UC Bearcats wary of 'dangerous' Memphis
MEMPHIS – The stage seems set for the University of Cincinnati basketball team to beat Memphis here Saturday at noon, but UC knows what it faces in the game at FedEx Forum.
The Bearcats are 13-21 lifetime in games at Memphis, including a 63-50 loss last season. But, the 2015-16 Bearcats ride a four-game winning streak and Memphis has lost four of its last five games. Regardless, the Bearcats expect a Tigers team as formidable as the one they beat 76-72 at Fifth Third Arena on Jan. 21.
“It’s a tough place to play, for sure,” UC junior point guard Troy Caupain said.
Memphis won 89 percent of its home games in its first 10 years at FedEx but has been more vulnerable lately, going 23-11 at home during the past two years. That includes an 11-5 mark this season, and a current home losing streak of two games.
FedEx also is the home of the NBA Memphis Grizzlies and, with capacity of 18,119, the arena is larger than most the Bearcats will visit this season.
Mick Cronin on UC's rout of USF
“One, it’s an NBA arena so the depth perception is way different,” Caupain said. “They can shoot from anywhere, any player. You know they get up and down, and their crowd is very good. If you’re not hitting shots it can definitely be a slow day, if you’re not playing defense.”
UC (17-6, 7-3 American Athletic Conference) drilled South Florida 88-57 in its most recent game, Thursday night at Fifth Third Arena. The same night, Memphis surprisingly was routed 77-57 in its home arena by Connecticut.
UC coach Mick Cronin pays little mind to that result, noting that Memphis (13-9, 4-5 AAC) still has its two former McDonald’s All-Americans in 6-foot-9 senior forward Shaq Goodwin (14.8 points per game) and 6-8 freshman forward Dedric Lawson (14.0).
“You’re playing a team that has tremendous athletes,” Cronin said. “Much different than (the USF game), Memphis is going to try and fast-break on you at every opportunity. I thought they hurt us with their break (in the first meeting). I thought that was problematic. They also hurt you inside with Goodwin and Lawson, both guys can play in the NBA.”
Memphis also has senior guard Ricky Tarrant Jr. (12.8 ppg) and senior wing Trahson Burrell (10.1 ppg), with Burrell scoring a career-high 24 points in the Jan. 21 loss to UC. Burrell is expected back Saturday after serving a brief suspension this past week, according to the Memphis Commercial-Appeal.
“They are a dangerous team, with their personnel and their athletes,” Cronin said. “They get it going and they attack you. It’s going to be a great challenge.”
UC had trouble getting untracked last season at Memphis. The players remember.
“The rims show no love, for real,” Caupain said. “It’s a League (NBA) rim. If it ain’t all net, the love isn’t really there. It’s definitely one of the toughest places to play in the conference.”
SECRET GOAL: Analysts such as ESPN’s Joe Lunardi and CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm forecast UC as an NCAA Tournament team, but how about UC’s chances for an AAC title? The Bearcats (7-3 AAC) enter Saturday tied with Temple for second in the league behind SMU (8-2).
“We have a secret goal for our team, but I don’t even look at that," Cronin said. "I don’t look at first place. We just have to win Saturday at Memphis.”
Secret goal? Cronin would not elaborate.
“I’m sure (UC players) would like to win the league," Cronin said. "I know I would, but we don’t talk about stuff like that."
The players concur.
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“It’s a one-game tournament,” Caupain said. “Win this game, and you don’t have to worry about tomorrow.”
SHARE THE WEALTH: Caupain (18 points, 10 assists) and sophomore forward Gary Clark (16 points, 13 rebounds) led the list of six UC double-figure scorers against USF on Thursday.
Senior guard Farad Cobb continues to lead UC in scoring at 11.7 points per game. Next are Caupain (11.5), Clark (10.5), senior forward Octavius Ellis (9.8) and senior forward Shaq Thomas (7.3).
Cincinnati at Memphis
When: Saturday, noon
Where: FedEx Forum (18,119)
TV/Radio: ESPN2/700 WLW-AM
Records: UC 17-6 (7-3 AAC), Memphis 13-9 (4-5 AAC)