By Skip Coopersmith
2 3 2024
GAME NOTES
https://gobearcats.com/documents/2024/2/1/2023-24_Game_Notes-TTU.pdf
CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati men’s basketball team, after a quick visit home, will continue its road swing Saturday evening at No. 15 Texas Tech. Tip-off is at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
THE RUNDOWN
- Cincinnati had a 10-point lead after an 11-0 run into the final six minutes, but West Virginia took advantage of cold shooting to steal a 69-65 decision in Morgantown on Wednesday night.
- John Newman III, the lifeblood of the team, exited with 1:43 left and a two-point deficit following a midsection injury. He had nine points and six rebounds, and the defense allowed a season-low 11 three-point attempts.
- Newman was coming off four-straight double-figure scoring games, and over the last five he is averaging 14.6 ppg on 59.1 percent shooting. With an injury all of 2022-23, his 51.4 FG% is up 10.9 from 2021-22.
- Day Day Thomas made three of his first five deep attempts, a season-high in itself, including back-to-back during the Bearcats’ big run. It was the point guard’s first game with multiple deep makes since Nov. 19. With three more steals, it was his sixth game with three or more.
- Reserve bigs Jamille Reynolds and Ody Oguama provided an impact in their limited minutes. Oguama, fresh off two DNPs before a Big 12-season-high 11 minutes in the UCF win, made both his shot attempts in only 1:25 of game play with a block and rebound. Reynolds went for 10 minutes, after a season-low five against UCF, and had four points, three rebounds and a season-high two blocks.
- Jizzle James had three assists in 11 minutes, his third game (all in Big 12) with three dimes and no turnovers. The freshman has 15 turnovers in the last 19 games after committing six in his first two.
- Dan Skillings Jr. leads UC in Big 12 play with 13.4 ppg, up from 11.2 in non-conference. His 3FG% is also up 7.8 percent in such contests. His best league game was 24 points (4-6 from deep) with six boards at No. 14 Baylor. All four of his career starts have been in Big 12 play.
- Cincinnati was 10-0 when leading at the half before the WVU defeat. The Bearcats also won the glass 42-33, including 18 offensive boards, remaining eighth nationally and best in the Big 12 with a 10.0 season margin. Oklahoma and TCU remain the only teams all year to beat UC in rebounding.
- The Bearcats’ 32 three-point attempts were their most since Nov. 22, and the nine makes since Dec. 29. Deep shots were the identity the previous two seasons, setting school records in makes and attempts each year.
- A win in Lubbock would mark Cincinnati’s first season with multiple ranked road victories since 2013-14 (Memphis, Louisville), as well as the Red Raiders’ first home loss.
SERIES HISTORY
- Cincinnati’s 1961 national title run began with a 78-55 win over Texas Tech in Lawrence, Kansas, and it’s the only all-time meeting between the teams.
COURTESY CINCINNATI SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS
