3. #21 Emanuel Sharp, 6’3″, 205 lbs., R-So., G, Tampa, Florida
12.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 37.8 FG%, 35% 3-PT FG, 85.2 FT%, 43 stl, 26.8 mpg
Feb 10 @ Cincinnati: 9 pts, 6 rebs, 3-7 FG (1-3 3-PT FG), 2-2 FT, TO, stl, 34 mins
Watch out for Sharp Tuesday night. He’s third in scoring for Houston, but he has increased his season scoring average by nearly a point over the Cougars last three games. with 15, 20 and 18 points in each of the last three games respectively. And when it comes to taking care of the ball, the Bearcats will need to emphasize that with Sharp in the area. Of his 43 steals this season, 10 have come in the last three games.
4. #13 J’Wan Roberts, 6’7″, 235 lbs., R-Sr., F, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (Killeen, Texas)
9.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 56.5 FG%, 53.4 FT%, 53 ast.-27 TO, 24 blk, 32 stl, 26.8 mpg
Feb 10 @ Cincinnati: 20 pts, 8 rebs, 10-15 FG, 0-1 FT, 2 TO, stl, 36 mins
Roberts has always played well against Cincinnati, even if his scoring average doesn’t reflect that. He’s efficient inside, he’s a force on the glass and he’s durable. In fact, he has double digit points in each of his last four games against Cincinnati. This season, he has six games with 10 or more rebounds and his 20 points against Cincinnati is his career high this season.
5. #11 Damian Dunn, 6’5″, 206 lbs., Gr., G, Kinston, North Carolina, Temple Transfer
6.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 36.2 FG%, 30.9 3-PT FG%, 66.7 FT%, 12 ast.-30 TO, 17.7 mpg
Feb 10 @ Cincinnati: 2 rebs, 0-4 FG (0-1 3-PT FG), TO, 12 mins
Dunn didn’t score in the last game at Cincinnati, and he has struggled to score in his first season playing in the Big 12. In fact Dunn has only made four shots over his last seven games on 20 overall attempts. But Dunn knows Cincinnati well, so he’s still a player to watch for.
6. Ja’Vier Francis, 6’8″, 240 lbs., Jr., F, New Orleans
6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 62.3 FG%, 53.7 FT%, 39 blk, 20 mpg
Feb 10 @ Cincinnati: 5 pts, 6 rebs, 2-3 FG, 1-2 FT, blk, 19 mins
Francis has started every game this season, and he needs to be taken into account Tuesday night. He has 11 games with multiple blocks and hasn’t shot below 50% in a game in which he has taken a shot since January 17th at Texas Tech. A highly efficient player with great defensive skills inside, don’t lose track of him amid the other very talented players on this Houston team.
Previous Matchup vs. Houston: Bearcats lose 67-62 on February 10
I felt better about this Bearcats team after this game than I did before it. The way Cincinnati overcame an early 17-4 deficit to take a seven point lead in the second half was admirable. Their defense clamped down on Houston’s dynamic offense, they created shots on offense, they attacked the glass, the Bearcats went toe-to-toe with a team that has owned them over the last five seasons. That said, the Bearcats had multiple stretches in the second half where they went scoreless. That can’t happen against the Cougars. Even though Cincinnati has since lost three of four since taking Houston to the wire, there is hope the Bearcats can keep this game close Tuesday night close through 40 minutes. The Bearcats last year led by as many as 13 in Houston before falling short in the final minute. In a game that could be their season, expect a “hair on fire” game from the Bearcats Tuesday night.
What’s Happened with Houston since playing Cincinnati:
I got to give Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson a lot of credit. For this team, in their first season in the Big 12, to be in the driver’s seat for a regular season championship in the best conference in the country is incredible, and now they are the No. 1 team in the country. Watch them play. They go out and handle their business. They are 10-1 in their last 11 games with their only loss a “setback” at Kansas on February 3rd. Taking care of business is beating Texas, Iowa State and Baylor in three straight games in between the two matchups against the Bearcats.
Keys to the Game
1. Start fast: I want to see the Bearcats establish how this game is going to be played, not adjust to what the opponent is doing. Don’t let the opponent dictate how the game is going to be played. With the season on the line, I want to see the Bearcats come out with a clear and defined gameplan and establish how the game is going to be played on their terms.
2. Rebounding: I mentioned earlier that the Bearcats did a great job closing the gap in rebounding against the Cougars in the first game against them on February 10th. They’re going to have to do an even better job Tuesday night playing at Houston. If they can keep the battle on the boards within five or fewer, the Bearcats can find a way to upset Houston and ignite a last-chance resume boost for the NCAA Tournament.
3. No scoreless stretches: In the win at Texas Tech, the Bearcats kept the pressure on the Red Raiders for 40 minutes. I mention that game because that might be Cincinnati’s best win of the season. I can’t remember any lengthy stretch where the Bearcats didn’t score in that game. If they’re going to beat the top-ranked Houston Cougars Tuesday night, they can’t have stretches, I’ll say more than 90 seconds, of not scoring. If the Bearcats consistently put the ball in the basket, including at the free throw line, they will be in position to, as Wes Miller’s head coach at North Carolina Roy Williams once coined it as, steal a brownie from Houston. In other words, they’ll be in position to knock off the No. 1 Cougars.
