UC Bearcats ride wave of senior success
Tom Groeschen, tgroeschen@enquirer.com 5:02 p.m. EST January 26, 2016


The seniors are stepping up, which is a big reason why the University of Cincinnati basketball team is enjoying one of its best stretches of the season.

UC has won four of its past five games, most recently a 97-75 win over Tulane on Sunday that was not as close as the score indicates. Senior forward Shaq Thomas and sophomore forward Gary Clark scored 17 points against Tulane, with senior guard Farad Cobb scoring 16.

UC’s other two seniors, center Coreontae DeBerry (11 points) and forward Octavius Ellis (8 points) were among other key contributors against Tulane.

“I think our seniors are starting to give us more leadership and more production," Cronin said. "That’s making us a better team. ... Whoever plays better is going to win. That's it. That’s the talk I’m trying to have with my seniors. You have to play well now, because you don’t get to play next year.”

Thomas was named to the weekly American Athletic Conference honor roll after totaling 35 points in two games.

UC (15-6, 5-3 American Athletic Conference) next plays Connecticut (14-5, 4-2 AAC) on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Hartford.

NOTEWORTHY:

UConn has won three straight games. The Huskies are led by senior forward Shonn Miller (Euclid, Ohio/13.6 ppg), junior guard Rodney Purvis (13.5 ppg), senior guard Sterling Gibbs (13.1) and sophomore swingman Daniel Hamilton (12.1).
Huskies coach Kevin Ollie is in his fourth season (86-38 record). The Huskies were national champions in the 2013-14 season, Ollie's second year after replacing Nasimith Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun. Last season, UConn went 20-15 and wound up in the NIT (National Invitation Tournament).
Expect a low-scoring game. UConn ranks No. 6 nationally in field goal percentage defense (37.3) and UC is No. 25 (39.3).
UConn is No. 58 and UC is No. 69 in the NCAA RPI standings. ESPN analyst Joe Lunardi sees UC as a No. 11 NCAA Tournament seed. CBS Sports analyst Jerry Palm projects UC as one of the “First four out.”
UConn is 10-1 at home this season, including 5-0 on campus in Storrs and 5-1 at the XL Center in Hartford. UC is 3-3 in true road games.
UConn was voted second and UC third in the preseason AAC coaches poll. SMU was picked to win the league.
AAC standings entering Tuesday: SMU 7-1, Tulsa 5-2, Temple 5-2, UConn 4-2, UCF 4-2, Cincinnati 5-3, Memphis 3-3, Houston 3-4, East Carolina 1-6, Tulane 1-7, USF 1-7.
UConn is receiving votes in both the Associated Press and USA Today polls.
UC lost two of three meetings with UConn last season, winning at home and losing twice at the XL Center. One of last season’s losses was in the AAC tournament in Hartford. The last UC road win over UConn was Jan. 18, 2012 at Gampel Pavilion.

QUOTABLE: Cronin, on the challenges faced by younger players: “Every freshman and sophomore that’s not playing great is being told to transfer right now, by either his high school coach, his Uncle Smitty or his AAU coach. The seniors, right now … It’s now or never for them.”

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Quote:Cincinnati vs. Connecticut

When: Thursday, 7 p.m.

Where: XL Center (15,564), Hartford

TV/Radio: ESPNU/700 WLW-AM

Records: UC 15-6 (5-3 AAC), UConn 14-5 (4-2 AAC)

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/c.../79339214/