Bearcats look to make statement vs. NCAA champ UConn
Tom Groeschen, tgroeschen@enquirer.com 12:59 p.m. EST January 9, 2015


UC's Kevin Johnson drives to the basket against Eastern Illinois on Nov. 23. (Photo: The Enquirer/Gary Landers)

HARTFORD, Conn. – Kevin Johnson and his University of Cincinnati basketball teammates want to show America they mean business here Saturday, with a chance to knock off reigning NCAA champion UConn in the Huskies' backyard.

"It's a good opportunity for us to show the world how good a team we're becoming," said Johnson, a sophomore guard whose 12 points helped UC beat East Carolina 69-48 in the Bearcats' most recent game Tuesday.

UC (11-3, 2-0 American Athletic Conference) brings a four-game winning streak into the 11 a.m. game at XL Center, UConn's part-time home. UConn also plays some home games on campus at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, about 28 miles east of Hartford.

UC is No. 34 in the daily ESPN.com RPI ratings, and a victory obviously would burnish the Bearcats' potential NCAA Tournament resume.

"It would also just set ourselves up in a good place in our conference as well, because winning a conference title is definitely another goal of ours," Johnson said.

UConn (8-5, 1-1 AAC) is not the same UConn that won the 2014 NCAA title, but the Huskies have won two straight games and four of their last five. UConn is No. 75 in the daily ESPN.com RPI ratings.

"I've got a feeling it's going to be a packed house and crazy," UC interim head coach Larry Davis said. "UConn, they have to win this game. That's their attitude right now. They don't have that many opportunities to knock off a high RPI team. It will be the most hostile environment we've played in to this point."

UConn lost All-America guard Shabazz Napier and several others from last season. Senior guard Ryan Boatright leads the Huskies at 16.8 points per game, with Boatright the only UConn returnee who averaged in double-figure scoring last season.

UConn has a formidable weapon in 7-foot sophomore center Amida Brimah, who averages 11.5 points and 2.9 blocks per game. Freshman swingman Daniel Hamilton, a rangy 6-foot-7, was named preseason AAC Rookie of the Year by league coaches and averages 10.6 points.

"They're 8-5 right now but their record is deceiving, because they really haven't had everybody healthy until the last two games," Davis said. "One thing about UConn, they've always played with great confidence because they are UConn. They're good. They think they're supposed to be good."

What makes UConn good?

"Tremendous defensive team," Davis said. "They load the box. They don't give you lay-ups. They make it hard to drive in the paint, then make you throw it out and run at you. If you take a bad shot or turn the ball over, they are lightning fast end-to-end and they're going to lay it in on you."

A low-scoring game is expected. UC is No. 1 in the league in defense (54.1 ppg) and UConn is No. 2 (59.7 ppg).

Offensively, UConn is No. 7 in the league at 66.8 ppg and UC is 11th (last) at 62.9 ppg.

UConn is led by third-year coach Kevin Ollie, who replaced Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun when Calhoun retired. The UConn men have won four NCAA basketball titles, three under Calhoun and one under Ollie.

For UC, a balanced offense is led by 6-10 junior forward Octavius Ellis (9.9 ppg), 6-4 sophomore point guard Troy Caupain (9.2 ppg) and 6-7 freshman forward Gary Clark (8.1 ppg).

UConn leads the series 10-5, including 2-0 in games played at Hartford. The series is tied 2-2 in Storrs.

UC's last road win in the series came Jan. 18, 2012, when Sean Kilpatrick hit a 3-pointer with 2.7 seconds left to give UC a 70-67 win in Storrs.

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Quote:UC at UConn

When: 11 a.m. Saturday

Where: XL Center (Hartford, Conn.)

TV/Radio: ESPN2, 700WLW

Records: UC 11-3 (2-0 AAC), UConn 8-5 (1-1 AAC)

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/c.../21470999/