Records:
Cincinnati:..............................................
9-4
Memphis:.............................................
10-3
Setting the Stage:
Perhaps ironically, the University of Cincinnati men’s basketball team will
complete its non-Big East portion of the 2006-07 schedule with a long-time
conference foe, as the ‘Cats back a visit to No. 22 Memphis on Thursday, Jan. 4.
In the past these two teams have met 64
times as members of four different leagues - the Missouri Valley, Metro, Great
Midwest and Conference USA conferences -
with UC holding a 36-28 lead in the series, taking eight of the last 10
get-togethers.
The 65th rendition of this long-lasting
series will see a pair of teams coming off very different outcomes their last
time out. Cincinnati will look to rebound from Saturday’s
heart-lacking 79-66 loss to Ohio
University, while Memphis will be fresh from
five days off after defeating Lamar, 87-62. The match-up will be Cincinnati’s first
true road game of the season and will have to do so with out their power
forward/tight end Connor Barwin who is preparing for the football team’s
showdown in Toronto later this week.
Meet the Teams
Cincinnati
Starting Lineup
F John Williamson (JR)
6-6 225 15.0 pts 8.2 rebs 1.5 asts 3.3 o-rebs 31 of 61 Fts (.508)
F
Cedric McGowan (SR) 6-6 230
9.6 pts
5.8 rebs 1.0 asts 12
blks 10 stls
F/C Marcus Sikes (JR) 6-8 235 9.3
pts 6.0 rebs 1.7 asts 12 of 32 (.375) 3-pts
G Jamual Warren
(JR) 6-2 200
9.2 pts 3.9
rebs 2.8 asts 37 asts/TOs 2.2
steals
G Deonta Vaughn(T-FR) 6-0 200
14.5 pts 3.7 rebs 4.5 asts 26 made-3pts 22 stls
*Noting the
Reserves
Expect up all four Bearcat reserves to
come off the bench and play relatively key minutes for the ‘Cats. The
defensive-minded Marvin Gentry, who can also be a deep-threat, played well for
UC in their loss to Ohio. Having played well as of recent (scoring
average up to 5.4), Gentry continued to show an ability to get in the lane and
take the ball to the rim, something he had been shying away from earlier in the
season. Back-up point guard Timmy
Crowell could also see extensive minutes if the porous defensive effort of
Warren and Vaughn continues to plague UC.
He has struggled offensively, but he has at least shown a desire to
perform consistently when given opportunities to play. With the unavailability of Barwin
involvement Ronald Allen, who has seen his involvement (and production) drop
since the return of football player to the hardwood, could be crucial. First-year head coach Mick Cronin has
had a short leash with the 6-9 often absent-minded big man. With the tendency of players such as
Williamson and Sikes to get in foul trouble, he could very well be asked to
apply major minutes to the UC attack.
In addition, walk-on Branden Miller will likely see his role continue to
grow exponentially during this contest. Miller could see five to 10 minutes of
action should Warren or Vaughn fail to bring effort to the
floor.
Memphis
Starting Lineup
G/F Chris Douglas-Roberts (SO) 6-6 190 15.8 pts 4.6 rebs
2.1 asts .552 FGs 38 made FTs
F
Robert Dozier (SO) 6-9 215
11.1 pts 6.0 rebs 1.2 asts 20 blks 16 stls
C
Joey Dorsey (JR) 6-9 260
7.6 pts 9.4 rebs 0.3 asts .633 FGs 27 blks
G
Antonio Anderson (SO) 6-6 200
8.9 pts 4.4 rebs 5.3 asts 24 stls .392
FGs
G
Willie Kemp (T-FR) 6-2 175 7.0 pts 3.1 rebs 3.4 asts .323 FGs 11 of 22
FTs
*Noting the Reserves
Unlike the Bearcats, the Tigers feature of
very sturdy bench that has arguably been more productive then their starting
group. In fact, two of their four leading scorers come off the bench; Jeremy Hunt (13.0) and Kareem Cooper (9.8).
In total, five Memphis players are averaging double-figure
minutes off the bench, two at 20 minutes per game. With the recent return of Cooper (5
games; 16.8 minutes), the Tigers have a bench that affords them not only scoring
threats off the bench, but also size, defensive prowess and on-court leadership
(Andre Allen, 44 asts in 12 games). The bench rotation Memphis utilizes is a
product of both the deep pool of talent accumulated by the Tigers through
recruiting that affords them the opportunity to remain fresh throughout the game, as
well as an overwhelmingly youthful roster.
