Conference: AAC (At-Large/Auto-Bid)
Record: 29-5 (16-2)
NCAA Tournament Seed: 6, South
How they got to the Big Dance
The Cincinnati Bearcats started the season with a pattern of three wins and then a loss. After beginning the season 3-0, they hit a bump in the Rhode, suffering a five-point loss to Rhode Island. They followed that up with three more wins, including an overtime victory at Iowa State, before losing Butler. Cincinnati started conference play with a 10-2 record, and its AAC season was a dominant one. The Bearcats came in hot, winning their first 12 matchups on their way to a 16-2 conference record , only losing to SMU, who finished first in the conference, and UCF. Cincinnati entered the AAC Tournament as the No. 2 seed. The Bearcats took down Tulsa and Connecticut to advance to the championship game against SMU. Unfortunately they could not finish the job, falling to the Mustangs in the final. They will play the winner of a play in game between Kansas State and Wake Forest in the round of 64.
Why they’re a legitimate contender
The Bearcats can do it all. A one-two punch of sophomore guard Jacob Evans and junior forward Kyle Washington heads an offense that averaged just under 75 points per game. Evans and Washington averaged 13.4 and 13.3 points per game respectively, which gives Cincinnati reliable scorers in both the front and backcourt. Not to be overshadowed, the defense has been impressive as well. Cincinnati ranks fourth in defensive scoring, only giving up 60.2 points per game, and tied for ninth in scoring margin at plus 14.5. The Bearcats can score the ball on one end and lock down opposing teams on the other, making them a scary matchup in the tournament.
Why they’re not a legitimate contender
Cincinnati has all the tools to win games, but its inexperience and struggles against ranked teams could be a problem in March. The Bearcats have only played three games against teams currently in the AP Top 25, going 1-2 in those matchups. This is not a horrible record, but the fact that they have only played three ranked teams is what’s more alarming. A four-loss record is impressive, but the Bearcats’ schedule was not a very challenging one. It will be interesting to see how Cincinnati performs in crucial moments against a top tier team in a high-pressure environment. Height could also be a problem for this team. They only have one player on their roster over 6-foot-9, so a team with dominant big men could give the Bearcats headaches all game long.
Player to watch: Forward Kyle Washington
I’ve already mentioned he averages above 13 points per game, but did you know he also shoots 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from three? That’s right, Washington, who also averages seven rebounds per game, can stretch the floor as a big man and is an efficient shooter both inside and out. The emergence of junior forward Gary Clark down the stretch will force teams to respect his game and not focus all their attention on Washington. No double teams could create the opportunity for big games from the junior forward.
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