Scouting report: UC Bearcats host East Carolina Pirates Wednesday night
There aren't many upsides to a home loss for the University of Cincinnati men's basketball team other than they have a chance to right the ship Wednesday night. Appropriately enough, the ship must be righted against the PIrates of East Carolina.
ECU has dropped two straight in the American Athletic Conference and is 1-3 in the league. Like UC, they own a road victory at Wichita State. Both teams have lost to Temple. If you're looking for bright spots from UC's Houston loss, well the Cougars are the top-ranked team in the country now for the first time since 1983.
That's the year UC coach Wes Miller was born.
His team has now faced the No. 1 Cougars, the No. 4 Arizona Wildcats, No. 25 Ohio State and No. 12 Xavier. One of their preseason scrimmages was with No. 5 Purdue.
"We've played against the teams that are ranked at the top in the country," Miller said. "We've had moments that we've played with them. That gives you confidence that you can. We have to become a team that's more consistent in doing the right things all the time. That's all I'm thinking about and all I'm focused on, to figure out exactly where we stand amongst that group."
Against Houston, their 13-point loss was actually the sixth-closest game the Cougars have played. The 59 points were well below UC's average, but it was the fourth most scored against the Cougars. The Bearcats outrebounded Houston 39-33 but turned it over 17 times which is never conducive to winning games.
"Everything that's happened is an opportunity to learn and grow," Miller said post-film session Tuesday and prior to what he termed was a "very important practice".
How will they respond? Will the lineup change again?
Kalu Ezikpe, a 6-foot-8 transfer from Old Dominion actually played against East Carolina last year and finished with 16 points and eight rebounds. Sunday against Houston was his first action since Dec. 17 against La Salle.
"He's just kind of come into the gym and worked every day," Miller said of Ezikpe. "He's tried to play with a little edge every day to show that he wants to be out there. Even when he doesn't get in the game he comes back and does it the next day."
Wednesday is the team's last 9 p.m. tip with the theme "90s at 9".
The new head coach of the Pirates is Michael Schwartz, a former Tennessee assistant under Rick Barnes.
"He's done a terrific job of getting them to play with edge," Miller said. "They're top 30 in the nation in offensive rebounding percentage. Their backcourt (R.J. Felton, Javon Small) have taken a huge step forward as players. They've taken that freshman-to-sophomore leap. They present some problems. Their four-man (Brandon) Johnson really stretches you out and shoots it. Freshman Ezra Ausur is playing at the center position. He started playing a lot more for them the last five or six games. He's really changed their team."
The game
Tip: 9 p.m Sunday, Fifth Third Arena (12,012)
TV/Radio: ESPNU/700WLW
Series info: Cincinnati leads 18-2
Scouting Report
East Carolina 10-7 (1-3 AAC)
Coach: Michael Schwartz (10-7, first season)
Offense: 70.5 ppg
Defense: 67.8 ppg
Projected lineup
(Player, Position, Height, Key Stat)
Javon Small (G, 6'2", 15.4 ppg)
Brandon Johnson (F, 6'8", 13.2 ppg/9.1 rebounds)
R.J. Felton (G, 6'3", 11.8 ppg)
Ezra Ausar (F, 6'9", 8.9 ppg)
Jaden Walker (G, 6'5", 5.9 ppg)
Cincinnati 11-6 (2-2 AAC)
Coach: Wes Miller (29-21, second season)
Offense: 77.8 ppg
Defense: 68.9 ppg
Projected lineup
(Player, Position, Height, Key Stat)
David DeJulius (G, 6', 14.9 ppg)
Landers Nolley II (G/F, 6'7",14.7 ppg)
Mika Adams-Woods (G, 6'3", 10.2 ppg)
Viktor Lakhin, (F, 6'11", 13.1 ppg)
Ody Oguama, (F, 6’9”, 3.3 ppg)
Players to watch
Brandon Johnson
As a freshman, Johnson averaged 4.7 points and 5.1 rebounds for the Pirates. Now as a sophomore, he's more than doubled his scoring at 13.2 points per game and is pulling down roughly nine boards per game. He's recorded seven double-doubles this season including 11 points and 18 rebounds in a two-point loss at home to Temple, a team that outrebounded UC by 18 in Philadelphia.
Mika Adams-Woods
The senior from Syracuse has had six straight games in double figures and kept the Bearcats in the game against Houston with 19 points. He's shooting 47% from the field and over 90% from the charity stripe. Against some of the AAC's best, he's responded with stellar shooting nights, going 7-of-8 against Tulane and 8-of-11 in the loss to now-No. 1 Houston.
"He's improved in every little area that you want to see from one year to the next," Miller said. "But, he's such an offensive threat now that you have to respect him and guard him. People in our league are starting to realize that. He can really shoot the ball."
Keys to the game
As simple as it may sound, passing to someone wearing the same color jersey will be helpful. The Bearcats turned the ball over 17 times Sunday giving Houston a 26-4 advantage in points off of turnovers. Getting back on defense will also be crucial after allowing Houston 22 fast break points to their five. But, not many teams seemingly have three arms like Houston.
Overlooking the Pirates would be a mistake even though UC swept last year's series and beat them in the AAC tournament. The Temple team that pulled away from UC on New Year's Day only beat the Pirates by two. As per the agreed-upon rules, two halves of basketball are required. Sunday, Nolley had 12 points in half one and a goose egg in the second. Lakhin had a deuce in the first, then 14 in the second. Freshman Dan Skillings Jr. turned heads with four rebounds in the first but had just one in the second. Consistency often wins.
Ratings
NCAA NET: Cincinnati is No. 100, East Carolina is No. 176
KenPom.com: Cincinnati is No. 74, East Carolina is No. 164
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati basketball: UC Bearcats host East Carolina Pirates