Head coach John Calipari is able to go to the bench and spell a
struggling youngster (either mentally or physically), allowing a hot hand or a
player better in-tune with the flow of the action to take his place with a
relative degree of comfort. This is
something that has plagued the Cronin-led Bearcats all season long, as he has
been forced to ride weary, tired and overwhelmed newcomers for 30-plus minutes
per game.
Story Lines:
• Thursday’s game will be the Bearcats’
first true away contest of the season. UC has played 10 home games and is 1-3 in
three games played at neutral sites this season.
• Memphis is
Cincinnati’s
second Top 25-ranked opponent of the season. The Bearcats played then-No. 4
Ohio State on
Dec. 16.
• This will be Mick Cronin’s first game as head
coach vs. Memphis. Tigers mentor John Calipari is 2-7 vs.
Cincinnati, 2-5 while at Memphis and 0-2 as head coach at Massachusetts.
• Only two Bearcats who played in last year’s
Memphis contest,
Cedric McGowan and Ronald Allen, are on this year’s roster.
• UC forward Connor Barwin, also a tight end on
the Cincinnati
football team, will not be available for the game. Barwin is with the Bearcats
football team in Toronto for its Jan. 6
International Bowl contest vs. Western
Michigan.
Series History:
Last Time ‘Round
Memphis got
32 points from Antonio Anderson, whose previous scoring high was eight points,
to outscore Cincinnati, 91-81, on Dec. 3, 2005 in Fifth
Third Arena. The Tigers broke a 53-all tie with 7:53 to play in the second half
with an 11-2 scoring run.
Last Time Walking in Memphis
James White corralled an offensive rebound
and sank a jumper with 16.2 seconds to play to lift Cincinnati to a 62-60 win over Memphis at the FedEx Forum
on March 5, 2005. White hit the game-winner after Memphis’ Darius Washington had tied the game with 51 seconds
remaining. Jason Maxiell came up with a steal to end the Tigers’ hopes of a
game-winning shot.
Great ‘til the
End
Four of the last seven Cincinnati-Memphis
clashes have been decided in the final minute or in overtime, with the Bearcats
claiming all four of those games.
• In 2004-05, James White hit a jumper with 16.2
seconds to play to give UC a 62-60 win.
• In 2003-04, Tony Bobbitt’s 3-pointer with 36
seconds to play lifted UC to a two-point lead in an eventual 83-79 win.
• In 2001-02, Steve Logan drove the length of the
court to score on a layup with two seconds to play to send the game into
overtime, which UC won, 80-75.
• Kenny Satterfield’s jumper with .9 seconds left
gave Cincinnati
a 66-65 victory in 2000-01.
A
Lot on the Line:
Over the past 15 seasons, Cincinnati and Memphis have met in 11 contests which have
determined league titles or tourney advancement.
Mar. 6, 2004 Final regular season game. Cincinnati clinches a tie
for the C-USA title with an 83-79 win.
Mar. 3, 2002 Final regular season game. Cincinnati needed a win to
clinch the C-USA title outright. Memphis would tie with a win. UC 80, Memphis 75, ot.
Mar. 9, 2001 Semifinals of C-USA Tournament in Louisville. UC 89,
Memphis
79.
Feb. 29, 1996 Next-to-last regular season game. Teams
were tied for best C-USA record. UC 71, Memphis 66. UC lost to Marquette two days
later.
Mar. 10,1995 Semifinals of Great Midwest Conference
tourney. UC 77, Memphis 66.
Mar. 2, 1995 Next-to-last regular season game. Memphis clinches Great
Midwest title with an 83-73 win.
Mar. 12, 1994 Championship game of Great Midwest
Tournament. UC 68, Memphis 47.
Mar. 13, 1993 Championship game of Great Midwest
Tournament. UC 77, Memphis 72.
Mar. 7, 1992 Last game of regular season. UC clinches
co-championship with a 69-59 win.
Mar. 14, 1992 Championship game of Great Midwest
Tournament. UC 75, Memphis 63.
Mar. 29, 1992 NCAA Midwest Regional
final. UC 88, Memphis 57.