Preview: Kansas at Cincinnati

by Ryan Roberts January 11, 2025

After three games within Big 12 play, Cincinnati finds itself trying to end a three-game losing streak following a 68-48 loss at Baylor Tuesday night.

The Bearcats have gotten off to slow starts in all three games and are struggling to find an offensive identity and rhythm.

Including Tuesday's 6-of-12 shooting performance from the free throw line and 8-of-23 showing from deep against Baylor, the Bearcats are now 18-of-35 on free throws and 13-of-48 from 3-point range over the last two games.

"You're going to hit a tough stretch in this league. Everybody in this league is going to hit that. It's part of college basketball. It's part of high-level competition," UC head coach Wes Miller told media Thursday. " Going into the year, I went 'when we do, we're going to be okay because of who I have in the locker room, because of the character of those kids. Everybody said 'I got good kids- no I got high character guys that are bought into this place and they want to win."

"The challenge right now isn't to point fingers because it is not that simple," Miller responded when asked about point guard production. "No one person or one issue that can explain not playing well over the last three games. We need all of our guys to raise their level."

UC will have to figure things out in a hurry with No. 11 Kansas visiting Fifth Third Arena Saturday afternoon for a 2 pm tipoff that will be broadcast on ESPN+.

The Jayhawks were picked as the preseason favorite to win the Big 12 and were also voted preseason #1 in the AP Top 25 Poll.

After losing their Big 12 home opener to West Virginia, 62-61, for the first time since 1991, Bill Self's team went on the road and made a statement in a 99-48 win at UCF.

Kansas (11-3) found themselves trailing by six at home in their next game against Arizona State, but outscored the Sun Devils 38-13 in the second half to claim a 74-55 win.

KU currently ranks 9th in both Kenpom and the NET ratings, and are one of eleven teams to rank in the top 25 in both offensive efficiency (25th) and defensive efficiency (4th).

The Jayhawks average 78.9 points per game and have a +15.3 scoring margin. KU pulls down 39.6 rebounds per contest with a +7.2 rebound margin. Kansas is making 48.8% from the field, which is third in the Big 12 and 35th nationally, including 34.8% from three-point range. KU ranks second in the Big 12 and seventh nationally in field goal percentage defense at 37.3% and second in the league, eighth nationally in assists average at 18.7. KU also averages 7.2 steals and 5.1 blocked shots per game.

While Kansas seems to be getting back to the team that many predicted them to be during the preseason, Bill Self says his team still has plenty of motivation coming into Saturday's game against the Bearcats.

" Well they kicked our ass last year. We weren't whole. We didn't have Hunt. We didn't have Kevin but they got a good team," Self told media following the win over Arizona State. "You understand just 10 days ago they ranked 15th in the country. (This) league's good.... They got a good team and Wes has done a great job. We're going to have to play, from an energy standpoint, like we have the last two games in order to have a good shot. "

Self was referring to the Bearcats 72-52 win over the Jayhawks during the Big 12 Tournament when describing the last match up between the two teams. Earlier in the season, playing on Big Monday inside Allen Fieldhouse, Kansas defeated Cincinnati 74-69.

"Last year they certainly got the best of us adding those two games together," said Self.

While there is plenty of respect from Self for what Wes Miller has built at Cincinnati, Miller knows the challenge that enters Fifth Third Arena Saturday afternoon.

"They're the oldest team in the country. The most experienced team in the country. They're a national championship contender," said Miller. "They're as deep as I've seen a college basketball team in recent memory. It's truly remarkable at every single position.

Miller went on to describe the challenges that Kansas presents that make them such a difficult match up.

"They play a style of play that puts a lot of pressure on you in transition. They put pressure on you at the rim. They have terrific rim presence defensively and they don't make it easy to score early in possessions. They were considered one of the best teams in college basketball going into the year, they're still considered that now, so they present a world of challenges."

Kansas by the numbers:

Effective FG%: 54.6 (54th)
Turnover%: 14.9 (31st)
Off Reb %: 24.3 (12th- Defensively)
3P %: 34.8 (103rd)
2P %: 55.7 (64th)
FT %: 75.1 (76th)
Block %: 7.8 (74th)
Steal %: 9.0 (111th)
D1 Experience: 3.55 yrs (1st)

Players to know:

7'2" GR F Hunter Dickinson (15.9 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 2.4 ast)

A two-time Consensus All-America Second Team selection, Dickinson entered this season as a Preseason All American and Preseason Conference Player of the Year selection. Dickinson's eight double-doubles this season ranks seventh nationally, while his 10.4 rebounds per game is second in the Big 12 and 13th nationally. Dickinson also leads KU with 23 blocked shots and he is second on the team with 21 steals.

A strong, physical center that can score the basketball in a variety of ways, he excels in scoring in the low post and has shown the ability to be a solid shooter off the catch. Defensively, he has improved as shot blocker and has recorded three or more blocks in five games this season, including the last two against Arizona State and UCF.

