2. #10 Johnny Furphy, 6’9″, 202 lbs., Fr., G, Melbourne, Australia
9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 49.2 FG%, 36.4 3-PT FG%, 77% FT, 23.2 mpg
January 22nd vs. Cincinnati: 23 pts, 11 rebs, 7-8 FG (3-4 3-PT FG), 6-9 FT, 2 TO, 2 stl, 37 mins
This is the player I’m worried about. It was Furphy who destroyed the Bearcats from beyond the arc with three three-point makes back in January. Without their top two leading scorers, Furphy will assume a large role tonight. He hasn’t hit the point and rebound totals he reached in the regular-season game against the Bearcats since, but I will have my eye right on him tonight You should too.
3. #3 Dajuan Harris Jr., 6’2″, 170 lbs., R-Sr., G, Columbia, Mo.
8.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 43.8 FG%, 38.5 3-PT FG%, 77.1 FT, 198 ast.-65 TO, 48 stl, 35.5 mpg
January 22nd vs. Cincinnati: 8 pts, reb, 3-10 FG (1-2 3-PT FG), 1-1 FT, 8 ast., 5 TO, 2 stl, 37 mins
Harris is another key piece tonight for the Jayhawks. He leads the team in assists and is second in the Big 12 at 198. He’s also increased his scoring average by over a point since the first game against Cincinnati. Harris Jr. also leads the team in minutes, with 10 games of 30 or more minutes since the game against Cincinnati. But worth noting: he hasn’t hit a three-point shot since February 17th at Oklahoma.
Previous Matchup vs. Kansas: January 22nd @ Allen Fieldhouse (Kansas wins 74-69)
When the Bearcats were invited to join the Big 12, this was the game I instantly thought about. College basketball is my second favorite sport, behind the NFL, and to be able to now face Kansas annually is a game I have circled on the calendar. And for the Bearcats, to play a game at Allen Fieldhouse was awesome to see as a fan.
That said, the Bearcats held their own in this game. The game was tied at halftime, and the feeling I still have is if Cincinnati had one or two more outside shots- they went just 3-of-18 from three-point range- they could have won this game. The Bearcats held Kansas big man, Hunter Dickinson, to just 10 points and six rebounds. As I mentioned above, it was Johnny Furphy who burned the Bearcats from beyond the arc for three threes as part of a 23-point, 11-rebound performance. Cincinnati out-rebounded Kansas 40-29, but turnovers were a problem. The Bearcats had 16 turnovers to just seven assists. Kansas had 11 turnovers, but they also had 17 assists. Dan Skillings Jr. led the way for Cincinnati with 16 points including all three of Cincinnati’s three-point makes, and Aziz Bandaogo had 11 rebounds. What I took away from this game is that Cincinnati can play with any team in the Big 12 and in any venue in the country. Kansas should have a lot of fans at this game tonight here in Kansas City, but the Bearcats have proven they can hold their own. And with Kansas without their top two leading scorers, the time is now for the Bearcats to assert themselves in this Tournament.
Keys to the Game
1. Don’t fall behind by 16 points: If that happens against Kansas, there’s no coming back from that. Even without their top two scorers, the Jayhawks still have players who can close out the game. Put Kansas behind, and the Bearcats will have a chance to win the game. But get behind a team already without its top two scorers, and that will give the Jayhawks confidence. Remember, this is still the face of Big 12 Basketball the Bearcats are facing tonight.
2. Shoot competently from beyond the arc: As aforementioned, all the Bearcats needed was one or two more three-point shots and they could have won the game. Coming off a game where they made a Big 12 Tournament record 16 threes, there’s reason for confidence can shoot better this time around against Kansas.
3. Don’t come out sluggish: This goes along with my first key, but a late start tonight offers some disadvantages. For one, the Bearcats are going to have to find a way to stay loose throughout the day today. But the advantage they have over Kansas is they have already played a game in the Big 12 Tournament. They have momentum. Don’t slow it down by coming out sluggish.
