Jenifer much better for UC this season
Tom Groeschen , tgroeschen@enquirer.com Published 6:41 p.m. ET Jan. 5, 2017 | Updated 4 hours ago


With his headband, braided hair and jersey No. 3, University of Cincinnati sophomore Justin Jenifer has a few things in common with Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Allen Iverson.

There will never be another Iverson, whose ankle-breaking crossovers and scoring ability made him one of basketball’s biggest stars. In Jenifer’s case, UC fans can be pleased that their backup point guard at least has been more productive this season.

The No. 22 Bearcats (12-2, 2-0 American Athletic Conference) will play Houston (12-3, 3-0 AAC) at Hofheinz Pavilion on Saturday night at 9 p.m. (ESPNU), and Jenifer again should play some key minutes off the bench.

That was not the case last season, when Jenifer usually sat and watched. With a tendency to rush offensively, turn the ball over and sometimes lose his man defensively, Jenifer rarely played.

This season Jenifer has improved in most every statistical category. He is logging 17.1 minutes per game, after averaging only 8.6 minutes last season.

“Just coming in off the bench getting steals, getting deflections, getting the tempo up with a lot of energy coming off the bench,” Jenifer said Thursday, before UC practiced. “The same energy that they have for the first five.”

Improvements for Jenifer include:

- Points per game: 5.1, up from 2.4 last season.

- Field goal percentage: 45.8, up from 36.2.

- 3-point percentage: 41.4, up from 33.3.

- Assists: 2.6 per game, up from 1.3.

- Rebounds: 1.3 per game, up from 0.7.

- Turnovers: Has only 10, in 17.1 minutes per game. Last year, had 17 turnovers in 8.6 minutes per game.

- Steals: Has 10, in 14 games. Last year, had 14 steals in 27 games.

Last season, the jump from high school to college was tough for Jenifer, a Baltimore native.

“It was a big adjustment, but at the end of the day I sat down with coach (Mick Cronin), and he just told me I’ve just got to trust the process,” Jenifer said. “If you work hard off the court, you’ll get the results on the court. Just my all-around game, just me becoming a better point guard and a better leader.”

The one downer this season is free throw shooting, where Jenifer is shooting 50 percent after hitting 70 percent last year. Otherwise, all good.

“Justin has eliminated two things that he needed to eliminate, which were turnovers and defensive breakdowns,” Cronin said. “If you do those two things, I don’t care what your name is or what school you go to, you can go to La Salle (High School) or Cincinnati, you’re not playing. You can’t play in a real game if you turn the ball over or if you’re a defensive liability.

“Justin has eliminated those two things. Once you eliminate those things, you get on the court like he has this year, then your talent starts to take over and you become more effective.”

Jenifer’s development also has enabled starting point guard Troy Caupain to get more rest. Caupain averaged a team high 33.5 minutes last year, and is down to 31.4 this season. That may not seem like much, but it should mean that Caupain will have fresher legs come March.

“It’s all about confidence for him,” Caupain said of Jenifer. “It’s good to see him out there performing well, slowing the game down in his head, making shots and being a point guard.”

Cronin now has no qualms about playing Jenifer.

“He’s become a guy that I don’t worry about him turning the ball over, and I don’t worry about him getting beat on defense,” Cronin said. “The thing I love about him is he pushes the pace, and he is shooting it better. He’s worked really hard on his shotmaking.”

Injury note: UC junior forward Quadri Moore (back) is expected to be available for Saturday's game, Cronin said. Moore missed UC’s 92-56 win over Tulane last Sunday with back spasms.

Houston update: The Cougars are led by 6-foot-2 junior guard Rob Gray Jr., who averages 20.4 points per game. Gray missed Wednesday’s 64-61 win over Tulsa with the flu, but he is expected back for the UC game.

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Up next

No. 22 Cincinnati vs. Houston

Tipoff: 9 p.m. Saturday at Hofheinz Pavilion (8,479), Houston

TV/Radio: ESPNU/700-WLW AM

Records: UC 12-2 (2-0 AAC), Houston 12-3 (3-0 AAC)

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/c.../96218568/

Agree!

And he is faster because he lost weight.

I'm glad his scholarship wasn't revoked after last season.

He is starting to be more aggressive and venture into the lane. I like seeing that from point guards.

He will be a good one before he leaves.

(01-06-2017 01:19 PM)Recluse1 Wrote:  He will be a good one before he leaves.

I agree; he has that "extra" gear that enables fast breaks. I've often wondered if this current team would push the ball down the court just 5 or 6 times more per game after made baskets by the opponent if we wouldn't catch the defense napping and get some quick, easy points or draw the fouls.

I trust Jenifer over anyone else on our bench. He plays within our game plan and is a disruptive force on defense.