Though Senior Day is a little different in the era of the NCAA transfer portal, Sunday is the regular season swan song for some University of Cincinnati basketball Bearcats who are out of eligibility. While others could leave, the following Bearcats will be acknowledged in front of the Fifth Third Arena crowd Sunday afternoon before the SMU game: David DeJulius, Rob Phinisee and Kalu Ezikpe.
They are the three who have no eligibility left after this season.
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"I think that's the way to approach it given these times," UC coach Wes Miller said. "It's the guys that have no eligibility and have no more opportunity to come back and put that jersey on. Let's recognize them for that last time they'll be on the floor at Fifth Third."
David DeJulius
DeJulius has been a model of consistency and a role model in his three years as a Bearcat. After 56 games in two seasons at Michigan, he has played 138 for UC, largely as a starter. He averaged 9.1 points per game in his inaugural year under John Brannen, then 14.5 and 14.6, respectively, the last two seasons playing for Wes Miller.
"What he's meant to this program the last three years is hard to describe in words," Miller said. "David's really embraced impacting this community. I get voicemails and emails weekly about things that he's done that he wasn't told to do. Showing up at an elementary school to work with kids, it's incredible some of the impact he's had off the floor. I think our fans know that about him and they'll come out and support him in a way he deserves to be supported."
Rob Phinisee
Phinisee transferred after four seasons at Indiana and was figured to be a contributor. Unfortunately, he suffered a foot fracture early in the season and was out from Dec. 4 to Jan. 22. When he returned, he was able to help the Bearcats defensively but was injured again at Tulane Feb. 7. After leaving Fogelman Arena on crutches, he was declared out for the season with a lower-body injury.
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"There's no way to make it sound better than it is," Miller said of the injured Phinisee. "Rob is a guy that had he had the opportunity to get out there and compete more in front of our fans, I think people would have really related well to how he approached the game and what he was about. What he was about was all the little dirty winning stuff that you've got to do to be successful. We got to see that a lot more than our fans did because we had him in quite a few practices."
Kalu Ezikpe
The 6-foot-8, 240-pound Ezikpe was brought in after four years at Old Dominion to help with frontcourt depth. A starter the last two seasons for the Monarchs in Conference USA, Ezikpe was a bench player until called upon to start three games after Lakhin rolled an ankle at Tulane. At UCF, he had a season-high 12 points in UC's overtime victory.
"It's one of the great things about this program, the support and the people," Miller said of what lies ahead for the departing trio. "I know they'll honor those three guys."
UC vs. SMU preview
Tip: 2 p.m. Sunday, March 5, Fifth Third Arena (12,012)
TV/Radio: ESPN+/WLW-AM (700)
Series info: Cincinnati leads 17-6
SMU Mustangs scouting report
SMU 10-20 (5-12 AAC)
Coach: Rob Lanier (10-20.first season)
Offense: 70.1 ppg
Defense: 74.8 ppg
Projected lineup
(Position, Height, Stats)
Samuell Williamson (F, 6'8",9.3 ppg)
Efe Odige (F, 6'8", 11/4 ppg)
Zhurice Phelps (G, 6'5",17.4 ppg)
Zach Nutall (G, 6'4",13.4 ppg)
Jalen Smith (G, 6'4",4.4 ppg)
Cincinnati Bearcats scouting report
Cincinnati (19-11, 10-7 AAC)
Coach: Wes Miller (37-26, second season)
Offense: 77.3 ppg
Defense: 69.6 ppg
Projected lineup
(Position, Height, Stats)
Landers Nolley II (G/F, 6'7", 16.3 ppg)
David DeJulius (G, 6', 14.6 ppg)
Viktor Lakhin (F, 6'11", 12.3 ppg)
Mika Adams-Woods (G, 6'3", 9.0 ppg)
Ody Oguama (F, 6'9", 5.2 ppg)
Players to watch
Zhuric Phelps
The former Texas Mr. Basketball leads the Mustangs in scoring at over 17 points per game. Phelps had a season-high 28 points to start the season against Texas A&M–Commerce. His AAC high is 26 against Wichita State. Against the Bearcats on Jan. 14, Phelps was held to 11 points on 5-for-18 shooting and missed all three of his three-point attempts.
David DeJulius
While you could see DeJulius again at Fifth Third Arena in a possible NIT game, as things stand now, this is his last regular-season game on the floor. He came to the Bearcats after two seasons at Michigan and has started every game outside of three in his initial 2020-21 season. He has steadily improved his game going from nine points per game in his first UC season to over 14 per game the past two seasons. He's improved his three-point percentage from 20% to 30% to almost 40% this season. He's also been the AAC assist leader this season and joined the 1,000-point club (at UC) earlier during the year.
Keys to the game
Keep your composure
Though emotions will be running high, SMU also has scholarship players and gave UC all it could handle earlier in the year in Dallas. It's a pivotal game for the Bearcats in terms of AAC tournament seeding and their post-season resumé. Losing on Senior Day is a memory no player ever wants. UC last won 20 games on March 7, 2020, when they defeated Temple 64-63 to finish 20-10. Soon after the AAC tournament was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Hope Lakhin blocks 'em
Jan. 14 in Dallas, Lakhin was held to six points at SMU. However, he was one of three Bearcats in double figures in rebounds with 10 and he blocked a season-high eight shots. As long as he can stay out of foul trouble, Lakhin is an issue in the paint even if he doesn't get a hand on the ball.
It may not be the last time at Fifth Third Arena
UC in all likelihood must run the table in the AAC tournament for an NCAA bid. Should they fail, they could wind up in the NIT, possibly hosting a game that would give fans and players at least another home game. Among those that predict such things, UC is either a No. 5 NIT seed, a No. 6 seed or one of the first four teams bounced out of the tournament which culminates in Las Vegas this year March 28-30.
Ratings
NCAA NET: Cincinnati is No. 79, SMU is No. 200
KenPom.com: Cincinnati is No. 65, SMU is No. 179
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