UC stumbles into Shootout with losing streak
Tom Groeschen, tgroeschen@enquirer.com 4:34 p.m. EST February 15, 2015


Shaq Thomas, Troy Caupain and the Bearcats take a 2-game losing streak into the Crosstown Shootout. (Photo: The Enquirer/Kareem Elgazzar)

It was a dreary Saturday for the big University of Cincinnati basketball crowd of 12,041. First came the excruciating walk from the parking lots to Fifth Third Arena, amid snow showers and whipping winds. Then, a numbing 50-49 loss to Tulane on a 3-point buzzer beater.

Then, back outside into even colder wind chills. And a stinging defeat to ponder.

The Bearcats (17-8, 8-5 American Athletic Conference) entered the weekend projected by many forecasters to reach the NCAA tournament, with an NCAA RPI of No. 29. Yet, losing at home to a lower-tier AAC team (Tulane is 14-10, 5-7 AAC) does not exactly bolster the Selection Sunday resume.

Five takeaways from Saturday's game, with Xavier up next for the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout on Wednesday (7 p.m. at UC):

1. Not exactly a super Shootout looming, UC and XU both reeling

UC has lost two straight games overall. The Bearcats did upset then No. 23 SMU on the road Feb. 5, but also own a bad loss this month at East Carolina.

Xavier also lost at home Saturday, 78-70 to St. John's. The Muskies (16-10, 7-7 Big East) seemingly are in even worse shape for an NCAA bid than UC.

With UC and XU both licking their wounds, some of the zing may be gone from this year's game. On the flip side, both sides are fighting for their NCAA tourney lives and best come out blazing.

2. A 39-27 rebounding deficit is embarrassing

Everyone knows the Bearcats are offensively challenged, which is why UC associate head coach Larry Davis constantly says his team foremost must defend and rebound.

The defense was not all bad Saturday. Holding a team to 50 points and 34.6 percent shooting generally wins you the game. But a 39-27 rebounding deficit is simply unacceptable, for a team that was a holding a plus-5.0 average per game.

Tulane also held a 14-6 edge in offensive boards and 13-9 on second-chance points. And UC lost by one point.

3. Bench gets shorter, team physically smaller with Moore suspension

UC announced before the game that freshman forward Quadri Moore has been suspended indefinitely.

"We have standards both athletically and academically in our program that Quadri is not meeting," head coach Mick Cronin said in a statement.

Cronin left the door open for Moore to return if he gets his act together. Moore was averaging just 2.4 points and 1.2 rebounds in 9.4 minutes per game, but he is a big body (6-8, 232) who spelled the frontliners when needed.

That leaves nine scholarship players available, and probably also means more minutes for backup big man Coreonate DeBerry (6-9, 275-pound junior), who averages 4.0 points in 10.2 minutes per game.

4. Need more from leader Caupain (5 points, 0 rebounds)

Hate to single out the man who has been UC's best player this season, but sophomore point guard Troy Caupain had a curiously quiet game Saturday.

Caupain, UC's scoring leader at an even 10 ppg, had five points and no rebounds in 30 minutes against Tulane. He took just four shots, with two assists and three turnovers.

We'll give him a pass since he has been so steady. No one can play 25 consecutive great games, not to mention good games. But more will be needed as UC hits the last leg of the regular season.

5. With six regular season games and AAC tourney remaining, still time to get well

Games such as Saturday, when everyone in the building except Tulane thought UC would beat Tulane, certainly fuel that sky-is-falling doomsday feeling.

Yet, UC is highly capable of beating inconsistent Xavier on Wednesday and then has five more AAC games to perk up its resume. Not to mention the AAC tournament, which this year is March 12-15 in Hartford.

Tulane was a definite Debbie Downer, but UC is still very much in the NCAA picture. But yes, cannot afford any more such L's.

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/c.../23326291/