Cats 2-0 in Big East, Big Monday next

Hunter Tickel | The News Record
The University of Cincinnati men’s team is almost halfway through its season, but the daunting Big East schedule has just begun.

UC knocked off in-state rival Miami just as students were leaving for break.

Then came the Crosstown Shootout at the Cintas Center against Xavier. The Bearcats dropped a double-overtime thriller against the Muskies 83-79.

Then UC hit the road to play the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The Bearcats couldn’t keep up and UAB won by 17, handing the Bearcats their second-consecutive loss.

“We have played a tougher schedule,” said head coach Mick Cronin. “Who in the Big East played back-to-back road games against Xavier and UAB? We played three great neutral site games. We have already shown that our guys will compete at a high level.”
UC returned home and easily took care of Lipscomb and Winthrop just before Christmas in the final tune ups before Big East play.

Then came a season highlight when the Cats opened conference play in Fifth Third Arena in front of more than 10,000 fans with a 71-69 victory against No. 10 Connecticut. Freshman guard Lance Stephenson won the game when he knocked down two free throws with .7 seconds remaining giving UC its third win of the season against a top-25 team.

The Bearcats maintained momentum when they traveled to New Jersey for the final game of Winter break to face Rutgers.

Despite being down five points at halftime, UC rallied and beat the Scarlet Knights
65-58.

The bench made all the difference against Rutgers, scoring 34 points versus 31 points from the starters.

“That was the difference in the game, our second unit came in the game and got us the lead,” Cronin said. “We went from down to tied or down to up. The bench takes effect now, here on out for the rest of the season.”

The win gave UC (10-3, 2-0 Big East) a share of first place in the conference and matched the school’s best start in league play since 2005-06.

“We’re a team that is recruited to be a big strong, athletic team,” Cronin said. “We have to play that way. We’re as big and strong as any team in America.”

Next up, the Cats will be featured on ESPN’s Big Monday. First place in the Big East will be up for grabs when Pittsburgh (12-2, 2-0) comes to Fifth Third Arena, 7 p.m., Jan. 4.

Pittsburgh enters Monday’s game fresh off a 10-point win at then undefeated Syracuse. A win would give the Bearcats its first 3-0 start in the Big East.

“For three years since I got the job, it’s the chicken and the egg when you’re trying to rebuild a program and they don’t want to put you on Big Monday,” Cronin said. “I have been lobbying and fighting hard to the conference office to get Big Monday and the eyes of the basketball world on Monday night will be on Fifth Third Arena so we need to pack the arena.”