TicketsJan. 3, 2012
Watch the game on ESPN3
Find the FOX Sports Ohio station in your area
Cincinnati Notes
The University of Cincinnati welcomes Notre Dame to Fifth Third Arena on Wednesday for the Bearcats' BIG EAST Conference home opener. The game starts at 7 p.m. and will be televised by FOX Sports Ohio and ESPN3.
The Bearcats (11-3, 1-0 BIG EAST) have won six consecutive games after earning a 66-63 upset victory at then-No. 22 Pittsburgh on Sunday. Jaquon Parker led UC with a career-high 21 points and four three-pointers while Sean Kilpatrick added 19 points and five three-pointers.
Notre Dame (9-5, 1-0 BIG EAST) also upset Pittsburgh last week. The Irish recorded a 72-59 home win over the Panthers on Dec. 27. Notre Dame won both meetings with Cincinnati last season, a 66-58 decision in South Bend and an 89-51 victory in the quarterfinal round of the BIG EAST Tournament. The Irish lead the series 8-3 and have won three in a row.
GAME AT A GLANCE
Series Info: 12th meeting; Notre Dame leads 8-3 overall; Notre Dame leads 4-0 in South Bend and 3-1 at neutral sites; UC leads 2-1 in Cincinnati; STREAK - Notre Dame has won the last three games.
Last Meeting: Notre Dame won 89-51 in the quarterfinal round of the 2011 BIG EAST Tournament on March 10.
Coaches: Mick Cronin is in his sixth season at Cincinnati (98-80); ninth season overall (167-104). Cronin is 2-5 vs. Notre Dame. Mike Brey is in his 12th season at Notre Dame (247-125); 17th season overall (346-177).
Rankings: UC and Notre Dame are not ranked in the Associated Press or USA Today/ESPN Coaches polls for Jan. 2.
Radio: 700 WLW-AM; Dan Hoard provides play-by-play alongside color analyst Chuck Machock. Mo Egger is host/engineer.
TV: BEN/FSO and ESPN3; Tom Gelehrter provides play-by-play alongside color analyst Brooke Weisbrod.
Todd Kulis serves as producer. Jeff Montoni is directing.
(To find the FOX Sports Ohio station in your area visit: www.foxsportsohio.com/pages/channelfinder).
UC Twitter Page: @GoBEARCATS
STREAKS, STORYLINES, SIDEBARS
-UC is looking to start BIG EAST play 2-0 for the third consecutive season and the fourth time in seven seasons in the league.
-The Bearcats are 4-2 in BIG EAST home openers, having won their last two.
-The Bearcats are averaging 12.2 three-pointers over their last six games compared to 5.4 during their first eight games of the season.
-UC ranks among the nation's leaders in fewest fouls committed (9th-14.4), scoring defense (16th-57.4 points), turnover margin (22nd-4.1) and blocks (25th-5.5).
-Sean Kilpatrick was named BIG EAST Player of the Week on Monday and leads the league in three-pointers made (2. 9) and is third in three-point shooting (41.2 percent).
-Cashmere Wright has handed out 38 assists with only six turnovers (6.3-to-1 assists-to-turnover ratio) during the last six games. He has committed three turnovers in the past five games combined.
-Octavius Ellis, Yancy Gates and Cheikh Mbodj are eligible to play against the Irish after serving six-game suspensions for their involvement in the incident in the closing seconds at Xavier on Dec. 10.