UC Bearcats unite on the road
Focus more easily on strength - defense
7:42 PM, Jan 13, 2013


The Bearcats' Cheikh Mbodj had two points against Rutgers on Saturday. / Jim O'Connor-USA TODAY Sports

Written by
Bill Koch

Quote:UC at DePaul

When/where: 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Chicago

Records: UC 14-3, 2-2 Big East; DePaul 10-6, 1-2 Big East

TV: Fox Sports Ohio

Radio: WLW-AM (700)

Mick Cronin asked the question in an attempt to illustrate how wacky it can be to play in the Big East Conference.

“Who thought we were going to be 0-2 at home and 2-0 on the road?” the University of Cincinnati basketball coach asked Saturday after the Bearcats beat Rutgers, 68-58, in Piscataway, N.J.

He could have checked with his point guard, who might have at least been able to predict the road record. No offense to the home fans at Fifth Third Arena, but Cashmere Wright said he and his teammates actually enjoy playing on the road.

“It feels like you’re playing with house money,” said Wright, who led the Bearcats with 23 points. “You just basically go out and play. You don’t really worry about the fans. You know the fans are going to be talking back and being loud, but as a team we are one. We came in with the approach like we’re all one, everybody hands in and we go all out. If we lose, we’re going to go home together, and that’s the attitude we take.”

Perhaps it’s no coincidence that all three of UC’s losses this season have occurred at home, while the Bearcats are 6-0 away from Fifth Third Arena and 11-2 dating back to last March 3.

Or maybe it has more to do with how UC plays defense on the road.

“When it all shakes out, if we can continue to hold teams to 36, 37 percent (shooting), we’ll be one of the best teams in the Big East,” Cronin said. “If we don’t, we won’t.”

No. 21 UC (14-3 overall, 2-2 in the Big East) held Rutgers to 37.7 percent shooting and made only four of 19 shots in the first half. The Bearcats shot an identical 37.7 percent – both teams were 20-for-53 – but controlled the boards (41-34) and committed only six turnovers against a Rutgers team that pressed all-out in an attempt to get back in the game after falling behind by 12 at halftime.

Not to be overlooked as a factor in UC’s win was a welcome offensive contribution from backup forward Jermaine Sanders, who scored nine timely points – his season-high – in 15 minutes.

“I just wanted to come in and rebound, play good defense and hit a shot when I was open,” said the low-key Sanders. “It felt good to help my team and be part of a win.”

Sanders’ teammates would like to see him become a little more aggressive offensively and make such a contribution a more regular occurrence.

“He needs to keep playing like this,” Wright said. “It’s all about his confidence. His confidence fluctuates sometimes.”

“He’s a shy guy,” said junior guard Sean Kilpatrick. “We have to force things out of him.”

UC fans will now wait to see when the new rankings come out today if the Bearcats’ win at Rutgers will keep them in the Top 25 despite their back-to-back home losses to St. John’s and Notre Dame. Cronin is more concerned about how they handle their day-to-day business as they prepare to face DePaul on Tuesday in Chicago, where Wright and his teammates again will be playing with house money.

“You’ve got to stay focused on the process, and the process for us right now is make sure we enjoy the win, get home and get some rest, and realize that DePaul will beat us if we don’t play well,” Cronin said.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130...unite-road

Interesting picture of Mbodj the Enquirer used there.

They will probably fall out of the top 25, but I guess there is chance they can stay in because (23) Wichita State lost. It'll be good for them to be unranked anyways...

Why do they have to go on the road to unite, I think it's just BS.