Cincy on the Prowl
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Rob Phinisee finds a new home following transfer to Cincinnati

By Charles Post

CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 08: Justin Jenifer #3 and Cane Broome #15 of the Cincinnati Bearcats look on in the second half of the game against the Xavier Musketeers at Fifth Third Arena on December 8, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati won 62-47. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 08: Justin Jenifer #3 and Cane Broome #15 of the Cincinnati Bearcats look on in the second half of the game against the Xavier Musketeers at Fifth Third Arena on December 8, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati won 62-47. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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The Cincinnati Bearcats picked up former Indiana point guard Rob Phinisee on April 20. The 6’1 senior spent four years with the Hoosiers before deciding to enter the transfer portal in late March. Phinisee is one of three transfers joining the Bearcats alongside recently-acquired forwards Kalu Ezikpe and Landers Nolley II.

https://twitter.com/GoBearcatsMBB/status/1517495974205132800

Wes Miller wanted to add depth this offseason and it appears he accomplished that.

Phinisee brings much-needed experience and stability to the backcourt as the Bearcats attempt to compete for an American Conference championship next year. After also considering an offer from Butler, the former Hoosiers captain committed to Cincinnati with one year of eligibility remaining.

The Indiana native averaged 6.5 points, 2.8 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 111 games over four seasons in Bloomington. When Mike Woodson was hired as head coach last summer and Pittsburgh point guard Xavier Johnson transferred to Indiana, Phinisee lost his starting spot and played a career-low 18.3 minutes per game in 2022.

At least there will be a familiar face within the program as Phinisee gets a fresh start in Cincinnati. He will be reunited with former Hoosiers assistant coach Mike Roberts, who joined Miller’s coaching staff last spring. Phinisee started 69 games at Indiana but missed nearly a month with plantar fasciitis in early February.

He also missed multiple games as a freshman with a concussion.

Despite struggling to become a consistent perimeter shooter, Phinisee knocked down a pair of game-winning triples during his career. He drilled a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to take down Butler 71-68 during his freshman season, before connecting on a corner jumper to secure an upset over 4th ranked Purdue last January.

Phinisee had an erratic career at Indiana, starting nearly every game as a freshman and junior but notching a career-best 7.3 points and 3.4 assists per game as a sophomore before starting zero games and shooting a career-low 31.2% from the field as a senior. Now he heads to Cincinnati with a chance to instantly impact a relatively bare backcourt.