02-25-2017, 03:55 PM
UC again faces UCF, 7-foot-6 Tacko Fall
Tom Groeschen , tgroeschen@enquirer.com 2:29 p.m. ET Feb. 25, 2017
ORLANDO – The University of Cincinnati basketball team has spoken for weeks about getting ready for March. First comes the Bearcats’ final February game, against formidable Central Florida here Sunday at 3 p.m. (CBS Sports Network).
The No. 15-ranked Bearcats (25-3, 14-1 AAC) carry a three-game winning streak into CFE Arena, where they will attempt to beat UCF (18-10, 9-7 AAC) for the second time in two tries this season. UC beat the Knights 60-50 on Feb. 8 at Fifth Third Arena.
UC comes off of an 87-74 home win over Memphis on Thursday. The Bearcats lost nearly all of a 24-point lead but won decisively in the final minutes.
“You got the W, but we’re playing for something bigger than that now,” UC junior forward Gary Clark said. “We’re playing for March. You can’t play like that in the second half or you’ll lose. Coach is telling us that you’ve got to play consistently the whole game.”
UC coach Mick Cronin is wary of UCF, which is having a solid season under first-year coach Johnny Dawkins. Cronin said the Bearcats cannot afford any defensive lapses against UCF and its 7-foot-6 sophomore center, Tacko Fall.
“If we play defense like that (Memphis game) Sunday, we’re gonna lose to Central Florida,” Cronin said. “I can promise you that, on the road.”
UC had its hands full in the first UCF meeting, when the Bearcats led only 34-28 at halftime. In a matchup of stout defenses, UCF outshot the Bearcats 39.6 percent to 35.4 percent. UC also was outrebounded 36-34.
UCF leads the nation in field goal percentage defense, at 36.3 percent. UC is No. 6 at 38.1 percent. Clearly, another low-scoring game looms.
“UCF has won three in a row and is 12-3 at home, and playing for a postseason tournament,” Cronin said. “They are first in the nation in field goal defense. We understand how hard we are going to have to play to win Sunday.”
SCOUTING UCF: The imposing Fall averages 11.9 points per game and is No. 2 in the AAC in rebounding, at 9.7 per game. Fall ranks No. 2 nationally in field goal percentage (73.6) and No. 21 in blocked shots per game (2.46).
Fall is an extraordinary weapon, but UCF has two higher scorers in 6-2 sophomore guard B.J. Taylor (16.7 ppg) and 6-5 senior guard Matt Williams (15.4 ppg). Williams ranks No. 6 nationally in 3-pointers made per game (3.57).
In the first UC-UCF game, Fall had 14 points (7-for-7 shooting), 11 rebounds and two blocks. Fall also had six turnovers, with UC pestering him relentlessly under the glass.
On offense Fall essentially waits underneath for teammates to lob him the ball, which he usually tries to dunk. On defense, Fall stations himself down low and makes opponents think twice about driving the lane.
Taylor also had 14 points in the first UC-UCF game. Williams was held to eight points on 3-for-12 shooting, including 2-for-8 from three-point range.
“This team has wins over SEC and Atlantic 10 teams,” Cronin said, referring to UCF victories over Mississippi State and Massachusetts. “They battled Villanova to a tough 10-point game.”
UCF lost 67-57 to reigning NCAA champion Villanova in November in the Charleston Classic (S.C.). Villanova was ranked No. 3 at the time and is No. 2 now.
UC GLANCE: UC was led in the first UCF meeting by 6-foot-9 junior forward Kyle Washington, who had 14 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore guard Jacob Evans had 11 points.
UC lately has shown some of its best offensive balance of the season. Against Memphis on Thursday, Washington had 16 points, Evans had 15, Clark scored 13 and senior point guard Troy Cauapin scored 12.
The Bearcats are 7-2 in true road games this season, with losses at then-No. 16 Butler (75-65 on Dec. 10) and then-No. 25 SMU (60-51 on Feb. 12).
Overall, the Bearcats are 6-1 in February this season.
CRONIN DEFENDS AAC: Most bracketologists forecast UC as a No. 4- or 5-seeded NCAA Tournament team. The AAC has only UC and SMU in the Top 50 of the NCAA Ratings Percentage Index. The league is rated No. 7 nationally in Conference RPI by Jerry Palm of CBS Sports.
“I’m tired of hearing negative comments about our league,” Cronin said. “We have three tough games to finish up, and it will not be easy.”
After Sunday, UC finishes the regular season against Houston (19-8, 10-5 AAC) at Fifth Third Arena on Thursday at 7 p.m., and then at UConn (14-13, 9-6 AAC) on March 5 at noon.
MATCHUP
No. 15 Cincinnati vs Central Florida
Tipoff: 3 p.m. Sunday at CFE Arena (10,000), Orlando
TV/Radio: CBS Sports Network/WLW-AM (700)
Records: UC 25-3 (14-1 AAC), UCF 18-10 (9-7 AAC)
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/c.../98405158/
Tom Groeschen , tgroeschen@enquirer.com 2:29 p.m. ET Feb. 25, 2017
Cincinnati forward Gary Clark (11) shoots over Central Florida center Tacko Fall, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, in Cincinnati.
