Tickets23/22 CINCINNATI (23-4, 12-2) AT SMU (13-13, 5-9)
Wednesday, Feb. 27 • 9 p.m. (ET) • Moody Coliseum • Dallas, Texas
SERIES INFO: 17th meeting; Cincinnati leads 11-5 overall;
Cincinnati leads 8-0 at home;
SMU leads 3-2 in Dallas and 2-1 at neutral sites
STREAK: Cincinnati - 4
LAST MEETING: Cincinnati won 73-68 on Feb. 2, 2019
at Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati
COACHES: Mick Cronin is in his 13th season at Cincinnati (291-144); 16th season overall (360-168)
Tim Jankovich is in his third season at SMU (69-34); 12th season overall (226-154)
AP/USA TODAY RANKINGS (FEB. 25): Cincinnati (23/22); SMU (--/--)
RADIO: 700 WLW; Dan Hoard provides play-by-play with color analyst Terry Nelson
TV: CBS Sports Network; Rich Waltz provides play-by-play with color analyst Dan Dickau
JOIN THE CONVERSATION (TWITTER, FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM): @GoBearcatsMBB or GoBearcatsMBB
// PREVIEW
The University of Cincinnati men's basketball team goes for its fourth consecutive victory Wednesday at SMU. Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network and 700 WLW.
Cincinnati (23-4, 12-2 AAC) held off UConn 64-60 Sunday in Hartford, Conn. Keith Williams led the Bearcats with 12 points, including a pair of free throws with four seconds left that sealed the victory. Cane Broome scored 10 points, including a pair of three inside the final 1:29. His second three from about 30 feet away with 12 seconds came just before the shot clock expired and gave UC a 62-58 lead. Justin Jenifer also added 10 points in the win.
SMU dropped a 95-48 decision at UCF on Sunday. Ethan Chargois led the Mustangs with nine points. Isiaha Mike and Jahmal McMurray added eight points each.
Cincinnati owns an 11-5 lead in its series with SMU, having won four in a row after a 73-68 win at Fifth Third Arena on Feb. 2. SMU leads the series 3-2 in games played in Dallas.
UP NEXT: Cincinnati returns home Saturday to welcome Memphis. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2 or ESPNU and 700 WLW. A limited number of standing room only tickets are available for purchase via phone at 1-877-CATS-TIX or online at GoBearcats.com/tickets.
// CINCINNATI STORYLINES
Jarron Cumberland enters the week ranked among AAC leaders in eight categories: three-point field goal percentage (2nd at .428 [30th in nation]), scoring (3rd at 18.6), three-pointers made (6th at 2.5), free throw percentage (7th at .783), assists (10th at 3.6), assist-to-turnover ratio (12th at 1.3), steals (14th at 1.3) and minutes played (15th at 31.9). Named to the Citizen Naismith Trophy Midseason Watch List and tabbed one of 10 candidates for the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award, Cumberland has scored 20 or more points a league-high 13 times this season.
Justin Jenifer entered Monday ranked among AAC leaders in assist-to-turnover ratio (1st at 4.0 [4th in nation]), three-point field goal percentage (1st at .450), assists (15th at 3.1) and three-pointers made (T15th at 1.7).
Cane Broome was named to the AAC Honor Roll on Monday for his key three-pointers at UConn (2/24).
Cincinnati's 84 wins since the start of the 2016-17 season rank third most in the nation behind only Gonzaga (95) and Villanova (88) entering Monday. The total is tied for the second most wins in school history for a three-year stretch (84 wins from 1960-62) behind only the 85 wins compiled from 2000-2002.
Cincinnati is one of six schools in the nation to have appeared in the last eight NCAA Tournaments, joining Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Michigan State and North Carolina.
The Bearcats are attempting to win back-to-back league titles for the first time since 2001 and 2002 (Conference USA).
// TIP INS
NATIONAL STATS: Entering Monday, UC ranked among the nation's Top 30 in eight categories: scoring defense (11th at 61.5), win-loss percentage (11th at .852), fewest turnovers (13th at 290), turnovers per game (20th at 10.7), turnover margin (22nd at +3.5), scoring margin (25th at +11.6), rebound margin (28th at 5.7) and field goal percentage defense (29th .404).
