UC rough around the edges in preseason win
Bill Koch, bkoch@enquirer.com 5:59 p.m. EST November 8, 2014
The University of Cincinnati's Octavius Ellis keeps the ball away from Fairmont State's Trevor Andrews-Evans. (Photo: Jeff Swinger)
The regular season hasn't even started yet, so it's way too early to be calling a team meeting, but there's nothing wrong with a well-timed team discussion, which apparently is a less heated, less intense gathering.
That's what the University of Cincinnati Bearcats had late Saturday afternoon after their 71-54 exhibition game victory over Division II Fairmont (WV) State before 4,486 fans at Fifth Third Arena.
"I wanted to make sure I talked to the guys about certain things," said UC coach Mick Cronin. "We'd better be concerned about winning, talking, rotating (on defense), being a good teammate, having the right attitude, things that are non-negotiable in our program."
Octavius Ellis had another stellar outing, producing a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds, Shaq Thomas scored 13 points with eight rebounds and Troy Caupain scored six points with six assists and no turnovers as the Bearcats recovered from an early 7-point first-half deficit to post their second straight exhibition win.
But UC made only 2-of-16 from 3-point range and 19 of 34 from the free throw line. More disturbing to Cronin was the Bearcats' lack of commitment to the dirty work that has defined his program for the past few years, thus the discussion.
"We wrote things on the board that we need to focus on that we need to buy into," Caupain said. "That's going to be on the board for our next game. Maybe we'll figure it out."
Cronin started a different lineup from the one he used Monday against Bellarmine, going with Quadri Moore and Jermaine Sanders at forward, Ellis at center, and Kevin Johnson and Caupain at guard.
Redshirt freshman guard Deshaun Morman, who scored five points in eight minutes in the first half, was sent to the locker room late in the half and did not return to the bench in the second half. Cronin declined to say why Morman was not on the bench, but it was apparent that he had done something to displease the UC coach, who said Morman was not injured.
The University of Cincinnati's Deshaun Morman drives to the hoop against Fairmont State.(Photo: Jeff Swinger)
"I have no comment on Deshaun Morman," Cronin said. "He's the least of my worries."
Once again, the Bearcats struggled early in the game because of shaky defense. The Falcons made eight of their first 10 shots and were 7 of 13 from long range in the first half. But in the second half, UC tightened things up and held Fairmont State to 28.1 percent shooting.
UC did not get the balanced scoring it enjoyed in its first game, with only two players reaching double figures. One of those was Ellis, who has been a constant during the two exhibition games.
But even Ellis concedes he has more work to do on defense.
"I'm still learning," Ellis said, "because I've been playing juco ball for two years, and in juco we played a 2-3 zone and I was just in the middle blocking shots."
Things are a lot more complicated on this level and UC's seven newcomers are still trying to figure it all out.
"I had a luxury last year," Cronin said, "because I had three guys whose mind was on winning and they understood how hard it is to win. We've got to start becoming that type of team, one of those teams that embrace dirty work. We have enough basketball talent, but that doesn't mean you're going to win."
UC opens its regular season Friday night against St. Francis (Pa.) at Fifth Third Arena.
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/c.../18718471/