The University of Cincinnati men's basketball team has had trouble putting the ball in the basket of late.
After scoring a season-high 90 points in a 21-point win over Tulsa on Jan. 20, the Bearcats managed only 58 points five days later in a three-point loss at Temple.
More:Bearcats basketball game against Memphis postponed as winter storm approaches Cincinnati
Those 58 points on 20-of-68 (29%) shooting – 7-for-33 from 3-point range (21%) – were the fewest for Cincinnati this season.
Things didn't get much better Jan. 30 at East Carolina, as the Bearcats shot 6-for-27 (22%) from behind the arc and squandered two 12-point leads in the second half en route to a 60-59 win.
Cincinnati coach Wes Miller, who earned his 200th victory as a head coach in the win over the Pirates, said he needs to figure out how to restore his team's confidence offensively.
"We've got to get back to the drawing board and execute and get our guys playing with a little more pop," he said.
After inclement weather postponed Thursday's home game against Memphis (UC now will host the Tigers at 7 p.m. on Feb. 15), Miller and the Bearcats (15-6, 5-3 American Athletic Conference) will try to clear the offensive roadblock Sunday against No. 6 Houston.
More:What UC Bearcats offense will look like with Gino Guidugli running the show
The defending AAC champion Cougars (19-2, 8-0), who lead the conference in scoring offense (76.8 points per game) and scoring defense (56.5), are riding an 11-game winning streak.
THE GAME
Tipoff: 6 p.m. on Sunday at Fifth Third Arena
TV/Radio: ESPN2/WLW-AM (700)
Series info: Cincinnati and Houston are set to meet for the 42nd time, with the Bearcats owning a 33-8 advantage in the series. UC suffered two lopsided losses to the Cougars last season, including a 91-54 defeat in the 2021 AAC tournament championship game. Cincinnati is 17-1 at home all time against Houston.
SCOUTING REPORT
Houston (19-2, 8-0)
Coach: Kelvin Sampson, eighth season (186-66)
Offense: 76.8 ppg
Defense: 56.5 ppg
Projected lineup
Player (Position, Height, Key Stat)
Jamal Shead (G, 6'11", 5 apg, first in AAC)
Kyler Edwards (G, 6'4", 14.2 ppg)
Taze Moore (G, 6'5", 8.1 ppg)
Fabian White Jr. (F, 6'8", 11.5 ppg)
Josh Carlton (F/C, 6'10", 12 ppg)
Cincinnati (15-6, 5-3)
Coach: Wes Miller, first season (15-6)
Offense: 70.8 ppg
Defense: 62.5 ppg
Projected lineup
Player (Position, Height, Key Stat)
David DeJulius (G, 6’0", 13.4 ppg)
Mika Adams-Woods (G, 6’3”, 9.1 ppg)
John Newman III (G, 6’5”, 6.9 ppg)
Jeremiah Davenport (G, 6'7", 13.4 ppg)
Abdul Ado (F, 6’11”, 1.6 bpg)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Fabian White Jr.
The 6-foot-8, 230-pound graduate forward became the 49th player in the history of the Houston program to score 1,000 career points Wednesday in the Cougars' 73-62 win over Tulane. White had a game-high 21 points, which tied his career high, and seven rebounds.
Mika Adams-Woods
The 6-foot-3 junior guard scored a career-high 21 points the last time the Bearcats took the floor (Jan. 30 at ECU). Cincinnati is 7-2 this season when Adams-Woods scores in double figures. His 3.6 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks fourth nationally.
KEY TO THE GAME
Win the battle on the glass
Houston is the best rebounding team in the AAC. The Cougars have five players who average at least five rebounds per game. Connecticut graduate transfer Josh Carlton leads the team with 6.5 boards per outing, with a league-leading 3.4 of those coming on the offensive end.
The Cougars average nearly 40 rebounds per game. That's more than seven total rebounds more per contest than their opponents. Both stats lead the American.
RANKINGS
KenPom.com: Houston (6); Cincinnati (74)
NET: Houston (2); Cincinnati (67)
RPI: Houston (13); Cincinnati (88)
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