STRETCH OF REMARKABLE SUCCESS: Cincinnati's 84 wins since the start of 2016-17 are tied for the second most in school history for three consecutive years (84 wins from 1960-62) behind only the 85 wins compiled from 2000-2002.
FIVE POINTS OR LESS: Cincinnati is 8-1 this season in games decided by five points or less. Eight conference games have been decided within that margin, including both contests last week. UC was 3-3 in its six games last season decided by five points or less. The Bearcats led the nation in scoring margin (+16.7) a year ago.
AWAY FROM HOME: Cincinnati is 24-8 (.750) in true road games and 36-13 (.735) in all non-home games (road and neutral site) since the start of the 2016-17 season. The Bearcats won eight of their nine league road games last season with the lone exception coming at Houston (67-62 loss on Feb. 15, 2018). UC is 20-5 in league road game since the start of 2016-17.
With its 66-55 win at Wichita State (1/19), Cincinnati became the first school since Southern Illinois in 2009 to win back-to-back games at Charles Koch Arena.
Cincinnati's 70-65 overtime comeback win at Tulsa (1/10) snapped the Golden Hurricane's 18-game home win streak. The Bearcats handed Memphis (2/7) only its second home loss of the season coming from 11 down in the second half to post a 69-64 win. Tennessee is the only other team to beat the Tigers in Memphis this season.
// POWERFUL MINDS
The American Athletic Conference Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), representing the more than 7,000 student-athletes in the Conference, continues to make mental health and safety its top priority. With the inception of its Pow6rful Minds Campaign in the fall of 2017, The American SAAC has helped create awareness to mental health issues and the resources available for student-athletes. The definitive goal has been to end the stigma related to seeking help and promoting academic and personal success through a healthy, powerful mind.
The Conference's second Mental Health Awareness Week of the 2018-19 school year will take place Feb. 25-March 3 with The American men's and women's basketball games highlighting the week-long initiative.
Green, the color of mental health awareness nationally, has been seen by The American's fans during designated athletic contests throughout the school year and the Conference's #Pow6rfulMinds hashtag has been used prominently on all of its social media accounts.
During all men's and women's basketball contests this week, The American coaching staffs will wear specially designed green ribbon pins. The Conference also has produced PSAs featuring men's and women's basketball student-athletes that will be run in-venue during games.
Wednesday, Feb. 27 • 9 p.m. (ET) • Moody Coliseum • Dallas, Texas
SERIES INFO: 17th meeting; Cincinnati leads 11-5 overall;
Cincinnati leads 8-0 at home;
SMU leads 3-2 in Dallas and 2-1 at neutral sites
STREAK: Cincinnati - 4
LAST MEETING: Cincinnati won 73-68 on Feb. 2, 2019
at Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati
COACHES: Mick Cronin is in his 13th season at Cincinnati (291-144); 16th season overall (360-168)
Tim Jankovich is in his third season at SMU (69-34); 12th season overall (226-154)
AP/USA TODAY RANKINGS (FEB. 25): Cincinnati (23/22); SMU (--/--)
RADIO: 700 WLW; Dan Hoard provides play-by-play with color analyst Terry Nelson
TV: CBS Sports Network; Rich Waltz provides play-by-play with color analyst Dan Dickau
JOIN THE CONVERSATION (TWITTER, FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM): @GoBearcatsMBB or GoBearcatsMBB
// PREVIEW
The University of Cincinnati men's basketball team goes for its fourth consecutive victory Wednesday at SMU. Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network and 700 WLW.
Cincinnati (23-4, 12-2 AAC) held off UConn 64-60 Sunday in Hartford, Conn. Keith Williams led the Bearcats with 12 points, including a pair of free throws with four seconds left that sealed the victory. Cane Broome scored 10 points, including a pair of three inside the final 1:29. His second three from about 30 feet away with 12 seconds came just before the shot clock expired and gave UC a 62-58 lead. Justin Jenifer also added 10 points in the win.
SMU dropped a 95-48 decision at UCF on Sunday. Ethan Chargois led the Mustangs with nine points. Isiaha Mike and Jahmal McMurray added eight points each.
Cincinnati owns an 11-5 lead in its series with SMU, having won four in a row after a 73-68 win at Fifth Third Arena on Feb. 2. SMU leads the series 3-2 in games played in Dallas.