(Photo: AP/Gary Landers)
(Photo: AP/Gary Landers)
ORLANDO – The University of Cincinnati basketball team has spoken for weeks about getting ready for March. First comes the Bearcats’ final February game, against formidable Central Florida here Sunday at 3 p.m. (CBS Sports Network).
The No. 15-ranked Bearcats (25-3, 14-1 AAC) carry a three-game winning streak into CFE Arena, where they will attempt to beat UCF (18-10, 9-7 AAC) for the second time in two tries this season. UC beat the Knights 60-50 on Feb. 8 at Fifth Third Arena.
UC comes off of an 87-74 home win over Memphis on Thursday. The Bearcats lost nearly all of a 24-point lead but won decisively in the final minutes.
“You got the W, but we’re playing for something bigger than that now,” UC junior forward Gary Clark said. “We’re playing for March. You can’t play like that in the second half or you’ll lose. Coach is telling us that you’ve got to play consistently the whole game.”
UC coach Mick Cronin is wary of UCF, which is having a solid season under first-year coach Johnny Dawkins. Cronin said the Bearcats cannot afford any defensive lapses against UCF and its 7-foot-6 sophomore center, Tacko Fall.
“If we play defense like that (Memphis game) Sunday, we’re gonna lose to Central Florida,” Cronin said. “I can promise you that, on the road.”
UC had its hands full in the first UCF meeting, when the Bearcats led only 34-28 at halftime. In a matchup of stout defenses, UCF outshot the Bearcats 39.6 percent to 35.4 percent. UC also was outrebounded 36-34.
UCF leads the nation in field goal percentage defense, at 36.3 percent. UC is No. 6 at 38.1 percent. Clearly, another low-scoring game looms.
“UCF has won three in a row and is 12-3 at home, and playing for a postseason tournament,” Cronin said. “They are first in the nation in field goal defense. We understand how hard we are going to have to play to win Sunday.”
SCOUTING UCF: The imposing Fall averages 11.9 points per game and is No. 2 in the AAC in rebounding, at 9.7 per game. Fall ranks No. 2 nationally in field goal percentage (73.6) and No. 21 in blocked shots per game (2.46).
Fall is an extraordinary weapon, but UCF has two higher scorers in 6-2 sophomore guard B.J. Taylor (16.7 ppg) and 6-5 senior guard Matt Williams (15.4 ppg). Williams ranks No. 6 nationally in 3-pointers made per game (3.57).
In the first UC-UCF game, Fall had 14 points (7-for-7 shooting), 11 rebounds and two blocks. Fall also had six turnovers, with UC pestering him relentlessly under the glass.
On offense Fall essentially waits underneath for teammates to lob him the ball, which he usually tries to dunk. On defense, Fall stations himself down low and makes opponents think twice about driving the lane.
Taylor also had 14 points in the first UC-UCF game. Williams was held to eight points on 3-for-12 shooting, including 2-for-8 from three-point range.
“This team has wins over SEC and Atlantic 10 teams,” Cronin said, referring to UCF victories over Mississippi State and Massachusetts. “They battled Villanova to a tough 10-point game.”
UCF lost 67-57 to reigning NCAA champion Villanova in November in the Charleston Classic (S.C.). Villanova was ranked No. 3 at the time and is No. 2 now.
UC GLANCE: UC was led in the first UCF meeting by 6-foot-9 junior forward Kyle Washington, who had 14 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore guard Jacob Evans had 11 points.
UC lately has shown some of its best offensive balance of the season. Against Memphis on Thursday, Washington had 16 points, Evans had 15, Clark scored 13 and senior point guard Troy Cauapin scored 12.
The Bearcats are 7-2 in true road games this season, with losses at then-No. 16 Butler (75-65 on Dec. 10) and then-No. 25 SMU (60-51 on Feb. 12).
Overall, the Bearcats are 6-1 in February this season.
CRONIN DEFENDS AAC: Most bracketologists forecast UC as a No. 4- or 5-seeded NCAA Tournament team. The AAC has only UC and SMU in the Top 50 of the NCAA Ratings Percentage Index. The league is rated No. 7 nationally in Conference RPI by Jerry Palm of CBS Sports.
“I’m tired of hearing negative comments about our league,” Cronin said. “We have three tough games to finish up, and it will not be easy.”
After Sunday, UC finishes the regular season against Houston (19-8, 10-5 AAC) at Fifth Third Arena on Thursday at 7 p.m., and then at UConn (14-13, 9-6 AAC) on March 5 at noon.
MATCHUP
No. 15 Cincinnati vs Central Florida
Tipoff: 3 p.m. Sunday at CFE Arena (10,000), Orlando
TV/Radio: CBS Sports Network/WLW-AM (700)
Records: UC 25-3 (14-1 AAC), UCF 18-10 (9-7 AAC)
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/c.../98405158/