TicketsBearcats Battle No. 1 Illini for Title
Both teams put unbeaten streaks on the line in New Year's Eve clash in Las Vegas.
Contact: Brian Teter
12/31/2004
CINCINNATI vs. ILLINOIS
Las Vegas Holiday Classic
GAME FACTS
Date: Friday, Dec. 31, 2004
Time: 8:00 p.m. EST
Site: Valley Athletic Complex (1,800), Las Vegas, Nevada
Records:
Cincinnati (17USA/22AP): 11-0
Illinois (1USA/1AP): 13-0
TV: Fox Sports Net Ohio (Jeff Piecoro, Mark Adams).
Radio: WLW-AM 700 (Dan Hoard, Chuck Machock).
Tickets: Available at the site.
Series: Illinois leads, 2-1.
Last Meeting: March 21, 2004 at the NCAA Regional, Columbus, Ohio; Illinois 92, Cincinnati 68.
The Coaches:
? BOB HUGGINS (West Virginia ?77)
At Cincinnati: 16th year, 385-119 (.764)
Overall: 24th year, 553-191 (.743)
Huggins is the nation?s sixth-winningest active coach and is 12th in victories.
? BRUCE WEBER (Wis.-Milwaukee ?78)
At Illinois: 2nd year, 39-7 (.848)
Overall: 7th year, 142-61 (.700)
Weber guided Illinois to the NCAA Sweet 16 last year, his first at the school. He piloted Southern Illinois to a pair of NCAAs.
CINCINNATI PROBABLE STARTERS 2004-05 Statistics
F 33 Armein Kirkland, 6-8 Jr., Tyler, Texas......13.9 pts, 3.7 reb, 2.0 ast
F 14 Eric Hicks, 6-6 Jr., Greensboro, N.C. ......14.9 pts, 9.4 reb, 1.3 blk
F 54 Jason Maxiell, 6-7 Sr., Carrollton, Texas...15.5 pts, 8.2 reb, 3.8 blk
G 21 James White, 6-7 Jr., Kensington, Md........10.4 pts, 4.6 reb, 2.6 ast
G 1 Chadd Moore, 6-2 Jr., Huntsville, Ala........4.5 pts, 2.2 reb, 4.0 ast
ILLINOIS PROBABLE STARTERS 2004-05 Statistics
F 43 Roger Powell, Jr., 6-6 Sr., Joliet, Ill.....13.2 pts, 4.9 reb, 0.7 stl
F 40 James Augustine, 6-10 Jr., Mokena, Ill.......9.7 pts, 7.2 reb, 1.6 blk
G 4 Luther Head, 6-3 Sr., Chicago, Ill..........16.6 pts, 3.5 reb, 4.9 ast
G 5 Deron Williams, 6-3 Jr., The Colony, Texas..14.3 pts, 3.0 reb, 6.7 ast
G 11 Dee Brown, 6-0 Jr., Maywood, Ill............13.3 pts, 2.8 reb, 5.6 ast
SETTING THE SCENE: The University of Cincinnati clashes with No. 1 Illinois on New Year?s Eve for the championship of the Las Vegas Holiday Classic. The 8 p.m. EST contest will be televised regionally by Fox Sports Net. Cincinnati, No. 17 in this week?s ESPN/USA Today poll and No. 22 in the Associated Press rankings, boosted its record to 11-0 with a 95-69 win over Longwood on Thursday. Illinois, No. 1 in both polls, is 13-0 following Thursday?s 69-51 victory over Northwestern State.
SOMETHING HAS GOT TO GIVE: There will be one less team in the dwindling unbeaten ranks of college basketball after Friday?s Cincinnati-Illinois clash. The two teams are among the nine remaining teams with perfect records, the Bearcats at 11-0 and the Illini at 13-0.
LAST TIME VS. ILLINOIS: Friday?s Cincinnati-Illinois clash is a rematch of the two teams? meeting in the second round of last year?s NCAA Tournament. The Illini got the better of the Bearcats in that contest, played on March 21 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, 92-68. Illinois shot a sizzling .636 in that game, the highest by a UC foe since Michigan State?s .686 in 1991-92.
LAST TIME VS. NO. 1: Cincinnati last faced a No. 1-ranked team on Nov. 28, 1998 when the Bearcats met Duke in the championship game of the Great Alaska Shootout. Melvin Levett?s dunk with a second to play lifted UC to a 77-75 upset over the Blue Devils. UC led by as many as 19 points in the first half but Duke overtook UC with 11 minutes to play. Duke tied the game on a short jumper with four seconds left. Levett scored on the ensuing inbounds.
LAST TIME IN A TOURNEY CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: Cincinnati?s last appearance in the title game of an in-season tourney occurred Dec. 22, 2001, when the Cincinnati defeated Purdue, 79-62, at the Las Vegas Holiday Classic. The Bearcats have won their last six in-season tournaments.
Season Tournament ..........Final Game
2001-02 Las Vegas Holiday Classic 79-62 Purdue
2000-01 Puerto Rico Holiday Classic 77-74 Alabama
1999-00 Big Island Invitational 75-66 Iowa State
1998-99 Great Alaska Shootout 77-75 Duke
1996-97 Puerto Rico Holiday Classic 101-60 Southwest Missouri St.
1995-96 Delta Air Lines Classic 100-64 Wagner
CINCINNATI VS. NO. 1: Friday?s game will mark the 10th time Cincinnati has faces a No. 1 team. The Bearcats are 6-3 in games against teams ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press poll at the time the Bearcats played those teams.
STORY LINES:
? Friday?s contest could be an offense vs. defense showdown. Illinois was No. 1 in the nation in field goal percentage in the NCAA statistics rankings through games of Dec. 20. The Illini are shooting .518 from the field, .405 from 3-point range. Cincinnati is No. 3 in field goal percentage defense, allowing foes to shoot .355 from the floor, and only .332 from 3-point range.
