Previewing The Cincinnati Bearcats vs. The Memphis Tigers

The Cincinnati Bearcats will try to get back on track against the Memphis Tigers tomorrow night, who might not exist as a basketball team come tip off at 7 pm.

KEY NUMBERS

So the Tigers are a bit of a heaping mess. Not only is head coach Josh Pastner throwing out suspensions like candy, he’s started 10 different players this season. One might be a result of the other.

Cincinnati Bearcats

Memphis is a team that should be better than 9-6. They rebound fairly well on both sides of the floor, snagging 12.6 per game on the offensive end (2nd in the AAC) and 25.9 on the defensive end (4th). The Tigers are also efficient with the ball in their hands, scoring 1.01 points per possession (5th) and averaging 67.5 points per game (4th).

But where Memphis gets into trouble is when they go cold from three, fail to hit the glass hard, and start turning the ball over, like the 16 times they did this in their loss to Tulane two weeks ago. All three work right into Cincinnati’s wheelhouse.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Austin Nichols (#4), Trahson Burrell (#0), and Shaq Goodwin (#2): I’m bucketing these three together for a couple of reasons. First, they will have a major collective impact in this game. Second, UC can’t overly focus on guarding any two of them because the third will most definitely take advantage of any open looks the Bearcats provide him.

Pastner appears to be going against the grain of using a longer, taller lineup as opposed to the four-guard rotation that we’ve grown to expect from the Tigers. Nichols, Burrell, and Goodwin are talented forwards with an average height of 6’8″ who account for 51% of Memphis’ scoring and 47% of their rebounds. Most importantly, Nichols is a shot blocking machine, averaging 3.5 blocks per game. They will be a handful for Cincinnati to contain.

BEST MATCHUP

That trio vs. Cincinnati’s forwards: There’s no better matchup tomorrow night than Nichols/Burrell/Goodwin vs. Ellis/Clark/Thomas. Cincinnati did well against Amida Brimah and Kentan Facey on Saturday but Memphis’ front court is a bit of a different story because they’re a bit deeper at the 3-5 than UConn. I know that’s a strange concept because these are of course the Tigers’ we’re talking about but that’s just a fact this season; Memphis is really, really good inside.

As mentioned in the segment above, the Bearcats need to keep all three in check in order to have hope at victory on the road.

FINAL THOUGHTS AND PREDICTION

Every game this year this young UC team has given the Cronin detractors more ammunition by losing in new and frustrating ways, be it a blowout against Ole Miss and VCU or bumbling in the final few minutes to drop tough ones on the road to Nebraska and UConn. But each time the Bearcats displayed their resiliency in the following game, bouncing back to throttle Stony Brook, Wagner, and ranked San Diego State.

I have full confidence in Cincinnati pulling the same magic against the Memphis Tigers. They’ll find a way to win.

Cincinnati: 69

Memphis: 62