Taking on Cincinnati a harrowing task
By Samuel Snow


Memphis guard Michael Dixon Jr. tries to scoop the ball from SMU guard Nic Moore during the basketball game on Saturday. (Courtesy of AP)

Following the game against the Temple Owls, the SMU Mustangs will face the daunting task of clashing with the No. 7 ranked Cincinnati Bearcats.

The Mustangs lost to the Bearcats, 65-57, to bring in the New Year and open up the conference schedule. This is a different Mustangs team, though.

As the year has advanced, SMU has started to find its rhythm. Now, the Mustangs are looking to break into the top 25, and they would likely get that with a victory against Cincinnati.

The last time these two teams met, Markus Kennedy was part of a mixture on offense in order to score. Now, Kennedy is the focal point of the offense.

While it isn’t absolutely crucial that he put up 15-10, it helps the SMU offense tremendously when he does. He and Nic Moore will have to be at the top of their respective games in order to beat the Bearcats.

In addition, the return of Yanick Moreira (questionable versus Temple) could help the Mustangs. His efficient scoring and rebounding (second on the team with 5.6) could be key against Cincinnati.

This should be a low-scoring affair, as both teams are top-20 in field-goal percentage defense. If SMU is going to make sure of this, they have to limit the amount of opportunities given to big man Justin Jackson and volume scorer Sean Kilpatrick.

Jackson is averaging 11.3 ppg and 7 rpg. Kilpatrick gets most of his work done from the three-point line (59 makes this season) and the charity stripe (118 free throws made this season.

Cincinnati ranks 17th nationally in opponent’s field-goal percentage, however, they rank 119th in opponents three-point percentage at 33.1 percent. So, it is crucial that the Mustangs utilize Moore, Keith Frazier, and Sterling Brown to get three-pointers.

After the match-up against Cincinnati, SMU travels to Rutgers for a clash at 6 p.m. Thursday.

http://www.smudailycampus.com/sports/tak...owing-task

We defended the 3 point line well against them last time. It will be key to do it again. Also JJ played just a monster of a game against them. It would be nice to see a repeat effort.

JJ has been phenomenal with the ball in his hands lately. That fake pass to Kilpatrick and dash to the lane for the game's first basket last night was a thing of beauty. He left Brimah looking for his jock strap at the 3 pt line.

SMU is actually favored by 3.5 points, which I think is absolutely hysterical. They are playing the #7 team in the country that has already beaten the other two top teams in the conference on the road. Watching SMU last time we played them, I wasn't that impressed. We had better athletes at each position...

A closer look at that game and you see why it was "close". Titus only played 15 minutes. SK went 3-12 and 1-7 from three (that was during his slump). Only hit 4-16 as a team from three. Only shot 36% from the field. And still won by 8. Also, if I remember correctly, there guards could not handle our pressure, and the turnover numbers (17) confirm that thought.

Tough travel for us, though. We could really use that week off.

Yep. The 36 hour turnaround worries me more than anything. Heck, I am still sore from just going to the game to cheer.

(02-08-2014 12:28 AM)JFlight21 Wrote:  SMU is actually favored by 3.5 points, which I think is absolutely hysterical. They are playing the #7 team in the country that has already beaten the other two top teams in the conference on the road. Watching SMU last time we played them, I wasn't that impressed. We had better athletes at each position...

A closer look at that game and you see why it was "close". Titus only played 15 minutes. SK went 3-12 and 1-7 from three (that was during his slump). Only hit 4-16 as a team from three. Only shot 36% from the field. And still won by 8. Also, if I remember correctly, there guards could not handle our pressure, and the turnover numbers (17) confirm that thought.

I'm never surprised to see good teams as underdogs on the road. Home court is a hell of a drug.

I was at the first SMU game. It was an extremely sleepy game. UC did not play well. That is with the exception of JJ, who was incredible in pretty much every way imaginable.

I know UC has had a lot of success on the road this year, but this is going to be a very difficult game. The line is fair. If it wasn't, smart people with a lot of money would change it. So far, they haven't.

Well put. I said it before, the Cats being picked to lose this game is a sign of no respect. Beat Memphis and Louisville at their places and somehow, SMU is picked to win. Your points are great. Thanks.

(02-08-2014 12:28 AM)JFlight21 Wrote:  SMU is actually favored by 3.5 points, which I think is absolutely hysterical. They are playing the #7 team in the country that has already beaten the other two top teams in the conference on the road. Watching SMU last time we played them, I wasn't that impressed. We had better athletes at each position...

A closer look at that game and you see why it was "close". Titus only played 15 minutes. SK went 3-12 and 1-7 from three (that was during his slump). Only hit 4-16 as a team from three. Only shot 36% from the field. And still won by 8. Also, if I remember correctly, there guards could not handle our pressure, and the turnover numbers (17) confirm that thought.

The 'Cats being underdogs at SMU is just the type of bulletin board material Mick needs to keep that chip firmly on this group's collective shoulder. Unlike college football, at a certain point, "respect" etc doesn't matter in college hoops. The Tourney tends to straighten most of that out and should for this team. It's not perfect, but it's pretty close. IMO, I like the 'Cats flying under the radar and making the big splash in March.

Well except for the accolades that SK has proven he deserves. But I bet if you asked him, as long as the Bearcats continue to win, SK would be happy to wait on the accolades.