The Cincinnati Bearcats battled back from double-digit deficits in both halves Saturday afternoon against the No. 5 Houston Cougars, only to come up just short 67-62.
The loss drops Cincinnati to 15-8 overall and 4-6 in Big 12 play. Here are my 12 Big Things from Saturday afternoon’s loss.
12 Big Things
1. I feel better about this team now than I did before the game. The Bearcats battled so hard against a top five team. They looked like they belonged on the same floor as Houston for the first time since Jarron Cumberland was in Clifton. They can now match up with Houston, and these two teams will meet again on Tuesday, February 27th in Houston.
2. I was surprised by how Bearcats head coach Wes Miller’s postgame press conference unfolded. He said he was disappointed by the outcome, which, rightfully so, he should have been. But his tone took on more of a negative approach in how he felt the game went. It makes me think he’s being too hard on himself and the team. But also, this is now six losses for the Bearcats in Big 12 play by five points or less. Two things can be true at the same time, and I think Miller is just disappointed the Bearcats squandered an opportunity.
3. While the Bearcats have shown a lot of promise in their first season in the Big 12, it is officially getting late. It’s time for the Bearcats to start stringing together wins. They haven’t yet had a winning streak in Big 12 play. While they haven’t lost back-to-back games since losing to Oklahoma and Kansas, but all the promise the Bearcats have built through 10 Big 12 games will all go to waste if they can’t start stringing together wins.
