UC coach Wes Miller, Jizzle James, Simas Lukosius on UAPB win
UC coach Wes Miller, Jizzle James, Simas Lukosius on Arkansas-Pine Bluff win
After nearly breaking a 52-year-old school record for points in an opener with 109 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, the Cincinnati Bearcats basketball program has a Friday night non-conference meeting with Morehead State.
The Eagles will make the two-hour and 15-minute trek after losing at Louisville 93-45 Monday night, then whipping Boyce College at home Wednesday night 89-48. Friday night will make three games in five days for the program that went 26-9 last season and made its ninth NCAA tournament appearance.
Unfortunately, as mid-major basketball goes, such occurrences often result in change and the Eagles lost coach Preston Spradlin to James Madison University.
Six in double figures for Cincinnati Bearcats vs. UAPB
The Bearcats’ 109 points was their most since scoring 103 vs. the Miami RedHawks in 2022 and nearly broke the record of 113 for a season-opener set by Gale Catlett’s ‘Cats in 1972 vs. Cleveland State. UC hit the century mark with 4:49 remaining on a Dillon Mitchell layup and they sat at 109 with 2:24 to go after a Connor Hickman bucket. The opportunity for the record was there.
Six Bearcats were in double figures for the first time since last November’s Detroit Mercy win. The UC record is eight from 2015 when Farad Cobb, Shaq Thomas, Kevin Johnson, Coreontae DeBerry, Justin Jenifer, Quadri Moore, Jacob Evans and Octavius Ellis each hit double figures in a win over Robert Morris.
“It’s definitely different from last year,” sophomore Jizzle James said of this season’s depth. “It’s more fun because we get to spread the love out. It’s good to see everybody making shots and contributing.”
Morehead State taking a more conservative approach
Where UAPB was playing nine of its first 11 on the road with several top programs, Morehead State opened at Louisville, then tuned up with Boyce before coming here. After that, their most challenging games according to metrics are road games at Chattanooga, Marshall and Ohio University.
They never led at the Yum Center vs. Louisville, whereas UAPB actually led UC for a couple of minutes total in the first half before being paddled by 55 points.
3 keys for Cincinnati Bearcats to beat Morehead State Eagles
1. If you’re going to lose anything, lose the early game jitters
Wes Miller thought his team was a little too amped up to play at the start of the game when they simply were trading buckets with UAPB. Point guard James even admitted to being overanxious during one of the early timeouts.
“I said, ‘You’ve got to get others involved, we’re settling too much,'” Miller said. “He said, ‘Yeah, I was just really excited!’ Dead honest. I appreciate honesty. When he settled down I thought he was terrific.”
2. Continue sharing the ball with the extra pass
UC had 27 assists to UAPB’s six. James led the way with 10, six more than his previous Bearcat best. Lukošius and Skillings had four each. When James struggled early from the field, he turned playmaker. As for Lukošius, he had the prettiest assist. After stealing the ball and catching Dillon Mitchell trailing, he flipped it behind his back for the power forward to grab and slam through the rim.
“The last few seconds before the pass I was deciding how I wanted to throw it and if I wanted to be fancy with it or just get it there,” Lukošius said. “I’m glad it turned out well.”
3. Stay hungry, stay humble
CBS basketball insider Jon Rothstein puts this on X every day. It’s not exactly original, but it is foolproof advice, particularly in college basketball. Getting caught up in a blowout against a team you are expected to beat is a trap. And, teams that get full of themselves often have early March departures. Clearly, this is a team with talent that only divisiveness can kill.
Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Morehead State Eagles
Tip: 7 p.m. Fifth Third Arena (12,012)
TV/Radio: ESPN+/700WLW
Series: UC leads 1-0 (last meeting 69-61 in 2014)
Morehead State Eagles scouting report
Record: 1-1
Coach: Jonathan Mattox (first season, 1-1)
Offense: 67 ppg
Defense: 70.5 ppg
Projected starting lineup
(Position, Height, Stats)
Kenny White Jr. (F, 6’7″, 14.5 ppg)
Dieonte Miles (C, 7′, 7.5 ppg)
Tyler Brelsford (G, 6’4″, 10.5 ppg)
Steven Clay (G, 6’4″, 3.5 ppg)
Jalen Breazeale (G, 5’11”, 5 ppg)
Cincinnati Bearcats scouting report
Record: 1-0
Coach: Wes Miller (fourth season, 64-43, overall 249-178)
Offense: 109 ppg
Defense: 54 ppg
Projected starting lineup
(Position, Height, Stats)
Dan Skillings Jr. (G, 6’6″, 17 ppg)
Dillon Mitchell (F, 6’8″, 10 ppg)
Aziz Bandaogo (C, 7′, 11 ppg)
Simas Lukošius (G, 6’8″, 20 ppg)
Jizzle James (G, 6’3″, 12 ppg)
Players to watch
For the Eagles, senior Kenny White Jr. is an Ohio Valley Conference veteran having played at Tennessee Tech, Murray State and Tennessee-Martin before coming to Morehead State. White led the Eagles with 14 points against Louisville in their opener and added 15 vs. Boyce College Wednesday. Tyler Brelsford had 16 points to lead vs. Boyce. Deionte Miles is from Walton-Verona High School and is a transfer after beginning his career at Xavier.
For Cincinnati, early on I’d recommend watching all of them as Wes Miller has the capability of playing eight to 10 guys regularly throughout the season. Standing out Monday were Dan Skillings Jr. with a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds and Jizzle James with 12 points and 10 assists. James missed a triple-double by three rebounds finishing with seven. Dillon Mitchell was also close to a double-double in the opener with 10 points and eight rebounds.
Rankings
NCAA NET: Cincinnati No. 37 last season, Morehead State No. 106
KenPom.com: UC is No. 15, Morehead State No. 283
Cincinnati Bearcats women’s basketball
Katrina Merriweather’s squad started with a 66-54 win over UIC in Chicago Tuesday. Newcomer Tineya Hylton had 20 points. The Bearcats home opener is Sunday at 2 p.m. against Delaware State where they’re offering free ice cream while supplies last.
