Keys to the game for the Bearcats.
- Win the battle of the glass.– The Bearcats did that in their first matchup as they outrebounded the Cougars 39-33. A key emphasis on this one as the Cougars are a very physical team, who will make you pay if you don’t crash the boards.
- Limit the turnovers. -The Bearcats had momentum flowing early in the first match up but had 5 turnovers in the first five minutes which allowed the Cougars to go on a 12-2 run to open things up within the first couple minutes. They have to find a way to keep the turnover number under 10 like they have for the most part this season. The Cougars took advantage on the points off turnovers in the first matchup and after losing by 13, they limit those turnovers, that comes down to what could have made this a closer game. 26-4 on points off turnovers was a huge stat that jumped off the paper when looking back on the first matchup vs Houston.
- Stay out of foul trouble. – We saw the Bearcats get in early foul trouble vs Memphis as Adams-Woods, Lakhin, Oguama, Nolley, DeJulius all had two fouls at one point in the first half before Adams-Woods picked up his third right before the break. As physical as Houston is on the glass, they will need every second they can of those big guys inside. However, the Bearcats can’t get into foul trouble or else Houston can open things up as we have with their dynamic and experienced backcourt.
The Bearcats (14-7, 5-3 AAC) will be back in action this Saturday when they take on No. 3 ranked Houston at 2:15 Central Time/ 1:15 Eastern Time.
