The top five seeds in next month's 11-team American Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament will receive a first-round bye.
If the tournament started Wednesday (it starts March 10), the University of Cincinnati would be outside of the top five spots in the seventh hole.
More:'We've just got to get back to playing Cincinnati basketball': UC vows to finish strong
The team one spot ahead of UC (17-10, 7-7) in the AAC standings with four games left is Central Florida. The Knights (16-9, 8-7), featuring reigning AAC Freshman of the Week Darius Johnson (11.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists over the last three games), are looking to capture their third win in four games and keep the Bearcats from snatching one of those five byes.
The two teams square off Wednesday night at Central Florida.
THE GAME
Tipoff: 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 23, at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, Florida.
TV/Radio: ESPNU/WLW-AM (700)
Series info: Cincinnati and UCF are set to meet for the 17th time, with the Bearcats owning a 12-4 advantage in the series. The teams split the two meetings last season, including a 75-71 UC loss in Orlando.
SCOUTING REPORT
Cincinnati (17-10, 7-7)
Coach: Wes Miller, first season (17-10)
Offense: 71.2 ppg
Defense: 65.4 ppg
Projected lineup
Player (Position, Height, Key Stat)
David DeJulius (G, 6’0", 14.7 ppg)
Mika Adams-Woods (G, 6’3”, 9.1 ppg)
John Newman III (G, 6’5”, 6.6 ppg)
Jeremiah Davenport (G, 6'7", 13.8 ppg)
Abdul Ado (F, 6’11”, 1.6 bpg)
Central Florida (16-9, 8-7)
Coach: Johnny Dawkins, sixth season (110-69)
Offense: 70.1 ppg
Defense: 67.5 ppg
Projected lineup
Player (Position, Height, Key Stat)
Darius Perry (G, 6'2", 11.2 ppg)
Darin Green Jr. (G, 6'5", 13.6 ppg)
Brandon Mahan (G, 6'5", 10.6 ppg)
C.J. Walker (F, 6'8", 7.9 ppg)
Cheikh Mbacke Diong (F, 6'11", 5.8 rpg)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jeremiah Davenport
Davenport had 24 points on Sunday, matching his season-high and jersey number. The Moeller High School graduate scored 17 of those in the second half, as Cincinnati's late rally against Temple fell short. If UC is going to escape Orlando with a victory, Davenport needs to be aggressive throughout, take sound shots and stay engaged defensively even if his first couple of attempts don't fall.
Darin Green Jr.
The 6-foot-5-inch guard has the size and versatility to be a matchup nightmare for an inconsistent Cincinnati team. Green, a three-level scorer, is averaging a team-high 13.6 points per game. He led all Knights with 19 in a 69-66 come-from-behind win over East Carolina on Sunday.
KEY TO THE GAME
Chase Green off the 3-point line
Green has made more 3-pointers (70) this season than any other player in the AAC. His last 3-point shot sealed UCF's victory over ECU on Sunday.
Green is shooting more than 39% from behind the arc, third-best in the conference, and has hit five or more 3-pointers in six different games this season. The Bearcats can't let the junior guard have clean looks at the rim from distance.
RANKINGS
KenPom.com: Cincinnati (91); UCF (101)
NET: Cincinnati (88); UCF (92)
RPI: Cincinnati (124); UCF (86)
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