The unofficial online home for fans of the University of Cincinnati Bearcats. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Sorry Tim Biddle. You need to sit this one out. I'll stake my claim on this one.

Bearcats lead the overall series 51-38.

Last 10: 2-10 Cincinnati

80-77 Xavier - Fifth Third Arena
83-63 Xavier - Cintas Center
77-69 Xavier - Fifth Third Arena
73-66 Xavier - Cintas Center
62-47 Cincinnati - Fifth Third Arena
89-76 Xavier - Cintas Center
86-78 Cincinnati - Fifth Third Arena
65-55 Xavier - Cintas Center
59-57 Xavier - Fifth Third Arena
64-47 Xavier - US Bank Arena

If I were a casual observer of college basketball I would say a UC win Saturday would be a "no brainer". After watching just the final few minutes of X sleepwalking through a loss to the Blue Hens on replay earlier this morning, I'd believe there would be no way the Mouseketeers can compete with this year's Bearcats.

But, alas, I've witnessed too many of these Shootouts to expect an outcome different from so many in recent decades. Even under HOF Coach Huggins and Mick's successful tenure here it's had unexpected plot lines most every year.

Well, it's a really big game. And coaches will say "well, they're all big games," and that's true. There are no little games. But some games just matter more and this is one of them. Cincinnati comes in with an edge, but people are going to say, "well you can't win in Xavier's gymnasium," but you can win in Xavier's gymnasium. You can't be intimidated. You have to play with poise. And you have to play with patience. You have to be careful with the ball, and you have to play great defense.

(12-06-2023 07:52 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  If I were a casual observer of college basketball I would say a UC win Saturday would be a "no brainer". After watching just the final few minutes of X sleepwalking through a loss to the Blue Hens on replay earlier this morning, I'd believe there would be no way the Mouseketeers can compete with this year's Bearcats.

But, alas, I've witnessed too many of these Shootouts to expect an outcome different from so many in recent decades. Even under HOF Coach Huggins and Mick's successful tenure here it's had unexpected plot lines most every year.

On the other hand, they went toe to toe with Houston. Hard to say which team will show up Saturday.

They have more talent than the team that lost two home buy games, but aren't as good as the Houston result, which I largely view as a Cintas result.

Xavier got back into that game after being down 14 because for 5 minutes in the second half the refs called 10 fouls on Houston and 1 on Xavier. The lead evaporated during that stretch. I also don't think Houston did a good enough job attacking Xavier's weakness, which is interior defense.

Oakland and Delaware both crushed Xavier, getting whatever they wanted at the rim. I think part of that is Xavier didn't have the effort and intensity they showed in their bigger games...but the other part is Xavier doesn't have high major quality bigs.

That said. Xavier has some very talented (though inconsistent) wings, and I think Olivari is excellent. I view Xavier as an NIT type team. It's hard to beat NIT type teams on the road...it's especially hard in a rivalry game where their arena will be insane and they'll likely get a healthy majority of the calls.

UC can win (I even think they should win), but kenpom has the game as about a coin flip, which is to say, this is no gimmie.

I think Xavier’s close games with Houston and Purdue can be explained. Mark did a good job of outlining why they were able to compete with Houston. As for the Purdue game…I don’t think that was as close as the final score but I also think the fact that it was somewhat close can be attributed to how Purdue had no film on xavier. Xavier has a brand new team and that was the third game…meanwhile Purdue has mostly the same team. Xavier had a year’s worth of film to watch and game plan with. Purdue really didn’t have anything.

It’s not unlike Wes’s first year when UC beat a top 15 Illinois team by 20 and then almost beat a top 15 Arkansas team the next night. New coach…new players…the opposing team had nothing to game plan for, while UC did (especially against Illinois who returned most of their team that year). But after that, once film got out on UC, teams were able to game plan better and the losses started to pile up.

Xavier hung with Houston because this isn't the Houston team we know. They aren't big and bruising on the inside. X doesn't have the big men to compete with UC and that's how UC needs to attack them. X can match UC's guard and wing play. Need big games out of Vik, Ody and Aziz. The wild card is going to be either Simas or Skillings. If UC gets big games out of one or both of those guys along with strong performances by the big men, UC walks away with it.

It's time for the 22 year Cintas losing streak to END!

(12-06-2023 09:33 AM)Cat-Man Wrote:  Xavier hung with Houston because this isn't the Houston team we know. They aren't big and bruising on the inside. X doesn't have the big men to compete with UC and that's how UC needs to attack them. X can match UC's guard and wing play. Need big games out of Vik, Ody and Aziz. The wild card is going to be either Simas or Skillings. If UC gets big games out of one or both of those guys along with strong performances by the big men, UC walks away with it.

It's time for the 22 year Cintas losing streak to END!

Until Vik and Aziz both have two fouls 6 minutes into the game.

I fully expect somebody on the Xavier roster to have the game of their life and shoot 7-9 from 3.

(12-06-2023 10:39 AM)bww Wrote:  I fully expect somebody on the Xavier roster to have the game of their life and shoot 7-9 from 3.

Maybe it's UC's turn to have Simas or CJ scorch it from outside the arc. Turnabout is fair play and even better if it means X will have lost four straight @ Cintas.

(12-06-2023 10:39 AM)bww Wrote:  I fully expect somebody on the Xavier roster to have the game of their life and shoot 7-9 from 3.

Look out for Trey Green (guy who UC passed on currently shooting 29%), Davion McKnight (career 29% 3pt shooter) or Desmond Claude (career 27% 3pt shooter) to have a 6/6 from 3 out of body experience on Saturday.

UC rising, XU falling. Sets up perfectly to exorcise some demons.

I have been to several Shootouts at Cintas over the years, and I think after each one I vowed never to do that to myself again. Might go back on that once more. This one could be fun.

(12-06-2023 12:22 PM)levydl Wrote:  UC rising, XU falling. Sets up perfectly to exorcise some demons.

I have been to several Shootouts at Cintas over the years, and I think after each one I vowed never to do that to myself again. Might go back on that once more. This one could be fun.

Much respect for venturing into that den of thieves, brood of vipers.

I call upon...

Bearcats#1

...to come out of posting retirement on Saturday for this game thread. We need his karma to change the trajectory at Cintas.

Remember when he would post the bag over the head in threads LOL?

This is the most excited I've ever been for this game. I've liked Wes from day one and hopefully this will be his coming out party.

(12-06-2023 10:39 AM)bww Wrote:  I fully expect somebody on the Xavier roster to have the game of their life and shoot 7-9 from 3.

That could happen, as it seems it does, and UC can overcome it with this team. Too many weapons. UC by 7. Not sure if a spread is listed yet.

(12-06-2023 01:49 PM)Kyle Mack Wrote:  

(12-06-2023 10:39 AM)bww Wrote:  I fully expect somebody on the Xavier roster to have the game of their life and shoot 7-9 from 3.

That could happen, as it seems it does, and UC can overcome it with this team. Too many weapons. UC by 7. Not sure if a spread is listed yet.

I suspect the spread will be around a pickem.

(12-06-2023 01:55 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(12-06-2023 01:49 PM)Kyle Mack Wrote:  

(12-06-2023 10:39 AM)bww Wrote:  I fully expect somebody on the Xavier roster to have the game of their life and shoot 7-9 from 3.

That could happen, as it seems it does, and UC can overcome it with this team. Too many weapons. UC by 7. Not sure if a spread is listed yet.

I suspect the spread will be around a pickem.

I'd be pretty surprised if that were the case. I'm guessing UC -6 and moves up to -8 by game time.