each Lukosius, a senior swingman, and James additionally rank within the most sensible 40 within the country in assist-to-turnover ratio, at 3.6 and three.3, respectively.
The Bearcats have additionally been with out Dan Skillings Jr., who underwent a knee process final month. He performed in handiest the season opener, when he scored 17 issues and grabbed 11 rebounds in opposition to Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and his knee swelled after the sport.
Even with the loss at Villanova, the Bearcats nonetheless rank a number of the most sensible defensive groups. They’re keeping combatants to only 57.7 issues in line with recreation, the fifth-lowest moderate within the nation. On offense, the Bearcats’ 51.5 % capturing share ranks 7th nationally.
Howard (3-5) has misplaced 3 instantly and is coming off a one-week ruin. The Bison misplaced 79-75 to Mount St. Mary’s on Nov. 30 in a recreation the place Mid-Jap Athletic Convention Preseason Participant of the Yr Bryce Harris didn’t play. The senior guard performed simply two mins in Howard’s earlier recreation at Maryland-Baltimore County on Nov. 25.
Marcus Dockery, every other senior guard, leads the workforce, scoring 14.4 issues in line with recreation. He is capturing 47.4 % from the ground and 44.4 % from past the 3-point arc.
In the meantime, guard Blake Harper (13.9 issues in line with recreation) has emerged as some of the most sensible newcomers within the MEAC. He is earned the convention’s Rookie of the Week honor 4 instances already this season. Closing week, he averaged 17.5 issues in two video games. He scored 16 within the Bison’s season opener at Kansas and ranks within the most sensible 10 within the convention in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals.
Cincinnati is the most recent primary convention faculty Howard will face this season. After shedding 87-57 at Kansas on Nov. 4, trainer Kenny Blakeney’s workforce fell 77-62 at Missouri on Nov. 8.
The Bison are the two-time protecting MEAC match champions and have been picked within the preseason to win it once more. All through the MEAC’s Media Day, Blakeney stated scheduling energy convention groups will assist Howard get ready to shield their identify.
“I feel the ones video games are in point of fact essential, and particularly early on,” he defined. “If we will work out and to find out probably the most solutions on our workforce, quicker than later, we are in a position to paintings on the ones issues and recuperate during the 12 months.”
–Box Stage Media
