UC and G-Twon in the Snow

by B. Clifton Burke

The University of Cincinnati men’s basketball team stand to gain some national recognition if they can beat a talented, but struggling Georgetown University team at 5/3 Arena on Wednesday night.

“We have ten opponents left in the Big East, we beat seven of those teams last season,” said Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin.

The ‘Cats (13-7, 3-4 Big East) return home from a three-game road-trip where they managed wins over DePaul and St. John’s. Conversely, the Hoyas (12-6, 3-4 Big East) have dropped five of their last seven games and are currently on a three-game skid; the last of which came from Seton Hall – a team previously winless in the Big East.

“In this conference, you’re always a week away from a three-game losing streak,” Cronin said. “It’s just life in the Big East.”

Georgetown provides a balanced scoring attack with four players averaging double-digit figures. Among them is freshman forward/center Greg Monroe; the newest addition to a long list of talented big men to have played at Georgetown. Monroe has impressed so far, ranking in the Big East top-20 in four categories (rebounding, field-goal percentage, steals and blocks) and averaging 13.3 points a game.

“You always look forward to playing against guys who are as skilled and athletic as him,” said UC freshman forward Yancy Gates of his matchup with Monroe.

Gates joined Greg Monroe as two of the best freshman big men to enter the Big East this season. Monroe has had better numbers early on, but Gates is playing well after his 11-point performance against St. John’s. Barring foul trouble, Gates could frustrate Monroe on both ends of the court.

Monroe is complimented by forward DaJuan Summers who leads Georgetown in scoring (15.1) and shoots 39 percent from 3-point range.

“There team is built around a Princeton-style offense that relies on making shots and spreading the other team out, and causes a lot of problems when they take the ball to the basket,” Cronin explained of Georgetown.

Before following in his father’s footsteps by coaching at Georgetown, John Thompson III both played and coached at Princeton where he learned the methodical offense his team runs today. As a result, the Hoyas have made field goals at 47 percent, but only shoot 32 percent from long range; 10th in the Big East.

“They’re an unconventional team offensively, and it’s something we’ll have to be prepared to deal with,” said Cronin.

Despite the inside presence of Monroe, Georgetown ranks last in offensive and 12th in defensive rebounding. The Princeton-style offense and the Hoyas’ lack of size, combine to make second-chance points almost non-existent within Thompson’s scheme. UC should be able to gain the rebounding advantage in this situation.

“It’s probably a result from playing a perimeter oriented line-up,” Cronin said of Georgetown’s low rebounding numbers. “I think it’s going to be very important for us to dominate the offensive glass in this game.”

While Deonta Vaughn’s scoring average is down a couple of points from last season’s, he’s still in the conference’s top-10 in assists, free-throw percentage, 3-pointers made and minutes played. His mission to involve other players continues to benefit sophomore swingman Rashad Bishop, who posted a career-high 15 points in the win over St. John’s. Bishop has shot well since Big East play, now converting 44 percent of his field goals and 40 percent of his threes.

“He’s more aggressive and he’s getting himself to the paint on the dribble,” said Cronin. “It’s something he’s worked extremely hard on in the last two weeks. He did a great job against St. John’s and really kept us in that game.”

With a win, UC can break even at .500 in conference play for the first time this season. The Bearcats will next travel to Philadelphia to take on Villanova on Sunday afternoon.