Some may ask, how do Wes Miller and the Bearcats prepare for a guy like Jarace Walker ahead of their final matchup of the season? It all starts with the physicality and make it difficult for him inside. We have seen Viktor Lakhin become a huge presence around the rim this season, and he will have a true test come Saturday, alongside guys like Ody Oguama, and Kalu Ezipke. Walker, a 6’9″ forward is a projected Top 10 lottery pick ahead of the 2023 NBA Draft and he has shown why on many occasions this season.
“What you try to do when preparing for another team is to try and create situations that will build the habits you need as a team, to prepare for who you will guard. You’re not going to replace players on opposing teams. We have a bunch of guys on our team that are themselves,” said Wes Miller. “When you prepare for a guy who is thought to be a top 10 draft pick ahead of the NBA Draft, you’re not going to have a body out there that resembles a player like [Walker] on your scout team.”
Houston enters this one ranked first in the country in defense efficiency, as the Cougars are holding opposing teams to just 53 points per game this season. As we have seen in the past, Houston is a very physical team and loves to play aggressively on both ends of the court. They are led by a dynamic backcourt between Marcus Sasser, Jamal Shead, Tremon Mark, who is arguably the best back court in all of college basketball for many reasons. However, the Cougars have tremendous length, and love to crash the boards. We it in the first game between these two teams as they tended to send the double team in the paint from the help side a good number of times in the first matchup, but Viktor Lakhin was still able to find ways to do damage, as he finished with 16 points.
“They were number one in the nation in terms of defense efficiency last time I checked. That is what is impressive to me, it’s been very consistent to their identity as a team at least the time that I have been in the AAC.” said Wes Miller.
The Bearcats currently sit 5-3 within conference play, but they know what is at stake come the final third of the season. The Bearcats were projected to finish third in the AAC Preseason polls, just behind Houston and Memphis. However, Wes Miller and the Bearcats know how tough the AAC slate is as multiple teams are starting to emerge as the season moves forward.
“Conference play can have it up and downs. We have to continue to be us, continue to be Cincinnati,” said Miller. “Every game in conference play is equal, there’s (18) of them. Some opponents have bigger names, coming with a better record, higher rankings, but they are all equal, and all matter. We want to win all of them.”
The Cougars will look to bounce back in hte win column following their one point loss to Temple on Sunday. However, the Cougars have two big tests ahead of them vs UCF and then Cincinnati, so it will be interesting to see how Kelvin Sampson and the Cougars respond.
“We can’t focus just on Jarace Walker. We have to focus on their whole team,” said Landers Nolley. “We have to watch the film, look at the small stuff that slipped away last game and focus on those things this time around. You have to have that mindset that every game is a big game during conference play.”