6'4" Sr G Zeke Mayo (14.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.3 apg

A Lawrence native, Mayo is in year on as a Jayhawk after an outstanding career at South Dakota State. Mayo was a two-time All-Summit League selection and the league’s player of the year in 2024. Last season at South Dakota State, Mayo led the Summit League in three-point field goal percentage at 39.1% and three-point field goals made per game at 2.6.

Mayo has really elevated his game lately, scoring 23 or more points in four of the last five games, including a season high 27-point effort against West Virginia. Mayo leads the KU starters in three-point shooting, converting 38.3 % of his attempts. He has made a team-high 31 threes and is second on the team with 46 assists. Mayo has the ability to create for himself and score from all three levels, and has also proven to be a good positional rebounder.

6'2" Gr PG Dajuan Harris ( 10.3 ppg, 5.6 apg, 2.3 rpg)

One of the best defenders in the conference, as well as the country, Harris is a three-time All-Big 12 selection and three-time Big 12 All-Defensive Team honoree, which also included 2023 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.

Harris has struggled from three so far, shooting a career low 30.3% from deep, but has made 19-of-22 attempts from the free throw line and is currently second on the team in free throw shooting at 86.4%. Harris is first in the Big 12 in assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.90, which is seventh nationally, and third in the conference in assists per game at 5.6, which is 39th nationally.

6'7" Sr F KJ Adams (8.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.2 apg)

Adams has seen his offensive production slip some this season, after averaging double figures during his sophomore and junior seasons. Adams has made 53.3% of his field goal attempts this season, and currently ranks third on the Kansas career field goal percentage record at 60.7%.

The Texas native is explosive going to the rim and plays with power and aggression at both ends of the floor. Adams has only scored in double figures five times this season but has 31 assists and 14 blocked shots. Adams scored in double figures both games against UC last season, including a team-high 22 points in the Jayhawks loss to UC in the Big 12 tournament.

6'6" Jr G Rylan Griffen (7.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.1 apg)

Griffen was a starter on Alabama's Final Four team last season and was one of their biggest offensive threats, making 39.2% of his shots from deep and finishing second on the team with 74 three-point field goals.

The Dallas product hasn't been consistent with his game-to-game production, but is making a career high 46.6% of his field goal attempts, as well as 38.3% from three on 47 attempts. Griffen is a solid playmaker and defender and has shown the ability to create for himself at times.

6'7" JR G AJ Storr (7.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.0 apg)

Storr was a Big East All Freshman Team Selection during his first year with St John's and followed that up with an All-Big 10 Second Team selection after averaging 16.1 ppg during his one season with Wisconsin.

Storr initially entered the NBA Draft but withdrew and entered the transfer portal, committing to Bill Self and Kansas. Storr has been somewhat underwhelming this season, scoring double figures in just give games, but the talent is there to be an all conference level player. Storr did not score and played just three minutes against Arizona State. At 6'7", Storr has a unique ability to make an impact from multiple positions and has proven to be an effiicient scorer.

6'9" FR C Flory Bidunga (6.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg)

Cincinnati's coaching staff is extremely familiar with Bidunga after prioritizing the Indiana big man during the last recruiting cycle. Despite the family connections to Bidunga with assistant Drew Adams, Bidunga did not include Cincinnati in his final four before ultimately committing to Kansas.

The freshman big man has seen his minutes increase over the past four games and is currently making 82.4% of his field goal attempts. Bidunga is a high-level athlete that plays above the rim with ease at both ends of the floor and has a nice touch around the rim.

5'11 Sr G David Coit (5.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.7 apg)

Third on the team with 17 made three's. All-MAC Third Team in 2023 and 2024 with Northern Illinois.

6'1" GR G Shakeel Moore (3.3 ppg)

Moore has started the last two games for Kansas and is averaging 7.0 ppg, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals in that span.

Began his career at NC State and played the last three years at Mississippi State. A solid defender, who was one of 15 on the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List as a junior.

Final Thoughts:

Saturday is big for multiple reasons, but more than anything, it is an opportunity to make a statement within the Big 12. A win over Kansas would help get the Bearcats back on track and give them momentum and confidence to put the first three games behind them. UC will have to play with great effort and do better offensively. This team has struggled with ball movement recently and seems to try to play too much one-on-one. That won't work against a team like Kansas, who has the overall talent and depth to overwhelm teams with their execution at both ends of the court.

The Bearcats rank second in the Big 12 in allowing 61.0 ppg for the season. For them to get a win, it will have to start with their defense and taking advantage of transition opportunities off turnovers.

One thing is certain....Cincinnati can not have an 8 minute stretch with just one point against Kansas. Things could get ugly if that happens Saturday afternoon.

Kansas is a 1.5 point favorite with the over/under set at 134.5.

Preview: Kansas at Cincinnati

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