TicketsUC Shoots for 7th Win on Saturday
Bearcats host Northwestern State
Contact: Brian Teter
12/15/2004
Armein Kirkland has led UC in scoring in each of the last four games. |
CINCINNATI vs. NORTHWESTERN STATE
GAME FACTS
Date: Saturday, Dec. 18, 2004
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
Site: Fifth Third Arena (13,176), Cincinnati, Ohio
Records:
Cincinnati (17USA/25AP): 6-0
Northwestern State 5-3*
*NSU plays Valparaiso on Dec. 16.
TV: None live.
Radio: WLW-AM 700 (Dan Hoard, Chuck Machock).
Tickets: Available, $25, 513-556-CATS or www.UCBearcats.com.
Series: First Meeting.
The Coaches:
? BOB HUGGINS (West Virginia ?77)
At Cincinnati: 16th year, 380-119 (.762)
Overall: 24th year, 548-191 (.742)
Huggins is the nation?s seventh-winningest active coach and is 13th in victories.
? MIKE McCONATHY (Louisiana Tech ?77)
At NSU: 6th year, 71-85 (.455)
Overall: 6th year, 71-85 (.455)
McConathy has directed Northwestern State to one Southland Conference title and two championship game appearances in the league?s tournament.
CINCINNATI PROBABLE STARTERS 2004-05 Statistics
F 33 Armein Kirkland, 6-8 Jr., Tyler, Texas......13.8 pts, 3.7 reb, 2.3 ast
F 14 Eric Hicks, 6-6 Jr., Greensboro, N.C.. .....13.4 pts, 8.8 reb, 3.0 blk
F 54 Jason Maxiell, 6-7 Sr., Carrollton, Texas...14.7 pts, 9.2 reb, 2.5 blk
G 21 James White, 6-7 Jr., Kensington, Md.........9.5 pts, 5.3 reb, 2.5 ast
G 13 Jihad Muhammad, 5-11 Jr., Plainfield, N.J...12.5 pts, 3.2 reb, 2.3 ast
NORTHWESTERN STATE PROBABLE STARTERS 2004-05 Statistics
F 2 Bryan Allen, 6-7 Jr., Leland, Miss...........5.4 pts, 2.7 reb, 1.0 ast
F 30 Clifton Lee, 6-7 Jr., Boyce, La..............7.8 pts, 4.2 reb, 1.3 ast
F 1 Jermaine Spencer, 6-7 So., New Iberia, La.,,11.3 pts, 5.6 reb, 1.5 stl
G 23 Jermaine Wallace, 6-3 Jr., Heflin, La.......12.1 pts, 4.0 reb, 1.4 ast
G 3 Tyronn Mitchell, 6-1 Jr., New Iberia, La.....4.8 pts, 2.5 reb, 5.8 ast
SETTING THE SCENE: The University of Cincinnati will try to keep its record unblemished when hosting Northwestern State (La.) on Saturday at Fifth Third Arena. The Bearcats, ranked No. 17 in this week?s ESPN/USA Today poll and No. 25 by the Associated Press, enter the 7 p.m. contest with a 6-0 record. UC, which entered the week as one of 18 unbeaten Division I teams, has been idle since last Saturday?s 61-44 win over Detroit. Northwestern State takes a 5-3 ledger into its Thursday (Dec. 16) game at Valparaiso. The Demons? losses have been to No. 4 Oklahoma State, Tulsa and LSU while they defeated Conference USA member Tulane, 85-72.
LAS VEGAS HOLIDAY CLASSIC: Saturday?s game is Cincinnati?s second contest in the Las Vegas Holiday Classic, an exempt basketball event featuring six teams?Cincinnati, Illinois, Longwood, Northern Iowa, Northwestern State (La.) and Valparaiso. The teams play a round-robin schedule during which each faces four of the other five schools. The Bearcats will not face Valparaiso, whom they defeated in their season opener. The first two games are played on campus sites. UC beat Northern Iowa on Nov. 24. The teams join up in Las Vegas on Dec. 30 and 31. Cincinnati will face Longwood on Dec. 30 at 9:30 p.m. EST and take on Illinois in a rematch of last year?s NCAA Tournament second round game on Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. EST.
