TicketsPurchase Season Tickets | Photo Gallery - First Day of Preseason Practice
Emerging veteran leaders along with an influx of new faces and the return of promising young talent headline the University of Cincinnati men's basketball team for the 2014-15 campaign as it sets its sights on making its fifth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
The new edition of Bearcats wants similar results to a year ago but will look vastly different from the 2013-14 squad that won a share of the inaugural American Athletic Conference regular-season crown and finished with a 27-7 overall record.
Replacing All-American guard Sean Kilpatrick and defensive stalwarts Justin Jackson and Titus Rubles will require a group effort according to ninth-year head coach Mick Cronin, who says the 2014-15 Bearcats will be much taller and stronger than last season's unit and feature more interchangeable parts on the perimeter and more scoring options inside and out. UC returns six players from a year ago - five of whom scored points - and welcomes seven newcomers, including a pair of Bearcats who redshirted their first season in Clifton.
"This team is very different than a year ago in that our front line is much bigger," Cronin said. "From a scoring standpoint, this a team that can have seven or eight different guys lead us in scoring on any given night. This team can score inside and out. Hopefully, as we develop we'll be extremely balanced on offense. That's the type of team we're going to have to be to win this year."
// KEEPING THE CULTURE OF TOUGHNESS THROUGH STRONG LEADERSHIP
But Cronin, who is in his 12th season as a head coach and 19th year in the profession, knows all about the constant change of personnel in college basketball and points to maintaining the program's culture and not just relying on the performance of its players as an important component to the coming campaign.
"The biggest key for us when the season ended last year was to empower our returning guys to really take ownership of our team," Cronin said. "Our departing guys actually talked to them about our culture - in how we compete and how hard we work and how much pride we play with. The guys have worked really hard on it this summer.
"I've been trying to make sure as the coach of the team that our talent level is what it needs to be," Cronin said. "Our fate is going to be decided on how much leadership we get, how competitive we are and how hard we work. They know I believe in them and our talent level but they need to take control and put in the work and develop the toughness to win."
That leadership effort starts with seniors Jermaine Sanders (Far Rockaway, N.Y./Rice High School) and Ge'Lawn Guyn (Lexington, Ky./South Kent Prep [Conn.]). The duo has slowly taken on more responsibilities as their careers have developed at Cincinnati - none more so than last season.
Sanders did not start, but played in every game a year ago, averaging 5.7 points and 3.1 rebounds in 21.3 minutes while ranking 13th in the league in three-point shooting (37.6 percent). A versatile player who can play three positions for the Bearcats, Sanders will be counted upon as one of UC's top perimeter shooting threats.
Guyn, who played behind former standout point guard Cashmere Wright his first two seasons as a Bearcat, earned the starting nod as floor general last season and started all 34 games while sharing time with freshman Troy Caupain (Midlothian, Va./Cosby High School). Guyn, who averaged 4.5 points and 2.0 rebounds a year ago, may see more action off the ball at shooting guard this season according to Cronin. A hard-nosed defender, Guyn showed some touch from three-point range last season, making at least one three-pointer in 13 of 18 league contests.
"Ge'Lawn and Jermaine are going to have to show us the way," Cronin said. "They don't have to lead us in scoring but they have to lead us in caring.
"They're both tremendous kids who have given a great deal to our program - way more than their statistics say," Cronin said. "Ninety-five percent of the time the attitude of your seniors and the commitment level of your seniors dictates whether you reach your potential as a team. These two guys have to take the team by the reigns because they are the ones who have a sense of urgency - it's their last year."
Other players Cronin will lean on for leadership include redshirt junior Shaquille Thomas (Paterson, N.J./NIA Prep), sophomores Kevin Johnson (Cincinnati, Ohio/Summit Country Day) and Caupain and redshirt freshman Deshaun Morman (Richmond, Va./Faith Baptist Christian [Fla.]).
Seeing significant minutes for the first time in his collegiate career, Thomas started all 34 games and averaged 6.8 points per contest while reaching double figures in scoring 11 times last season. His 45.4 percent field-goal shooting ranks first among returning players.
Long on potential, athleticism, and well, length, Thomas is working with Cronin and the UC coaching staff to use his talents for more than just scoring the ball this season. An outstanding jumper with long arms, Thomas is focusing more on influencing the game as a better rebounder and defender. Cronin hopes Thomas' transformation mirrors that of Jackson's last season when the wiry and energetic forward used his athletic talents to blossom into the American's Defensive Player of the Year.
"He's starting to figure it out as he gets older that the game is more than just statistics and shooting," Cronin said. "He's really starting to understand how he can impact games with his athleticism and his activity. He's got to be a guy that's all over the court, especially all over the offensive glass and the passing lanes defensively. He's worked hard on getting stronger and being in better shape and being in better condition."
Caupain played in all 34 games last season without a start, averaging 19.1 minutes per contest while sharing time with Guyn at the point position. One of the youngest players to play for Cronin - turning 18-years old in late November 2013 - Caupain finished the year second on the squad in free-throw shooting (78.4 percent) and assists (76) and third in three-point shooting (32.8 percent). Caupain owns good vision of the court, leading UC in assists nine times a year ago and recording a 2.04-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio during conference play.
