Top 65 Team Previews: #60 Cincinnati
Yancy Gates will try to lead Cincinnati to the NCAA tournament. (Icon SMI)
By Steven Jung
sjung851@yahoo.com
Monday, July 19, 2010
Cincinnati Bearcats
Last Season: 19-16 (7-11)
Key Losses: Lance Stephenson, Deonta Vaughn, Steve Toyloy
Head Coach: Mick Cronin
Projected Starting Lineup:
PG: Cashmere Wright 6-0 So.
SG: Jaquon Parker 6-2 So.
SF: Rashad Bishop 6-6 Sr.
PF: Yancy Gates 6-9 Jr.
C: Ibrahima Thomas 6-11 Jr.
Key Reserves: Dion Dixon 6-3 Jr. SG, Darnell Wilks 6-7 Sr. PF, Larry Davis 6-3 Sr. SG, Anthony McClain 7-0 C Sr., Sean Kilpatrick 6-4 SG Fr., Kelvin Gaines 6-10 C Fr., Justin Jackson 6-8 PF Fr.
Cincinnati definitely had an interesting offseason centered on guard Lance Stephenson (12.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.5 apg). Stephenson was one of the most documented freshmen last year and was expected to make the Bearcats an NCAA tournament-caliber team. It did not pan out for Cincinnati as it instead made the NIT. Stephenson had a solid year for a rookie, but was somewhat disappointing knowing his reputation. He shot just 22 percent from 3-point territory. Following a sub-par year to his standards, he said, "Hey, you know what? I don't think I'm quite as ready as people think I am." However, on April 7, Stephenson declared for the NBA draft and hired an agent. His decision didn’t turn out quite as well as he wanted to, as the Indiana Pacers selected him in the 2nd round, 40th overall.
It appeared the way it played in the non-conference that Cincinnati would be an NCAA tournament team for the first time since 2005. In the Maui Invitational, the Bearcats picked up wins over No. 24 Vanderbilt and No. 22 Maryland before falling to Gonzaga by two points in the championship game. They were ranked as high as 19 during the non-conference. They were 14-7 (5-4) before the wheels fell off. The Bearcats finished the regular season losing seven of nine and were 16-14 (7-11) at regular season’s end. They would need to win the Big East tournament to get into the NCAA tournament but fell in the quarterfinals to West Virginia thanks to a Da’Sean Butler banked 3-pointer at the buzzer. Cincinnati would qualify for the NIT, but got dominated in the second round by Dayton, 81-66.
Along with the loss of Stephenson, Cincinnati will have to replace another quality backcourt player in Deonta Vaughn (11.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.5 apg). Vaughn’s production fell from his sophomore and junior seasons, but it is always difficult to replace a full backcourt. Also gone from last year’s squad is center Steve Toyloy (3.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg). Toyloy started 16 games for Cincinnati last season. The Bearcats bring in a pair of freshmen in center Kelvin Gaines and power forward Justin Jackson. Sean Kilpatrick is a redshirt freshman.
Cincinnati’s best returning player in junior power forward Yancy Gates (10.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg). Gates had a very good freshman year, but he did not get to the next level many people thought he would last year. With Vaughn and Stephenson not being on the team, the offense should run through Gates more. His production should be very strong. He will need to improve his rebounding as he averaged just 9.3 rebounds per 40 minutes.
At point guard, the Bearcats will start sophomore Cashmere Wright (5.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.0 apg). Wright was a redshirt freshman last year and really struggled. He shot just 36 percent overall and 26 percent from 3-point territory. Sophomore Jaquon Parker (4.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg) might be the best option for the shooting guard position. He had a solid freshman season, making 36 percent of his 3-pointers, which was second on the team. Cincinnati shot just 29 percent from 3-point territory as a team last year, so expect it to start one of its few players that can knock down shots relatively consistently. The lone senior starter in the lineup will be small forward Rashad Bishop (8.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg). Bishop had a very good year, making 50 percent overall. He will need to improve upon his 57 percent free throw shooting from last year. Rounding out the starting lineup will be junior center Ibrahima Thomas (5.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg). Thomas transferred from Oklahoma State. The Bearcats are hoping an extra year playing in the system will aid in his development. He did not have a good year last season, shooting a very poor 38 percent from the field.
Cincinnati does not have overwhelming depth but the Bearcats have solid players off the bench in junior guard Dion Dixon (4.9 ppg, 2.0 rpg) and senior forward Darnell Wilks (3.4 ppg, 1.9 rpg). Without question, Cincinnati will depend on its freshmen to provide extra depth.
Cincinnati’s biggest issue last year was its offense. The Bearcats shot just 43 percent overall, 29 percent from 3-point territory, and 64 percent from the free throw line. Nationally, they ranked 114th overall in offensive efficiency, third worst in the Big East. For the most part, their other numbers were pretty good. They rebounded well, had more assists than turnovers, and were decent defensively. They need to find a way to put the ball in the basket more efficiently. Losing Vaughn and Stephenson might, in fact, help that. Vaughn shot just 38 percent last year and Stephenson’s 44 percent shooting was not overly impressive either. If Cincinnati figures out ways to get Gates touches, their offense will fare much better.
This is an important year for head coach Mick Cronin. This is his fifth season and he is without an NCAA tournament berth during his tenure there. The Bearcats have also failed to be a .500 conference team and their highest conference finish has been 10th under Cronin. Though it is probably not an NCAA tournament or bust year for him, improvement will be needed for Cronin to be safe.
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