TicketsUC, Miami Renew Cage Rivalry
Bearcats host RedHawks at U.S. Bank Arena.
Contact: Brian Teter
12/26/2004
CINCINNATI vs. MIAMI (Ohio)
GAME FACTS
Date: Monday, Dec. 27, 2004
Time: 8:00 p.m. EST
Site: U.S. Bank Arena (16,202), Cincinnati, Ohio
Records:
Cincinnati (16USA/22AP): 9-0
Miami: 6-2
TV: WXIX-TV 19 (Jeff Piecoro, Anthony Buford).
Radio: WLW-AM 700 (Dan Hoard, Chuck Machock).
Tickets: Available at U.S. Bank Arena and all Ticketmaster locations.
Series: Cincinnati leads, 87-53.
Last Meeting: Dec. 27, 2003at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati; Cincinnati 83, Miami 63.
The Coaches:
? BOB HUGGINS (West Virginia ?77)
At Cincinnati: 16th year, 383-119 (.763)
Overall: 24th year, 551-191 (.743)
Huggins is the nation?s seventh-winningest active coach and is 13th in victories.
? CHARLIE COLES (Miami ?65)
At Miami: 9th year, 144-106 (.576)
Overall: 15th year, 236-190 (.554)
The winningest active coach in the Mid-American Conference, Coles has directed Miami to the final game of the MAC tourney in five of the last eight years.
CINCINNATI PROBABLE STARTERS 2004-05 Statistics
F 33 Armein Kirkland, 6-8 Jr., Tyler, Texas......14.0 pts, 3.6 reb, 2.0 ast
F 45 Roy Bright, 6-6 Fr., Durham, N.C.............6.1 pts, 4.7 reb, 0.7 ast
F 54 Jason Maxiell, 6-7 Sr., Carrollton, Texas...14.8 pts, 8.4 reb, 3.2 blk
G 21 James White, 6-7 Jr., Kensington, Md.........9.6 pts, 4.2 reb, 3.0 ast
G 13 Jihad Muhammad, 5-11 Jr., Plainfield, N.J...12.3 pts, 3.1 reb, 2.1 ast
MIAMI PROBABLE STARTERS 2004-05 Statistics
F 33 Danny Horace, 6-6 Sr., Cincinnati, Ohio.....17.9 pts,12.3 reb, 1.8 ast
F 31 Nathan Peavy, 6-8 So., Dayton, Ohio..........8.6 pts, 3.9 reb, 1.5 ast
C 30 Monty St. Clair, 6-9 So., Cincinnati, Ohio...9.3 pts, 1.6 reb, 1.3 stl
G 25 William Hatcher, 6-2 Jr., Flint, Mich........8.0 pts, 1.3 reb, 3.1 ast
G 4 Chet Mason, 6-4 Sr., Cleveland, Ohio........14.6 pts, 7.9 reb, 2.4 ast
SETTING THE SCENE: The University of Cincinnati renews its rivalry with the Miami RedHawks on Monday night when the two teams clash at 8 p.m. at U.S. Bank Arena. The Bearcats, No. 16 in last week?s ESPN/USA Today poll and No. 22 in the Associated Press rankings, will be out to extend their record to 10-0 and remain as one of the nation?s 13 unbeaten teams. UC defeated its last four foes by an average margin of 26.5 points, the most recent an 84-63 win over LaSalle on Dec. 22. Miami enters with a 6-2 record. The RedHawks blasted Liberty, 88-44, on Dec. 21 in their last outing.
OLDEST, LONGEST RIVALRY RENEWED: The oldest and longest-running rivalry for both schools will be renewed on Monday when Cincinnati plays Miami. The two schools have faced off 140 times, with UC holding an 87-53 lead in the series. Cincinnati has a 5-2 edge in games vs. Miami played at U.S. Bank Arena, site of the last two contests. The Bearcats have won six straight over Miami.
UC AT U.S. BANK ARENA: Monday?s game brings Cincinnati back to one of its former home courts. The Bearcats played at U.S. Bank Arena, then known as Riverfront Coliseum, from 1976-77 through the 1986-87 season. UC has compiled a record of 112-50 (.691) in games played in the building, which includes championships of the Conference USA Tournaments played there in 2002 and 2004. The Bearcats have won eight straight games at U.S. Bank Arena.
STORY LINES:
? Monday?s game matches one of the nation?s top 3-point shooting teams against one of the best teams in defending the shot. Miami is ranked seventh nationally in 3-point shooting percentage, shooting .441 from beyond the arc, and has a .481 team field goal percentage. Cincinnati is No. 3 in field goal percentage defense (.356). Foes have shot just .322 from 3-point range against UC this season.