Johnson, who turned 19-years old in June 2014, developed a reputation as a clutch performer for the Bearcats despite seeing limited action last season. Playing behind the second-most prolific scorer in program history in Kilpatrick, Johnson averaged 3.7 points in 10.2 minutes at the shooting guard position. However, he came through numerous times when UC needed him most, including converting a pair of clutch free throws in the closing seconds at Houston and making a victory-clinching three-pointer against UCF in the American Athletic Conference Championship quarterfinals. Despite a slow start to the year, the sharp shooter improved his accuracy from beyond the arc, hitting 58.3 percent (7 of 12) during the final two months of the season.
"Troy and Kevin are two young kids coming into their own," Cronin said. "Both of them will admit that last year was an eye-opening experience for them as to what college basketball at the highest level is all about - how serious you have to be and how much effort it takes.
Morman earned a medical hardship last year after suffering a foot injury during preseason practice. An energetic, active defender and improving passer, he earns high praise from Cronin for his natural athletic talent and ability to provide a spark for the Bearcats."With Troy it's a matter of growing up and with Kevin it's about keeping it simple and believing in his abilities. They both know I believe in them."
"He is probably one of the best athletes we've ever brought in since I've been here," Cronin said. "He brings a tremendous infusion of energy to our team. He is all over the place defensively. He has worked really hard at getting himself under control on offense. His passing has really improved. He's going to have a great impact on our team because he can change a game with his defense and his athleticism - he is that quick and explosive."
// NEWCOMERS BRING A LOT TO THE TABLE
Morman and junior transfer point guard Farad Cobb (West Palm Beach, Fla./Northwest Fla. St. College) are Cronin's two newest options in the backcourt.
Cobb shot 51.1 percent from the field and 46.3 percent from three-point range at Northwest Florida State College last season, averaging a team-best 15.1 points to go with 4.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists. He was tabbed a top-40 point guard in the Class of 2012 by ESPN.com and started eight games in his freshman season (2012-13) at Chattanooga, averaging 5.7 points and 1.7 assists.
"Farad gives us great speed off the pick and roll and he can make shots," Cronin said. "He gives us a dimension that we really didn't have last season."
And while Morman and Cobb offer the Bearcats offense a fresh look on the perimeter, the other five newcomers bring much needed size and varying skills along the interior.
One of the most seasoned and experienced new players is a familiar face to UC fans in junior transfer forward Octavius Ellis (Memphis, Tenn./Trinity Valley College [Texas]). Ellis returns to Clifton after leaving the program in 2012. He received a medical hardship following the 2011-12 season due to a hand injury.
Ellis spent the last two seasons at Trinity Valley College in Athens, Texas, where he earned first team All-America junior college accolades as a sophomore. Last year, he averaged 14.8 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.2 blocks, helping guide the Cardinals to a 29-7 record and their first NJCAA tournament appearance.
"He's got great size and athleticism and is going to be one of the best shot blockers and rebounders in the conference from day one," said Cronin of the 6-10 Ellis. "But he's going to be key for us because he is a believer. He tries to take everything a coach says and impart it into what he is doing. First-time guys listen to the coach, but until they struggle, they may not believe. Where Octavius already has total trust in the coaching staff."
Junior transfer Coreontae DeBerry (Holland, Mich./Hutchinson CC) and redshirt freshman Jamaree Strickland (Oakland, Calif./Queen City Prep [N.C.]) are beasts at 6-10, 270 pounds each at the center position for the Bearcats. DeBerry accounted for 11.8 points and 7.1 rebounds in limited action at Hutchinson Community College (Kan.) last season. Strickland redshirted last year at UC following NCAA eligibility issues that prevented him from practicing with the team. He averaged 21.0 points and 8.0 rebounds as a sophomore at Queen City Prep Academy (N.C.) during the 2012-13 campaign.
"Both of those guys can really score in the post," Cronin said. "They are really effective players around the rim. It's just a matter of getting them in shape to where they can run, rebound and play defense."
Freshman forwards Gary Clark (Clayton, N.C./Clayton High School) and Quadri Moore (Linden, N.J./Linden High School) bring athleticism and scoring abilities to the Bearcats' lineup. The 6-7, 215-pound Clark finished his career as the all-time leader in points, rebounds and blocks at Clayton High School in Clayton, North Carolina. He averaged 26.0 points and 7.0 rebounds as a senior and was tabbed a four-star recruit and one of the nation's top 100 prospects by ESPN.
"Gary has things that you can't teach in his feel for the game, the pace that he plays and the way he attacks and can read the defense," Cronin said. "He's got a knack for playing the game and getting the ball in the basket. He also keeps it simple."
Moore poured in 16.3 points and grabbed 6.9 rebounds as a senior last season at Linden High School in Linden, New Jersey. The first team all-state honoree and Union County player of the year, Moore was named a top 150 prospect by ESPN.
"Qaudri can score inside and outside," Cronin said. "He's got great touch and understands how to use his body. He can make shots and he's confident. He believes in himself."
// WALK-ON RETURNS
Sophomore forward Zach Tobler (Fort Mitchell, Ky./Covington Catholic) returns for his second season as a walk-on for the Bearcats. A crowd favorite, Tobler saw limited action in eight contests, averaging 1.6 minutes, but did not score.
PURCHASE YOUR SEASON TICKETS NOW
University of Cincinnati men's basketball season tickets start at $99 and can be purchased at GoBearcats.com/tickets or by calling 1-877-CATS-TIX.