NO. 500 FOR HUGGINS: Bob Huggins will coach his 500th game as the University of Cincinnati?s head basketball coach when the Bearcats host Northwestern State on Saturday. Huggins has compiled a 380-119 record (.762) during his 16 seasons at UC. Huggins is the nation?s seventh-winningest active head coach, having compiled a record of 548-191 (.742) in 24 seasons in the college ranks.
EXPERIMENTAL RULES: As an exempt basketball event, the Las Vegas Holiday Classic will feature this year?s experimental rules.
? The width of the free throw lane is expanded by three feet, making it similar in width to the lane in the NBA.
? The 3-point line is extended from 19 feet, 9 inches to 20 feet, 6 inches.
? A ?no-charge? zone is created, similar to that used in the NBA. An arc is taped onto the court two feet from the center of the basket. If an offensive player makes contact with a defensive player who has one foot inside this arc, no offensive charging foul will be called.
BEARCATS IN THE POLLS: Cincinnati has climbed to No. 17 in this week?s ESPN/USA Today coaches poll and made its 2004-05 debut in the Associated Press poll at No. 25.
STORY LINES:
? Cincinnati will be shooting for its fifth 7-0 start in the last 10 seasons. UC was 7-0 in 2003-04, 1999-00, 1998-99 and 1995-96.
? Jason Maxiell, with 1,148 career points, can move into 24th place on the UC career scoring list with four points in Saturday?s game.
? Saturday?s game begins a busy period on the schedule for the Bearcats. After going a week without a game, UC will play three in five days. Following Saturday?s contest, Cincinnati hosts Jackson State on Monday (Dec. 20) and LaSalle on Wednesday (Dec. 22).
RECAPPING CINCINNATI?S 6-0 START:
? The Bearcats have beaten five of their first six opponents by 10 or more points, and four of those foes by at least 16 points.
? Cincinnati shot .525 from the field and .500 from 3-point range, both season highs, in the Dec. 9 win over Vanderbilt, during which UC matched its season scoring high of 88 points.
? The Bearcats have held four of their six opponents to sub-.400 shooting, three to 32 percent or less. UC held Detroit to .293 shooting, a season-low for a UC foe, in its last outing (12/11/04).
? The Bearcats garnered a season-high 14 steals, four by Chadd Moore, in their Dec. 9 win over Vanderbilt. That defense helped Vanderbilt compile 23 turnovers, a season high by a UC opponent.
? UC?s first five opponents appeared in postseason play in 2003-04.
SHARING THE LOAD: A key to Cincinnati?s success this season has been the team?s balanced scoring attack. All five starters have double-digit scoring averages. UC has had four players reach double figures in one game, five in another and six in still another. Seven different players have scored in double figures a total of 23 times.
CAPTAIN KIRKLAND: Armein Kirkland has been Cincinnati?s scoring leader in each of the last four games. The 6-8 junior, who had a career-high 23 points in the win over Dayton (12/4/04), has averaged 19.3 points during this span. He has shot .511 (24 of 47) from the field and .462 (6 of 13) from 3-point range during this span.
SECOND HALF CATS: Cincinnati has literally been saving its best for last this season. The Bearcats have a +3.8 point scoring margin (35.5 to 31.7) in the first halves of games this season, and has trailed in two of those first four contests. UC has taken charge, both offensively and defensively, in the second half. Cincinnati has averaged 37.3 points while holding its opposition to 27.7.
HOT AT STRIPE: Cincinnati is shooting a sizzling .759 from the charity stripe this season. UC has shot .797 from the foul line (59 of 74) over its last three games, including a season-high .905 (19 of 21) vs. Dayton on Dec. 4. The Bearcats have made more free throws (126) than their opponents have attempted (105).
DEFENSE TRADITION CONTINUES: Defense has been the staple of Cincinnati?s success during Bob Huggins? coaching reign, and the 2004-05 Bearcats appear poised to continue that tradition. UC has held four of its first six foes to sub-.400 shooting from the floor. The Bearcats have a team field goal percentage defense of .365. Last season, UC held its opposition to .394 shooting, ranking 11th nationally.