? Cincinnati?s ability to block shots has been a factor in its defense. The Bearcats, who rank third nationally in blocked shots, have rejected 9.4 shots over their last five games with Jason Maxiell, No. 9 individually, averaging 5.4 blocks during that span.
? Eric Hicks needs three more blocks to reach the century mark in career rejections.
? Maxiell, with 1,230 career points, needs 22 more points to move into 21st place on UC?s career scoring list, currently held by Steve Collier (1975-78).
? The Bearcats will be shooting for their fourth 12-0 start in the last 10 seasons. UC was 11-0 in 2003-04, 1998-99 and 1995-96.
COMMON OPPONENTS: Cincinnati and Illinois have played three common opponents, Valparaiso, Northwestern State and Longwood. Both teams are 3-0 vs. these foes.
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 fell one spot, to No. 17 in this week?s ESPN/USA Today coaches poll. UC remained No. 22 for the second straight week in the Associated Press poll. In the computer ratings, Cincinnati is No. 9 in the Sagarin Index (12/28/04) and No. 24 in the RPI (12/30/04).
RECAPPING THE LONGWOOD WIN:
? Cincinnati?s 95 points matched the Bearcats? season scoring high. UC tallied 95 in the Dec. 20 win over Jackson State.
? Jason Maxiell?s career-high 30 points were the most by a Bearcat since Leonard Stokes scored 31 vs. Louisville on Feb. 22, 2003. Maxiell tied a career high with seven blocks, topping the 200 mark in career rejections (203).
? Cincinnati posted a 46-29 advantage in rebounding. The Bearcats have outrebounded their last two opponents by an average margin of 16.7.
RECAPPING CINCINNATI?S 11-0 START:
? The Bearcats have beaten 10 of their first 11 opponents by 10 or more points, and nine of those foes by at least 16 points.
? The Bearcats have held eight of their 10 opponents to sub-.400 shooting, five 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 18.2 turnovers per game. Cincinnati has an average turnover margin of +5.0.
? UC?s first five opponents appeared in postseason play in 2003-04.
BLOCKS PARTY: Cincinnati entered the week ranked third nationally in blocked shots, with Jason Maxiell ninth and Eric Hicks 20th in the individual rankings. UC?s ranking should rise with the next release of the national statistics. The Bearcats recorded a season-high 13 blocks in their Dec. 27 win over Miami (Ohio) and had 10 blocks in Thursday?s win over Longwood. Maxiell was responsible for six rejections vs. Miami and matched a career high with seven vs. Longwood. UC has averaged 9.4 blocked shots over its last five games, and Maxiell has averaged 5.4 blocks during that span.
SHARING THE LOAD: A key to Cincinnati?s success this season has been the team?s balanced scoring attack. At least four Bearcats have reached double figures in seven of the 11 games. UC has had four double-digit scorers in three games, five in two games and six in two others. Eight different players have scored in double figures a total of 45 times.
HOT AT STRIPE: Cincinnati is shooting .737 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 64 more free throws (219) than their opponents have attempted (155).
WAY TO START: Cincinnati has won 11 of 13 jump balls the Bearcats have encountered this season. UC has captured the opening tip in eight of 10 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.
MAXIELL REACHES MORE MILESTONES: Jason Maxiell?s 30 points in Thursday?s win over Longwood was the most by a Bearcat since Leonard Stokes tallied 31 vs. Louisville on Feb. 22, 2003. The scoring burst boosted his career points total to 1,230, moving him into 22nd place on the UC career scoring list.
? Maxiell also tied a career high with seven blocks in the Longwood game, which put him over the 200-mark in career blocks (203). He has averaged 5.5 blocks over his last four outings, raising his season blocks average to 3.8. Maxiell is now No. 5 on the all-time C-USA blocks list.
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 six games, UC foes have managed to shoot just .335 (126 of 376) from the field as the Bearcats have lowered their team field goal percentage defense to .355.
HICKS IS HOT: Eric Hicks has averaged 17.8 points and 9.8 rebounds over his last four games, shooting .522 (24-of-46) from the field.
? Hicks posted career highs of 21 points and 17 rebounds, the latter the most by a Bearcat in five seasons, in Cincinnati?s 77-53 win over Miami (Ohio) on Dec. 27.
? He had 18 points, matching his previous career high, in the Dec. 20 win over Jackson State, going 7-of-10 from the field.
? Hicks has taken over the team rebounding (9.4) lead.
ABSENCE DOESN?T CHILL KIRKLAND: Armein Kirkland was playing the best basketball of his college career when an ankle injury sidelined him for two games. The 6-8 junior had been the team?s scoring leader in four of the previous five contests, which included a career-high 23 points in the win over Dayton (12/4/04).
Kirkland returned to action during the Dec. 27 win over Miami (Ohio), and returned to his offensive form. He scored 18 points, sinking 4-of-5 treys. Kirkland has averaged 17.2 points over his last six games, shooting .522 (35-of-67) from the field and .560 (14-of-25) from 3-point range.
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.
MOORE ASSISTS THE OFFENSE: Chadd Moore has recorded career assists highs in two of his last four 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 5.8 assists over his last four games to up his season average to 4.0. On the defensive end, he has made eight steals over his last four games to move into a tie for the team lead in that category.
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 11.7 points. He has also quickly become the team?s top long-distance scoring threat, with 25 treys in 67 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.
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 12th on the victory total list with his 553-191 ledger. He has compiled a 385-119 record (.764) 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.
LOOKING AHEAD: Cincinnati will return home to prepare for its Conference USA opener against DePaul on Jan. 6. The 7 p.m. EST contest will be televised by ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD.