7. Jonathan Mogbo was my biggest player to watch going into the game. And while he had a double-double, his 16th of the season, he only had 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Bearcats did a great job getting him in foul trouble, saddling him with four fouls in 34 minutes of play. Mogbo was also 5-of-13 from the floor, well below his nearly 65% shooting average he entered the game with.
8. Four of the five Bearcats starters played 30 or more minutes Wednesday night. Even though it may be officially too late, the fact that Wes Miller has a rotation now can help the Bearcats in the remainder of the NIT.
9. Even though Aziz Bandaogo only had six points and six rebounds, he did have an assist and three blocks. We’re left wanting more from Bandaogo after most of the Bearcats games, but I would say his performance Wednesday night was highly effective. He didn’t do anything that cost the Bearcats.
10. I’m going to say something that’s probably going to make you think I’m crazy, but I’m not a fan of fouling up three late. Wes Miller vehemently said after the game how much he didn’t like his team’s execution down the stretch in regulation, including not fouling up 67-64 on the Dons last possession even though they had a foul to give. However, I like letting the game play out instead of fouling up three. And there’s one game I go back to as to why I feel this way: Duke-North Carolina in 2020. North Carolina was up three late and fouled Duke. Tre Jones made the first free throw but missed the second free throw. He got the rebound off the missed free throw and tied the game with a jumper at the buzzer. Not only did fouling up three not work, but what if the shot at the buzzer had been a three? That would have been four points and a win for Duke. That’s why I’m not a fan of fouling up three late. I like to put confidence in my defense to get a stop.
11. The NIT is a weird event. Yes the Bearcats are playing at home, but it’s technically a neutral-site game. That means all the graphics and in-game events at normal Bearcats home games weren’t a part of Wednesday night’s game. The curtains were also closed on the second level. It just felt weird all around.
12. That said, it was great to see the Bearcats celebrate Lukosius’s game-winning three and the win by dancing on the court after the game. These are still postseason games that count towards a championship.
Next Game: The Bearcats now advance to the second round of the NIT where they will face Bradley on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. E.T.. Bradley is coming off a 74-62 over Loyola Chicago in the First Round of the NIT and will enter with 23 wins on the season. Much more to come on Bradley in my Forensics later this week.