MAX GETS INTO THE ACT: Jason Maxiell played a huge role in Cincinnati?s 76-70 double overtime win over Northern Iowa on Nov. 24. The 6-7 senior, who is on the watch lists for the Naismith and Wooden national player of the year awards, scored 21 points, blocked five shots and pulled down a career high-tying 15 rebounds. He sealed the victory with 1:03 remaining in the second overtime by stealing the ball and going in for a dunk which gave UC an insurmountable seven-point lead.
Maxiell recorded his 16th career double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds in the Dec. 9 win over Vanderbilt to take over the team lead in both scoring (14.7) and rebounding (9.2).
MAXIELL ON WOODEN, NAISMITH LISTS: Jason Maxiell has been named to the watch lists of both the John Wooden Award and the Naismith Award, both honoring college basketball?s player of the year. Maxiell was named to the John Wooden Award Preseason All-American team for the third year in a row. His selection marks the fifth time in the last six seasons that a Cincinnati player has been represented. Kenyon Martin was selected prior to the 1999-00 season and won the John R. Wooden Award that year. Steve Logan was on the 2001-02 list and finished as one of the top five finalists. This is the first time Maxiell has earned early consideration for the Naismith Award, which Martin won in 2000.
Maxiell averaged 13.6 points and 6.9 rebounds last season, and during his three-season career as a Bearcat has averaged 11.0 points and 6.8 rebounds. He is No. 25 on the UC career scoring list with 1,148 points and second in career blocked shots with 176.
MAXIELL EARNS C-USA HONORS: Jason Maxiell was named to the Conference USA preseason all-league team for the third straight year. Maxiell joined Louisville?s Francisco Garcia, who was named Preseason Player of the Year, Memphis forward Sean Banks, Marquette guard Travis Diener and Charlotte forward Curtis Withers on the all-league team. Cincinnati, which has won eight of the previous nine C-USA regular season championships, was picked to finish third behind Louisville and Memphis.
MUHAMMAD TAKING CHARGE: Jihad Muhammad has wasted little time making an impact at Cincinnati. The junior college transfer, who has taken over the point guard duties, is the Bearcats? fourth-leading scorer, averaging 12.5 points. He has also quickly become the team?s top long-distance scoring threat, with 16 treys in 43 attempts from behind the arc.
Muhammad tallied 23 points in the Nov. 24 win over Northern Iowa, keying UC?s late comeback by scoring 12 points in the final 6:46 of regulation. He turned in a four-point play, connecting on a 3-pointer and then adding a free throw, to tie the game at 56 with 1:23 to play and send it into overtime. He was 5-of-6 at the foul line in the second overtime to help clinch the victory.
HICKS STARTING FAST: Eric Hicks has continued to show the fine offensive play that he exhibited in exhibition season. Hicks, who missed UC?s most recent game vs. Detroit with a knee injury, has season averages of 13.4 points and 8.8 rebounds, second and third respectively on the team, and leads UC in blocked shots (3.0).
? The 6-6 junior forward scored a career-high 18 points, making 6-of-8 field goals, and gathered nine rebounds, two blocks and two steals in the Bearcats? season opening win over Valparaiso.
? Hicks followed that by scoring 16 points and grabbing 13 rebounds , his fourth career double-double, in the Nov. 24 win over Northern Iowa.
? Hicks posted his second straight and fifth career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds vs. Purdue on Nov. 27. He also blocked four shots.
? He is the team leader in blocks (3.0).
? A career .515 foul shooter entering the season, Hicks is 13-of-15 from the line over the last two games and has shot .767 at the charity stripe for the season.
MOORE ASSISTS THE OFFENSE: Cincinnati?s assist leader is a non-starter?Chadd Moore. The junior, who dished out six assists in the Nov. 27 win over Purdue, is averaging 3.2 assists. Not only does Moore not start (extenuating circumstances put him in the starting lineup for the season opener), he has averaged only 16.0 minutes of playing time.
LOOKING AHEAD: The Bearcats are back in action on Monday (Dec. 20) and Wednesday (Dec. 22), hosting Jackson State and LaSalle. The Jackson State game starts at 8 p.m. Tipoff for the LaSalle tilt is 7 p.m.