1. The Cincinnati Bearcats are a factor in the Big 12. That’s my first, and biggest, takeaway from their win Saturday night at BYU. In a conference where every game is going to feel like a tournament game, the Bearcats are now a big game for every one of the other 13 teams in the Big 12 after a 71-60 road win at BYU.
2. BYU came into Saturday night averaging 90.4 points per game, led the country in scoring and rebounding margins. They also had a 56-10 record at the Marriott Center dating back to the start of the 2019-20 season, which spans the entire tenure of their head coach Mark Pope. What did the Bearcats do in Provo, Utah Saturday night? They held the Cougars to just 60 points and won the rebounding battle 45-36.
3. This is, no doubt, the best win for Bearcats head coach Wes Miller in his three seasons in Clifton. To go on the road, a true road game, in the Bearcats first conference game in the toughest conference in college basketball and lead the team to a win in the fashion in which the Bearcats did is a huge step in Miller getting the Bearcats program back on the national radar. To put into further perspective how impressive of a win this is, the Bearcats never beat the top teams in the American Athletic Conference in Memphis or Houston on the road. Saturday night, the Bearcats went into one of the toughest environments in college basketball and defensively shut down a high octane BYU team.
4. I found it fascinating how BYU kept shooting it from deep the entire game, and it backfired for them. The Cougars went just 13-46 from three-point range, nine of which were made by Trevin Knell. The Bearcats only attempted 54 shots overall, but their shot selection was much better than BYU. Cincinnati only attempted 15 three-point shots, but they made six. The Bearcats stayed patient and got good looks, and they converted enough to pull away late in the second half.
5. Jizzle James is turning into a rock. He does not get intimidated in any environment he plays in. Saturday night he delivered an incredibly efficient performance in the tough environment of the Marriott Center with 12 points in 13 minutes off the bench. He was 4-of-7 from the field including 1-of-2 from three-point range. My favorite stat of his from the night: no turnovers.
6. Aziz Bandaogo is worth every bit the hype he got when he committed as a transfer to Cincinnati this past offseason. His performance last night, in his first game back from a back injury, was instrumental in getting the Bearcats back into the game and eventually sealing a huge win on the road. 12 points, 10 rebounds, 4-of-5 from the field, no turnovers all in 22 minutes off the bench was incredible.
