Since I have been positive after every heartbreaking loss for the Bearcats in Big 12 play, I’ll do so again here. Whether you agree with me or not, and I think the majority would agree, the Bearcats are closer to being an NCAA Tournament team than they are being a perennial bottom-half of the Big 12 team. Even with four more teams coming into the Big 12, including perennial national title contender Arizona, I think the Bearcats can improve their Big 12 record next year and years to follow.
Even with John Newman III and Ody Oguama leaving after this season, and it will be great to see them play one more time Saturday afternoon on Senior Day at Fifth Third Arena, there could be a strong and deep corps returning next season for Cincinnati that will have one year of experience playing in the Big 12. Despite the too many to count heartbreaking losses for the Bearcats in Big 12 play, they have more than proven they belong in the best conference in the country. Think about it. They had a three-point lead with less than a minute to go at Texas. They had a seven-point lead in the second half at Baylor. They were ahead in the second half at Kansas. They were up seven in the second half against Houston. Even though they have consistently struggled to close the deal, the fact that they had all those chances is significant.
The players on this Bearcats team have proven they’re good enough to compete in the Big 12. Wes Miller has created a culture of not just great players but high character young men off the court. Miller has done a great job of resurrecting the program. Now he needs to take another step as a head coach in the Big 12: in-game coaching. How can he coach this team to not only make in-game adjustments but counter to opponents making adjustments against the Bearcats. There are great head coaches in the Big 12 not just because they have won national championships but also because they are great in-game adjusters. They are great tacticians. If Wes Miller can become that, this team can improve their record in Big 12 play next year and years to follow. Not to mention, there’s the Big 12 Tournament coming up.
For as frustrating as Big 12 play has been for the Bearcats and their fans, there’s still one more regular-season game. One more opportunity to insure the Bearcats don’t have to play until Wednesday of the Big 12 Tournament. The Bearcats welcome in West Virginia Saturday afternoon for Senior Day and their regular-season finale. It’s the first time the Mountaineers will play in Fifth Third Arena since 2011. With that, here are my Players to Watch, notes from the previous matchup and Keys to the Game Saturday afternoon.
What’s Happened with the Mountaineers since January 31st: Why January 31st? That’s when West Virginia came back from down 10 points with 6:29 to go and closed the game on a 19-5 run for a 69-65 win. Since then, West Virginia has been a dismal 1-8. Their only win was a 77-67 home win against Central Florida on Tuesday, February 20th. They haven’t been that bad on offense, though, with three losses coming in games where they scored 75 or more points. Their defense, though, has struggled in allowing 84.6 points per game. That includes four games allowing over 90 games.
