Cincinnati Bearcats Ranked 33rd In Coaches Poll
By Chris Bains
Jan 4, 2014; Memphis, TN, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats forwards Shaquille Thomas (3) Titus Rubles (2) and guard Sean Kilpatrick (23) during the second half against the Memphis Tigers at FedExForum. Cincinnati defeated Memphis 69-53. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
The Cincinnati Bearcats were tabbed 26th in this week’s AP Poll with 103 votes. Unfortunately the coaches (or interns who vote for coaches) didn’t view UC as favorably.
In spite of the win over then #18 Memphis, Cincinnati garnered just 13 votes in the Coaches Poll, good for 33rd in the rankings. Even so, like in AP Poll, the Bearcats climbed from receiving absolutely no votes to at least receiving some when this week’s Coaches Poll was released. That is definitely a commendable achievement for a UC team that looked like it was left for dead after the Crosstown Shootout debacle.
Still, the prospects of a top-25 ranking for the Bearcats wasn’t a farfetched thought and the news today is as encouraging as it is discouraging. Thankfully Cincinnati faces two teams this week that they should be favored against and since they are still on the outside looking in, UC will be playing the disrespect card like it’s nobody’s business. And that means bad news for the Houston Cougars and Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
If the Bearcats take care of business against those AAC opponents this week you can bet your bottom dollar this team will be in the top-25 in either poll come next Monday.