The Cincinnati Bearcats (13-6, 2-3 Big 12) traveled to Lawrence, Kansas to take on the 7th ranked Kansas Jayhawks (16-3, 4-2 Big 12) in a battle of the Phog for Big 12 Monday. This was the first matchup between both programs since 1996, when the teams squared off back at the United Center, where the Jayhawks defeated the Bearcats 72-65.
However, the Bearcats first Big Monday didn’t go as they had planned as they fell to the 7th ranked Jayhawks 74-69 in front of a sold-out Allen Fieldhouse. “You look down and see you’re playing a great team, in a great environment, that was a special opportunity, “said Wes Miller. “To play in places like Allen Fieldhouse, on Big Monday was pretty special.”
Although, the Bearcats have had quite a gauntlet to overcome to kick off Big 12 play, as they opened up the season with six straight games vs opponents ranked in the top 25. A six game stretch that could have gone multiple different ways pending the outcomes over the recent weeks, something Wes Miller even mentioned following the loss to Kansas this evening.
However, for the Bearcats, their efforts weren’t enough this evening, after a strong second half propelled the Jayhawks over Cincinnati. Cincinnati found a way to contain Hunter Dickinson, as the Big 12 preseason player of the year was held to just 10 points and six rebounds, all in which came in the first half. That was a huge impact on how this game was played, as Cincinnati’s size and physicality caused a lot of problems for Kansas this evening, despite taking a 12-point lead early.
“Our guys did a nice job defending the actions that allow Dickinson to get deep in the paint,” Wes Miller said. “We did a nice job of getting him in foul trouble, and that was helpful for us. He is obviously a very talented player.”
Cincinnati eliminated Dickinson, but they had no answer for freshman guard Johnny Furphy as the Australian finished with 23 points, and 11 rebounds on a near perfect (875) clip. Furphy was just too much for the Bearcats as the freshman guard imposed his will on the Bearcats tonight. It just seemed like everything was dropping for Furphy, as he just piled the stat sheet tonight in what would be a career night for the talented freshman.
Cincinnati also had no answer for Kevin McCullar Jr, as the veteran guard, entered tonight’s contest amongst the top of the Big 12 in scoring averaging nearly 20 points per game. However, the Bearcats did a great job containing McCullar, in the first half, but then he exploded for 13 second half points, as the Jayhawk backcourt was just too much for the Bearcats. McCullar, finished with 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists and was a dominant force for the Jayhawks.
Dan Skillings led the Bearcats with 16 points and six rebounds, as the sophomore continued to be a key piece for the Bearcats during this six-game gauntlet. Skillings, willed the Bearcats back into this one in the contest after providing a huge spark off the bench in the first half where he scored 14 of his 16 points. However, the Jayhawks did a great job at containing him in the second half, holding Skillings to just two points, on 1-5 shooting in the second half.
Kansas head coach Bill Self said that having a guy like Skillings caliber was something that was a true luxury for the Bearcats. The move to bring Skillings off the bench was a difference maker in this one as teh Bearcats outscored the Jayhawks 32-2 in terms of bench points. “I don’t think that has ever been heard of in a team win,” said Bill Self. “That is how Wes plays, whenever he doesn’t start Skillings and he comes off the bench, that is a bonus. We don’t have that luxury.”
A huge positive for Cincinnati following this contest was they outrebounded the Jayhawks 40-29 for the game, and 16 to 6 on the offensive end. As the Bearcats size in the front court was something that caused a lot of problems for the Jayhawks here tonight, as Aziz Bandaogo and Viktor Lakhin combined for 19 of those 40 rebounds. “Cincinnati is one of the best rebounding teams in the country,” said Self. “You look down and 16 offensive rebounds, is pretty impressive.”
Big 12 Challenge
Cincinnati opened up conference play, with six straight games vs teams in the top 25 which is the most since 1994. Although the Bearcats finished the stretch 2-4, they could very much be 5-1, or 6-0 pending the outcome of previous games. However, for Wes Miller and the Bearcats they are looking to build off this stretch as the season progresses.
The Rundown
Day-Day Thomas pushed the tempo early as he threaded the needle with a sneaky pass in transition to Simas Lukosius, who missed the wide-open layup. However, Lakhin was there to clean it up on the class for the first points of the night. The Bearcats offense would go cold as Lukosius missed his first four shots, for the Bearcats, as they were just 1-7 (17%) from the field in the opening segment.
The Jayhawks responded with ten unanswered following the Johnny Furphy made three, forcing an early Cincinnati timeout. A run that started after the Jayhawks forced three early turnovers, resulting in points on the other end. That is not the start the Bearcats needed, especially in a hostile environment like Allen Fieldhouse.
Dan Skillings would silence the Jayhawks early ten-point run, with a huge triple off the bench to give the Bearcats some light. However, Dajuan Harris responded with a three-point play of his own the following possession. The Jayhawks would pour it on as they continued to force Cincinnati into early turnovers, scoring six straights to take a 19-7 lead, before Jamille Reynolds silenced the Jayhawks momentum with a huge right-handed floater over Dickinson.
