1. #4 LJ Cryer, 6’1”, 200 lbs., Sr., G, Katy, Texas, Baylor Transfer
15.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 39.7 FG%, 38% 3-PT FG, 87.2 FT%, 47 ast.-17 TO, 27 stl, 31.7 mpg
A member of the Big 12’s Preseason First Team, Cryer is having a stellar first season in Houston. Cryer ranks eighth in the Big 12 in scoring, but he’s only had five games in conference play with 10+ points. Cryer has hit 20+ points seven times this season including twice in conference play. He knows this conference well, having played three seasons at Baylor including their 2021 National Championship team.
2. #1 Jamal Shead, 6’1”, 200 lbs., Sr., G, Manor, Texas
12.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 45.6 FG%, 35.4 3-PT FG%, 75% FT, 134 ast.-45 TO, 50 stl, 29.4 mpg
Think of Shead like the modern day Dishin’ Magician, the nickname of the legendary John Stockton. And when you have multiple seasons of 200+ assists in your career, you know a thing or two about making the perfect pass that leads to points. He ranks second in the Big 12 this season in assist to turnover ratio and third in assists per game. Shead has topped eight or more assists eight times this season including hitting 10 and 11 assists. In addition, he’s third in the Big 12 with 50 steals.
3. #21 Emanuel Sharp, 6’3″, 205 lbs., R-So., G, Tampa, Fla.
12.3 ppg, 4 rpg, 37% FG, 36% 3-PT FG, 82.8 FT%, 32 stl, 26.2 mpg
Sharp is in his third season with the Cougars, after joining the team midway through the 2021-22 season as an early graduate. Last year he was named to the All-Conference Freshman Team ranking third on the Cougars with 43 made three-point field goals. He’s entering Saturday with three straight games scoring 10+ points and has 15 such games this season.
4. #13 J’wan Roberts, 6’7″, 235 lbs., R-Sr., F, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
8.6 ppg, 7 rpg, 55.1 FG%, 54% FT, 19 blk, 25.7 mpg
Roberts is a beast in the interior. A player who has made steady progress and improvements throughout his Houston career, he’s holding up well in his first season in the Big 12. Roberts ranks sixth in rebounding and 16th in the Big 12 with 19 blocks. So far this season Roberts has six games with double-digit rebounds. He had 36 rebounds in three games in the AAC Tournament last season including eight against Cincinnati. He will be the player to watch in the frontcourt Saturday afternoon as the Bearcats revamped frontcourt looks to finally flex a muscle against the Cougars.
5. #5 Ja’Vier Francis, 6’8″, 240 lbs., Jr., F, New Orleans, Louisiana
6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 61.8 FG%, 58.7 FT%, 33 blk, 19.5 mpg
Francis is another player to watch in the frontcourt, ranking fifth in the Big 12 with 33 blocks. He has six double-digit point games this season and 16 games with five or more rebounds.
6. #11 Damian Dunn, 6’5”, 205 lbs., Gr., G, Kinston, N.C., Temple Transfer
7.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 38.1 FG%, 34% 3-PT FG, 67.7 FT%, 21 stl, 18.9 mpg
Dunn was a key player on a solid Temple team last year, but he has struggled to adjust to the Big 12. His scoring and free throw percentages are down from last year at Temple, and he did not score in two of his last three games. But Houston landed him in the transfer portal for a reason. He was a good scorer at Temple and can get to the line, ranking 34th in the country in free throws made last season.
FRANKIE’S GAMEPLAN TO VICTORY
1. Rebounding: This Bearcats team is the most equipped team to beat Houston since 2018. Cincinnati leads the Big 12 in rebounds per game and ranks second in offensive rebounds per game. The Bearcats also rank third in opponent rebounds per game and defensive rebounds per game. On the other side, Houston is third in rebounding and leads the Big 12 in offensive rebounds per game. But where the Bearcats can exploit the Cougars is by just out-rebounding them. Why? Houston is only eighth in the Big 12 in combined opponent rebounds per game and 10th in the Big 12 in defensive rebounds. Houston has owned the Bearcats on the boards in recent years, but I think Saturday could be a different story.
2. Free Throw Shooting: It’s amazing what happens when you don’t miss a free-throw in a three-point game. That’s what the Bearcats did on Saturday at No. 15 Texas Tech, going 10-10 from the free throw line in a 75-72 win. Free throws will be paramount in this game, and I say that as someone who sweated through a 19-31 performance from the free throw line in a two-point win over Houston in 2020. That was the last time the Bearcats beat Houston. Amazingly, Houston has a lower free throw percentage than Cincinnati so far this season.
3. Limiting Turnovers: The stat that stood out to me while writing this was Houston’s steals total. The Cougars have 232 steals through 23 games. Seven players have 20 or more steals this season. That average of just over 10 steals a game is second in the Big 12 and their total of 232 also ranks second in the Big 12. The Bearcats are fifth in the Big 12 in fewest turnovers per game, so that’s good heading into this game. But they will need to take care of the ball at a high level to win this game.
