Blog

The Bearcats have played a weak schedule to date; we will find out if their defense is legit in the next few games. Cincinnati lost at home to Eastern Michigan in a truly embarrassing fashion. The Bearcats were without Baba Miller in that contest, which hurt them on the boards and on offense. There still is no excuse for losing to a team of Eastern Michigan’s caliber when you represent the BIG 12, but not having your best player early in the season certainly doesn’t help. Xavier is off to a decent start under new head coach Richard Pitino Jr., but they, too, have a team that is not familiar with each other, and nobody on their roster started a game in a Power Four conference last season. Cincinnati has many players with extensive experience at major programs. The Bearcats have the length to play solid defense and to score around the rim. Day Day Thomas is the only carryover from last year on either team and should continue to shoot the ball well. Tonight’s game will be a fun battle between two schools separated by just 3 miles. The faces might be new, but the rivalry is not. We will go with the undeniable experience edge that should be the difference in a close game. Take Cincinnati.