? Miami senior Danny Horace is ranked second nationally in rebounding, averaging 12.3 rebounds per game.
? Cincinnati is ranked third nationally in blocked shots (7.6) with Jason Maxiell ninth individually in blocks (3.2) and Eric Hicks 20th (2.8).
? Maxiell, with 1,193 career points, needs three more points to move into 23rd place on UC?s career scoring list, currently held by Rick Roberson (1967-69).
? Bob Huggins has a 6-2 record vs. Miami. He is 3-0 vs. Miami in games coached by Charlie Coles.
? The RedHawks have five players on their roster from the Greater Cincinnati area; Tim Schenke (Elder High School), Danny Horace (Western Hills), Josh Hausfeld (Roger Bacon), Monty St. Clair (Roger Bacon) and Jaime Cooper (Purcell Marian).
? Miami?s Josh Hausfeld is the nephew of former Cincinnati offensive lineman Bob Hausfeld, who played offensive tackle on the 1987 and 1988 Bearcat teams.
? Cincinnati and Miami have played one common opponent?Purdue. UC recorded a 79-59 win over the Boilermakers on Nov. 27 at the John Wooden Tradition in Indianapolis. Miami defeated Purdue, 81-71, on Nov. 19 at Millett Hall.
? Cincinnati enters Monday?s game as one of 13 unbeaten Division I teams, and the lone team in Conference USA without a blemish on its record. The Bearcats will try to become the 10th team nationally to post double figures in victories.
? The Bearcats will be shooting for their fourth 10-0 start in the last 10 seasons. UC was 10-0 in 2003-04, 1998-99 and 1995-96.
BEARCATS IN THE POLLS: Cincinnati climbed to No. 16 in last week?s ESPN/USA Today coaches poll and moved up to No. 22 in the Associated Press poll. This week?s polls will be released prior to Monday?s game.
RECAPPING THE LaSALLE WIN:
? Six Bearcats scored in double figures, the second time this season UC has had six double-digit scorers, and the sixth game in which UC has had four or more double figure scorers.
? Career highs were recorded by Roy Bright (14 rebounds) and Chadd Moore (10 assists).
? Cincinnati posted a season-best +19 margin in rebounding, out-boarding the Explorers, 45-26.
? LaSalle?s Steven Smith scored 35 points, the most by an individual opponent against UC since Jermaine Guice of Butler tallied 37 in 1993-94.
RECAPPING CINCINNATI?S 9-0 START:
? The Bearcats have beaten eight of their first nine opponents by 10 or more points, and seven of those foes by at least 16 points.
? The Bearcats have held six of their nine opponents to sub-.400 shooting, four to 32 percent or less. UC held two opponents, Detroit (.293) and Jackson State (.239) under 30 percent.
? UC?s defense has helped force its opponents into 18.3 turnovers per game. Cincinnati has an average turnover margin of +6.3.
? 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. UC has had four players reach double figures in two games, five in two others and six in two others. Eight different players have scored in double figures a total of 38 times.
HOT AT STRIPE: Cincinnati is shooting .741 from the charity stripe this season. UC shot a season-high .905 (19 of 21) vs. Dayton on Dec. 4. The Bearcats are getting plenty of chances. UC has made more free throws (195) than their opponents have attempted (146).
WAY TO START: Cincinnati has won 10 of 11 jump balls the Bearcats have encountered this season. UC has captured the opening tip in eight of nine games, and captured the tipoffs of both overtime periods of its Nov. 24 victory over Northern Iowa. Jason Maxiell has been the jumper in each of the tipoffs.
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. Over the last four games, UC foes have managed to shoot just .329 (82 of 249) from the field as the Bearcats have lowered their team field goal percentage defense to .356.
MAXIELL LEADS THAT DEFENSE: Jason Maxiell has played a major role in Cincinnati?s field goal percentage defense. Maxiell blocked a career-high tying seven shots in the Dec. 20 win over Jackson State. The 6-7 senior has averaged 4.5 blocks over his last four games, raising his season blocks average to 3.2. Max has recorded 190 career blocks, second only to Kenyon Martin?s 292.
