Advertisement

Wes Miller wants fewer surprises offensively, more consistency defensively from Cincinnati

keith jenkins, cincinnati enquirer
·4 min read

University of Cincinnati guard David DeJulius has been a headache for opposing defenses of late.

DeJulius scored 26 points in a win against Louisville to close out the Maui Invitational, and then he followed that with a 22-point performance Wednesday in a victory against the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Cincinnati Bearcats basketball:DeJulius, Nolley lead Cincinnati Bearcats to rout of visiting NJIT

It was just the third time in his career that the 6-foot graduate student scored 20-plus points in back-to-back games.

"Shot selection is an important part of us becoming a better offensive team," Cincinnati coach Wes Miller said. "It just is. Because we have three guys (DeJulius and senior guards Landers Nolley II and Jeremiah Davenport) that can make really, really tough, challenged shots, and sometimes, especially Dave and Jeremiah, sometimes shoot it better taking a tougher shot than an open shot. ... You want them to have the freedom to be themselves, you just want to make sure we're doing it at times we don't surprise our teammates.

"So, David, man, in space and in isolation and the step-back (jump shot), that's a really tough shot for the average player, for most players. It happens to be a really good shot for David. We just want to make sure when he takes it, we've got the boards covered and we're not surprised, because it is a good shot for our team."

Cincinnati guard David DeJulius (5) and head coach Wes Miller will look to lead the Bearcats past Bryant on Sunday in their last test before the Crosstown Shootout on Dec. 10 against Xavier.
Cincinnati guard David DeJulius (5) and head coach Wes Miller will look to lead the Bearcats past Bryant on Sunday in their last test before the Crosstown Shootout on Dec. 10 against Xavier.

DeJulius is averaging 22.4 points per game in the Bearcats' five wins this season compared to just 6.3 points in their three losses.

DeJulius and Cincinnati will look to keep their hot streak going against Bryant (6-2) on Sunday at Fifth Third Arena. It will be the Bearcats' last test before hosting Xavier on Dec. 10 in the 90th installment of the Crosstown Shootout rivalry series.

Cincinnati defeated Bryant 73-58 last season at home before losing to the Musketeers in Miller's debut in the rivalry.

The game

Tipoff: Noon on Sunday at Fifth Third Arena

TV/Radio: ESPN+/WLW-AM (700)

Series info: Cincinnati has won all four meetings against Bryant, including last season's victory on Dec. 5, 2021. It was the first matchup between the two programs since 1967.

Scouting report

Bryant (6-2)

Coach: Jared Grasso, fifth season (68-56)

Offense: 91.3 ppg

Defense: 69.4 ppg

Projected lineup

Player (Position, Height, Key Stat)

Doug Edert (G, 6'2", 9 ppg)

Charles Pride (G, 6'4", 16.1 ppg)

Sherif Gross-Bullock (G, 6'5", 15.4 ppg)

Earl Timberlake (G, 6'6", 15.1 ppg)

Antwan Walker (F, 6'8", 13.4 ppg)

Cincinnati (5-3)

Coach: Wes Miller, second season (23-18)

Offense: 77.3 ppg

Defense: 68.8 ppg

Projected lineup

Player (Position, Height, Key Stat)

Mika Adams-Woods (G, 6’3”, 9 ppg)

David DeJulius (G, 6’0", 16.4 ppg)

Landers Nolley II (G, 6’7”, 16.3 ppg)

Jeremiah Davenport (G, 6'7", 9.3 ppg)

Viktor Lakhin (F, 6’11”, 10.9 ppg)

Players to watch

Bryant guard Charles Pride (5) waves to friends and family after the Bulldogs' 73-72 win at Syracuse on Nov. 26.
Bryant guard Charles Pride (5) waves to friends and family after the Bulldogs' 73-72 win at Syracuse on Nov. 26.

Charles Pride

Bryant has a balanced offensive attack, with five players averaging at least nine points. Senior guard Charles Pride paces the Bulldogs, dropping 16.1 points per night. The 2021-22 first-team All-Northeast Conference selection is coming off a 15-point, nine-rebound effort in a 72-60 loss at home to Brown. Pride is the leader of a Bulldogs squad that won last season's NEC regular-season and conference championships and advanced to the NCAA Tournament (Division I) for the first time in program history. Bryant was announced as a full member of the America East Conference on March 29.

Cincinnati Bearcats forward Viktor Lakhin (30) is shooting 65.7% from the field over the last four games.
Cincinnati Bearcats forward Viktor Lakhin (30) is shooting 65.7% from the field over the last four games.

Viktor Lakhin

Sophomore forward Viktor Lakhin recorded his first career double-double (13 points and 11 rebounds) in last season's win against Bryant. He's had two more since, including a 10-point, 10-rebound performance Wednesday against NJIT. Lakhin has scored in double figures in four straight games, shooting 65.7% (23-for-35) from the field during that span.

Key to the game

Play more consistent defense

Miller has said the biggest issue for his team right now is its inconsistency on the defensive end. Miller said he will be "relentless" in addressing that.

"I try to grow and adjust as a coach every year," he said. "But when it comes to guarding people and rebounding, it's what I believe. I'll go to my grave believing that. I'll be on it every single day."

With Xavier set to come into Fifth Third Arena next weekend, and conference play fastly approaching (Dec. 29), the Bearcats need to iron out whatever kinks are holding them back from playing a more consistent brand of defense. That starts Sunday against Bryant.

Rankings

KenPom.com: Bryant (176); Cincinnati (75)

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati basketball: Bearcats to host Bryant