Over the course of the next two weeks, College Basketball Talk will be detailing what some of the country’s best, most intriguing, and thoroughly enigmatic teams need. It’s the spirit of the holidays. We’re in a giving mood.
What do other teams have on their Christmas Wish Lists? Click here to find out.
Gotta have it list-topper: Titus Rubles is the fourth scoring option
In Sean Kilpatrick, Cashmere Wright and JaQuon Parker the Bearcats have a very good perimeter trio on which to rely. However, when considering the fact that Mick Cronin’s big men aren’t serious interior scoring threats, the Bearcats need a fourth perimeter factor to emerge. Enter Titus Rubles, who is averaging 8.1 points in just under 20 minutes of action per game. In the Bearcats’ three toughest games to date (Iowa State, Oregon and Alabama) the Blinn College transfer averaged 11.0 points and 4.7 rebounds per contest, but he shot a combined 4-of-13 in wins over Arkansas-Little Rock and Maryland-Eastern Shore. If Cincinnati is to get back to the Sweet 16 (or go even further) they’ll need consistent production from Rubles.
Stocking stuffer: Cleaning the glass at a higher rate
Cincinnati has been the best team in the Big East when it comes to attacking the offensive boards, as they’re corralling a league-best 42.2% of their missed shots. But the Bearcats have been a middle of the pack squad when it comes to keeping opponents from doing the same, as their defensive rebounding percentage ranks seventh in the conference (70.6%). With the bulk of the scoring coming from the perimeter, players such as Justin Jackson (6.2 rpg), Cheikh Mbodj (4.9) and David Nyarsuk (4.4) will have to lead the way on the boards. It does help matters that Kilpatrick (6.1 rpg), Rubles (5.4) and Parker (4.6) are all good rebounders, but those big men will be needed if Cincinnati is to make waves in both Big East play and March.
Planning on re-gifting: Non-conference strength of schedule
According to realtimerpi.com the Bearcats enter Friday with a strength of schedule ranking of 246, while Yahoo! Sports calculations have them sitting at a slightly better ranking of 223. But with wins over Iowa State and Oregon (that win over Alabama may take a hit due to the Crimson Tide’s injury issues) and a game against Xavier on the horizon, the are some solid results on Cincinnati’s resume. Conference play will give those numbers the boost they need to look good come Selection Sunday, but you have to wonder if the non-conference number could cost Cincinnati a seed line when the time comes.
Raphielle also writes for the NBE Basketball Report and can be followed on Twitter at @raphiellej.