10-24-2013, 09:00 AM
UC Bearcats prepare for one-win Memphis
Cats hit the road to face 96th-ranked offense
Oct. 24, 2013
![[Image: bilde?Site=AB&Date=20131023&...in-Memphis]](http://cmsimg.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=AB&Date=20131023&Category=SPT0101&ArtNo=310230324&Ref=AR&MaxW=640&Border=0&UC-Bearcats-prepare-one-win-Memphis)
Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch scrambles against SMU defensive lineman Nick Reed during the fourth quarter at Liberty Bowl Memorial on Saturday. / Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Written by
Tom Groeschen
The University of Cincinnati will play yet another struggling football team in its next game, when the Bearcats visit Memphis on Wednesday in a made-for-TV matchup on ESPN2.
Memphis (1-5, 0-3 American Athletic Conference) at least has won a game. UC (5-2, 2-1 AAC) just completed a four-game run where every opponent entered the game winless (Miami University, South Florida, Temple, Connecticut).
Memphis and UC both have an open date Saturday, thanks to the TV game next Wednesday.
“It’s not really a bye week,” Memphis coach Justin Fuente said. “It’s like getting a couple of extra days to look at ourselves and look at Cincinnati and keep moving forward.”
For Memphis, the lone win was 31-7 over Arkansas State. The Tigers since have lost three straight games: 24-17 to Central Florida, 25-15 to Houston and 34-29 to SMU. Against SMU, Memphis trailed 34-3 in the third quarter and then scored the game’s final 26 points. Memphis linebacker Ryan Coleman scored on two fumble recoveries.
“We dropped another close football game,” Fuente said. “I’m proud of the way our kids played in the second half.”
Memphis was 4-8 last year in Fuente’s first year in charge, with the Tigers then in Conference USA. Memphis has a history with UC in several previous leagues, and has joined the Bearcats in the new AAC this year.
The Memphis defense has been relatively sound, with the Tigers ranked No. 14 nationally in total defense. Defensive end Martin Ifedi has 7½ sacks.
Offensively, Memphis starts a redshirt freshman quarterback in 6-foot-6 Paxton Lynch. Lynch throws for 199 yards per game and has only three TD passes, with five interceptions. Senior Brendon Hayes is the top rusher with 74 yards per game.
Memphis has attempted 239 running plays and 196 passes. The Tigers rank just 96th nationally in total offense, and Fuente said the films show why.
“We want to let (the players) know how close we are, and how one guy failing to execute affects everybody,” Fuente said. “It continues to be 10 out of 11 guys doing a pretty decent job. We’ve continued to work on fundamentals and the basics of what we’re doing.”
BUBBLE TIME: With cold air invading Cincinnati, the Bearcats are holding some workouts in their indoor bubble at Sheakley Athletics Center. The bubble recently was inflated again, after being down since March.
The bubble is not designed to stay inflated all year. It must be taken down each spring to be examined and re-conditioned.
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20131...in-Memphis
Cats hit the road to face 96th-ranked offense
Oct. 24, 2013
Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch scrambles against SMU defensive lineman Nick Reed during the fourth quarter at Liberty Bowl Memorial on Saturday. / Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Written by
Tom Groeschen
The University of Cincinnati will play yet another struggling football team in its next game, when the Bearcats visit Memphis on Wednesday in a made-for-TV matchup on ESPN2.
Memphis (1-5, 0-3 American Athletic Conference) at least has won a game. UC (5-2, 2-1 AAC) just completed a four-game run where every opponent entered the game winless (Miami University, South Florida, Temple, Connecticut).
Memphis and UC both have an open date Saturday, thanks to the TV game next Wednesday.
“It’s not really a bye week,” Memphis coach Justin Fuente said. “It’s like getting a couple of extra days to look at ourselves and look at Cincinnati and keep moving forward.”
For Memphis, the lone win was 31-7 over Arkansas State. The Tigers since have lost three straight games: 24-17 to Central Florida, 25-15 to Houston and 34-29 to SMU. Against SMU, Memphis trailed 34-3 in the third quarter and then scored the game’s final 26 points. Memphis linebacker Ryan Coleman scored on two fumble recoveries.
“We dropped another close football game,” Fuente said. “I’m proud of the way our kids played in the second half.”
Memphis was 4-8 last year in Fuente’s first year in charge, with the Tigers then in Conference USA. Memphis has a history with UC in several previous leagues, and has joined the Bearcats in the new AAC this year.
The Memphis defense has been relatively sound, with the Tigers ranked No. 14 nationally in total defense. Defensive end Martin Ifedi has 7½ sacks.
Offensively, Memphis starts a redshirt freshman quarterback in 6-foot-6 Paxton Lynch. Lynch throws for 199 yards per game and has only three TD passes, with five interceptions. Senior Brendon Hayes is the top rusher with 74 yards per game.
Memphis has attempted 239 running plays and 196 passes. The Tigers rank just 96th nationally in total offense, and Fuente said the films show why.
“We want to let (the players) know how close we are, and how one guy failing to execute affects everybody,” Fuente said. “It continues to be 10 out of 11 guys doing a pretty decent job. We’ve continued to work on fundamentals and the basics of what we’re doing.”
BUBBLE TIME: With cold air invading Cincinnati, the Bearcats are holding some workouts in their indoor bubble at Sheakley Athletics Center. The bubble recently was inflated again, after being down since March.
The bubble is not designed to stay inflated all year. It must be taken down each spring to be examined and re-conditioned.
Quote:Cincinnati at Memphis
• Kickoff: 8 p.m. Wednesday
• TV/Radio: ESPN2/WLW-AM (700)
• Records: UC, 5-2 (2-1 AAC); Memphis, 1-5 (0-3)
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20131...in-Memphis