UP NEXT: Cincinnati returns home Saturday to welcome Memphis. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2 or ESPNU and 700 WLW. A limited number of standing room only tickets are available for purchase via phone at 1-877-CATS-TIX or online at GoBearcats.com/tickets.
// CINCINNATI STORYLINES
Jarron Cumberland enters the week ranked among AAC leaders in eight categories: three-point field goal percentage (2nd at .428 [30th in nation]), scoring (3rd at 18.6), three-pointers made (6th at 2.5), free throw percentage (7th at .783), assists (10th at 3.6), assist-to-turnover ratio (12th at 1.3), steals (14th at 1.3) and minutes played (15th at 31.9). Named to the Citizen Naismith Trophy Midseason Watch List and tabbed one of 10 candidates for the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award, Cumberland has scored 20 or more points a league-high 13 times this season.
Justin Jenifer entered Monday ranked among AAC leaders in assist-to-turnover ratio (1st at 4.0 [4th in nation]), three-point field goal percentage (1st at .450), assists (15th at 3.1) and three-pointers made (T15th at 1.7).
Cane Broome was named to the AAC Honor Roll on Monday for his key three-pointers at UConn (2/24).
Cincinnati's 84 wins since the start of the 2016-17 season rank third most in the nation behind only Gonzaga (95) and Villanova (88) entering Monday. The total is tied for the second most wins in school history for a three-year stretch (84 wins from 1960-62) behind only the 85 wins compiled from 2000-2002.
Cincinnati is one of six schools in the nation to have appeared in the last eight NCAA Tournaments, joining Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Michigan State and North Carolina.
The Bearcats are attempting to win back-to-back league titles for the first time since 2001 and 2002 (Conference USA).
// TIP INS
NATIONAL STATS: Entering Monday, UC ranked among the nation's Top 30 in eight categories: scoring defense (11th at 61.5), win-loss percentage (11th at .852), fewest turnovers (13th at 290), turnovers per game (20th at 10.7), turnover margin (22nd at +3.5), scoring margin (25th at +11.6), rebound margin (28th at 5.7) and field goal percentage defense (29th .404).
STRETCH OF REMARKABLE SUCCESS: Cincinnati's 84 wins since the start of 2016-17 are tied for the second most in school history for three consecutive years (84 wins from 1960-62) behind only the 85 wins compiled from 2000-2002.
FIVE POINTS OR LESS: Cincinnati is 8-1 this season in games decided by five points or less. Eight conference games have been decided within that margin, including both contests last week. UC was 3-3 in its six games last season decided by five points or less. The Bearcats led the nation in scoring margin (+16.7) a year ago.
AWAY FROM HOME: Cincinnati is 24-8 (.750) in true road games and 36-13 (.735) in all non-home games (road and neutral site) since the start of the 2016-17 season. The Bearcats won eight of their nine league road games last season with the lone exception coming at Houston (67-62 loss on Feb. 15, 2018). UC is 20-5 in league road game since the start of 2016-17.
With its 66-55 win at Wichita State (1/19), Cincinnati became the first school since Southern Illinois in 2009 to win back-to-back games at Charles Koch Arena.
Cincinnati's 70-65 overtime comeback win at Tulsa (1/10) snapped the Golden Hurricane's 18-game home win streak. The Bearcats handed Memphis (2/7) only its second home loss of the season coming from 11 down in the second half to post a 69-64 win. Tennessee is the only other team to beat the Tigers in Memphis this season.
// POWERFUL MINDS
The American Athletic Conference Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), representing the more than 7,000 student-athletes in the Conference, continues to make mental health and safety its top priority. With the inception of its Pow6rful Minds Campaign in the fall of 2017, The American SAAC has helped create awareness to mental health issues and the resources available for student-athletes. The definitive goal has been to end the stigma related to seeking help and promoting academic and personal success through a healthy, powerful mind.
The Conference's second Mental Health Awareness Week of the 2018-19 school year will take place Feb. 25-March 3 with The American men's and women's basketball games highlighting the week-long initiative.
Green, the color of mental health awareness nationally, has been seen by The American's fans during designated athletic contests throughout the school year and the Conference's #Pow6rfulMinds hashtag has been used prominently on all of its social media accounts.
During all men's and women's basketball contests this week, The American coaching staffs will wear specially designed green ribbon pins. The Conference also has produced PSAs featuring men's and women's basketball student-athletes that will be run in-venue during games.