(Courtesy AP)
[10 … 9 … 8 … 7 … 6 … 5 … 4 … 3 … 2 … 1]
The 2012-13 Cincinnati Bearcats didn’t make a name for themselves because of their offense. In fact, when the words “offense” and “UC” were used in the same sentence the words “unimaginative”, “vanilla”, and “struggling” often joined them. Cincinnati ranked just 10th in the Big East in points scored per game, 14th in field goal percentage, 14th in free throw percentage, and 12th in assists per game. UC’s numbers against Big East foes were even worse. The low point of the season came in mid-February when the Bearcats scored a two-decade worst 41 points against Notre Dame.
But one player who could always be relied upon light up the scoreboard was Sean Kilpatrick. In 2012-13, the junior paced the Bearcats with 17 points per game, 82 made threes, and 107 made free throws. Essentially Killa could score from all over the court while shouldering the load offensively for UC.
Still even with his strong reputation with the ball in his hands to support him, no one could have expected the show Kilpatrick put on against Marquette on January 19th. The UC guard has never had great success against the Golden Eagles. In the three meetings prior to that night he had scored just 6, 7, and 9 points and shot just 38% from the field in those games. So to say Kilpatrick had something to prove is an understatement.
This was a critical game for Cincinnati. They were just one game removed from losing the heart and soul of their team, Cashmere Wright. He had gone down against DePaul four days prior and the timing of his return was unknown. Heck, some of us were bracing for the very real possibility that the Bearcats would be playing without him for the remainder of the season. With UC just five games into their Big East schedule and a full gauntlet of conference games ahead of them, that season looked to be taking an ominous turn.
So Sean Kilpatrick being Sean Kilpatrick, he took the responsibility of lifting the team on his back and giving Cincinnati fans no reason to worry. After racing out to a 29 – 13 lead at halftime, the Bearcats looked to be just twenty minutes away from an easy victory. But Marquette’s Buzz Williams was having none of that. He rallied his troops, who put up a 50-spot in the second half to tie the game at 63 as the buzzer ending regulation sounded. All of the momentum was with the Golden Eagles heading into overtime.
Thankfully Cincinnati had #23. Almost immediately Kilpatrick exerted himself on Marquette. He forced a quick foul and drained two free throws to start UC’s scoring in overtime. A couple of minutes later, after a Titus Rubles free throw, Killa drained a floater then made another free throw to give the Bearcats a three point lead with 25 seconds remaining. But Marquette’s Davante Gardner drove the lane on the ensuing possession, drew the foul, and tied the game by completing the three-point play. The game was bound for a second overtime if not for this wild shot from Kilpatrick:
That last bucket whipped the crowd into a frenzy as Cincinnati closed out Marquette in the final seconds. Not only was the game winning shot vintage Kilpatrick, but this was by far the most dominating performance of his UC career. His 36 points was a career high and further cemented Killa as one of the best players to wear a Bearcats uniform.
It’s games like these that bode well for Kilpatrick heading into his senior season. With Cashmere Wright and JaQuon Parker gone, #23 is the last holdover from the three-headed monster at guard that Cincinnati leaned on in 2012-13. He will be surrounded by fresh faces at virtually every position and will be relied upon to provide leadership on offense. Based on the performance above, he should have no problem shouldering the load once again.