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Two Cents & Sense: Thoughts on Cincinnati vs SMU

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[photo by Matt Allaire | OhVarsity!]

[photo by Matt Allaire | OhVarsity!]

The Bearcats ticked off the first box on their AAC Tournament journey on Friday, earning a sleepy 61-51 win over the hobbled SMU Mustangs. With a bigger game looming tomorrow, I won't write much about what happened in this one, but here it is:

Highs:

Jarron Cumberland was great, despite shooting 0-for-4 and scoring zero points. The sophomore continued his largely-unheralded tear by grabbing five boards and dishing out eight assists in the win. He's the last thing you'll notice on the box score and he was instrumental on a day in which the Bearcats didn't have much going. These types of performances bode well for his future at Cincinnati because they've taught him how to be a complete player. With fewer scoring opportunities this season, given UC's strength at the top of its lineup, he's been great at finding other ways to impart his will on games.

Kyle Washington is back. After a tough (but still impactful) outing in Wichita, Kyle led UC on Friday with 15 points and seven rebounds. The Bearcats had no outside game to speak of, and Kyle's off-kilter brand of post moves were back to doing the trick after they weren't quite falling in Kansas. 

Gary Clark had a double-double. He is a problem.

 
 

Cane Broome is really, really good and his play in the last few weeks has my mouth watering. He's exactly what the Bearcats will need down the home stretch. He's been in uniform for just 32 games as a Bearcat, yet I already struggle to remember life without him. A few years ago (or even last year) I'd have killed for a player who could simply go get buckets. Now they have one and he's cresting at the perfect moment. 

 
 
 
 

Lows:

Evans was a ghost, largely. He couldn't quite put it together Friday, but fortunately Mick got him some rest. The junior played just 24 minutes, chipping in some production in the form of three rebounds and a pair of assists to go with just two points on 1-for-4 shooting. Jake will obviously be instrumental later this weekend and into the tourney, but I know better than to freak out over one (bizarre) game, especially after the display he put on against the Shockers.

Friday was nothing more than a stepping stone on Cincinnati's road to Selection Sunday. With the last two seed up for grabs the Bearcats are in good shape. Win Saturday and they should be all but locked into that spot.

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Spencer Tuckerman

Cincinnati’s hometown hero. The new 247Sports ratings are out, and 2020 #Bearcats commit Evan Prater is making history in Clifton.
University of Cincinnati’s home from 1875-1895, next to Bellevue Incline. [photo taken in 1906, Detroit Publishing Company] #Bearcats
Almost Cam Jefferies SZN.
Bring back the script we had on the ‘70s basketball uniforms. (Or someone at least find me a good photo.) #Bearcats
AAC Media Days are next Monday and Tuesday! Joining Fickell are Bryan Wright, Josiah Deguara, Chris Ferguson, and Morgan James. #Bearcats
51 days until the 6’9” German is patrolling the line of scrimmage. Ich liebe Deutschland, baby. #Bearcats
🔜
The 1997 Bearcats football season ticket ad was awesome.
🐐 Oscar Robertson after a workout at UC in 1958. He told reporters he kept a basketball in his dorm room “cause sometimes I just feel like dribbling.”
November 18, 2006 | Mark Dantonio and the Bearcats take down #7 Rutgers. [photos: gobearcats.com]
The world’s greatest Skyline location opened in 1966. This ad, perfect in every way, ran in the UC yearbook a year later.
Semi-annual ‘90s (pre-Jordan) uniform appreciation post. [via Getty Images - bonus ‘96 Paul Pierce on slide 2]