MAX RESPONDS: Jason Maxiell seems to play at his best with the game is on the line. In the Dec. 18 win over Northwestern State, after the Tigers had whittled Cincinnati?s lead to one point midway through the second half, the 6-7 senior scored all nine points in a 9-2 run which enabled the Bearcats to regain control of the game. Maxiell finished with 21 points, tying his season high. His other 21-point performance occurred in the Nov. 24 win over Northern Iowa, during which he also pulled down a career high-tying 15 rebounds. Maxiell 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.
A BRIGHT PERFORMANCE: Roy Bright is apparently becoming comfortable with his status as a starter. The 6-6 freshman, who replaced then-injured Eric Hicks at forward for the Dec. 11 Detroit game, has started the last four contests. He has averaged 14.0 points and 12.5 rebounds over his last two outings. Bright recorded career-highs of 17 points and 11 rebounds in the Dec. 20 win over Jackson State. Two nights later, he upped his rebounding high to 14 while scoring 11 points vs. LaSalle.
MOORE ASSISTS THE OFFENSE: Cincinnati?s assist leader is a non-starter?Chadd Moore. The junior has recorded career assists highs in each of his last two games, dishing out nine assists in the Dec. 20 win over Jackson State and garnering 10 assists to go with 10 points?his first career double-double?in the Dec. 22 win over LaSalle. Moore has averaged 9.5 assists over his last two games to up his season average to 4.4. Not only does Moore not start (extenuating circumstances put him in the starting lineup for the season opener), he has averaged only 18.4 minutes of playing time.
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 12.3 points. He has also quickly become the team?s top long-distance scoring threat, with 23 treys in 63 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 continues to show the fine offensive play that he exhibited in exhibition season. Hicks has season averages of 13.9 points and 8.5 rebounds, third and first on the team, respectively.
? The 6-6 junior forward came off the bench to record his sixth career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds in the Dec. 18 win over Northwestern State.
? Hicks scored a career-high tying 18 points, going 7-of-10 from the floor, in the Dec. 20 win over Jackson State, matching his point total in the season opening win over Valparaiso when he made 6-of-8 field goals.
? He tallied 16 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the Nov. 24 win over Northern Iowa.
? Hicks had 11 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks vs. Purdue on Nov. 27.
KIRKLAND DOESN?T WANT TO CHILL: Armein Kirkland will hope that missing the last two games due to an ankle injury does not cool the streak he had been riding. The 6-8 junior had been the team?s scoring leader in four of the previous five games, which included a career-high 23 points in the win over Dayton (12/4/04). Kirkland averaged 18.4 points during this span, shooting .526 (30 of 57) from the field and .500 (9 of 18) from 3-point range during this span.
HUGGINS NOTCHES PAIR OF MILESTONES: Bob Huggins reached a pair of coaching milestones recently. The Dec. 18 win over Northwestern State marked Huggins? 500th game as head coach at Cincinnati. On Dec. 20, he garnered his 550th career coaching victory. Huggins is the nation?s seventh winningest active head coach in terms of percentage (.743), and ranks 13th on the victory total list with his 551-191 ledger. He has compiled a 383-119 record (.763) during his 16 seasons at UC.
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 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.
VETERAN TEAM: The Bearcats opened the season with a combined total of 160 games of starting experience. By comparison, last year?s team brought 108 games of starting experience into the 2003-04 campaign, while the 2002-03 team began with 59 career starts.
CONFERENCE RULERS: The Bearcats have been regular season champions nine times in the past 10 seasons, eight in Conference USA and once in the Great Midwest Conference. The Bearcats have won either a regular season or tournament title in 12 of the past 13 seasons, and six times during that span, UC has claimed both during the same season.
TICKET UPDATE: Single game tickets for all University of Cincinnati home games except the Jan. 15 Louisville, Jan. 22 Wake Forest, and Feb. 10 Xavier contests are on sale at the UC Athletic Ticket Office at One Edwards Center. The UofL, Wake and XU games are already sold out. Groups of 15 or more qualify for discounted prices of $15 adult and $12 youth for every game in December except Miami (U.S. Bank Arena), plus the Conference USA games vs. Houston and Southern Miss.
Tickets may be ordered by phone using American Express, VISA, MasterCard or Discover, by calling 513-556-CATS during office hours. They may also be purchased on-line via the university's athletic web site: UCBearcats.com.
LOOKING AHEAD: The Bearcats travel to Las Vegas to compete in the final two rounds of the Las Vegas Holiday Classic. Cincinnati will face Longwood on Dec. 30 at 9:30 p.m. EST and take on No. 1 Illinois on Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. (please note time change for the Illinois game). Both games will be televised by Fox Sports Net Ohio.