With just five games remaining until the start of the American Athletic Conference Tournament, University of Cincinnati men's basketball coach Wes Miller is still trying to instill a "winning mentality" in his players.
After losing two straight and four of its last six, Miller's Bearcats got back in the win column Thursday night with an 85-76 victory over Wichita State. UC needed a season-best shooting performance to put away the Shockers.
PHOTOS: Bearcats men's basketball takes on Wichita State Shockers at Fifth Third, Feb. 17
Cincinnati shot 55% from the field and 58% from 3-point range.
The first loss in Cincinnati's recent downward stretch came Jan. 25 at Temple. The Owls closed the game on a 7-0 run to snatch a 61-58 win away from the Bearcats and snap UC's then-three-game winning streak.
Cincinnati (17-9, 7-6) can get revenge on Temple (14-9, 7-5) and even up the regular-season series Sunday at Fifth Third Arena.
"We've got to come out, punch first and just stay aggressive," UC guard Mika Adams-Woods said. "Just guard and defend, because when we defend, we're one of the best defensive teams in the country."
THE GAME
Tipoff: 2 p.m. on Sunday at Fifth Third Arena
TV/Radio: ESPN2/WLW-AM (700)
Series info: Cincinnati and Temple are set to meet for the 37th time, with the Bearcats owning a 26-10 advantage in the series. UC had won nine straight against the Owls before last month's loss. The last four meetings have been decided by nine combined points.
SCOUTING REPORT
Temple (14-9, 7-5)
Coach: Aaron McKie, third season (33-37)
Offense: 67 ppg
Defense: 65.6 ppg
Projected lineup
Player (Position, Height, Key Stat)
Hysier Miller (G, 6'1", 2.9 ppg)
Jahlil White (G, 6'7", 5.7 rpg)
Nick Jourdain (F, 6'8", 5.7 rpg)
Quincy Ademokoya (G, 6'6", 2.1 ppg)
Arashma Parks (F, 6'8", 2.8 rpg)
Cincinnati (17-9, 7-6)
Coach: Wes Miller, first season (17-9)
Offense: 71.2 ppg
Defense: 65 ppg
Projected lineup
Player (Position, Height, Key Stat)
David DeJulius (G, 6’0", 14.7 ppg)
Mika Adams-Woods (G, 6’3”, 9.3 ppg)
John Newman III (G, 6’5”, 6.5 ppg)
Jeremiah Davenport (G, 6'7", 13.4 ppg)
Abdul Ado (F, 6’11”, 1.7 bpg)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Tai Strickland
The sophomore guard, who started his career at Wisconsin, scored a career-high 27 points in 28 minutes off the bench to lead Temple past SMU 64-57 on Wednesday. Strickland scored 21 of his points in the second half, including 18 in the final six minutes.
John Newman III
Newman has been the glue guy for Cincinnati this season. The Clemson transfer can guard multiple positions and was key in the Bearcats' win Thursday night. The senior swingman scored 13 points before leaving with an ankle injury he suffered while landing awkwardly following a dunk.
"My guess is that will be a while," Miller said of Newman's recovery. "... You never know the night it happens, but he was struggling to walk on it after the game. And it's probably swelling up on him pretty good. I've been around this a long time. Ankle sprains, when you can't walk, that's not a very good sign."
UC is 4-2 in the six games this season Newman scored in double figures. If he can't go Sunday and misses an extended period of time, an already shaky season for Cincinnati could get even shakier down the homestretch.
More:'We've just got to get back to playing Cincinnati basketball': UC vows to finish strong
KEY TO THE GAME
Rebound
This is a common key for the Bearcats, but it's especially crucial against the Owls. Temple had 50 total rebounds against Cincinnati in last month's meeting. Strickland had 10. Nick Jourdain had five on the offensive end. UC can't afford to get bullied on the boards, again.
RANKINGS
KenPom.com: Temple (128); Cincinnati (85)
NET: Temple (118); Cincinnati (83)
RPI: Temple (117); Cincinnati (118)
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