Preview: TCU at Cincinnati

Cincinnati (15-11, 5-10) returns to Fifth Third Arena Saturday afternoon for a noon tip off against the TCU Horned Frogs (15-11, 8-7).

The two teams enter Saturday on different trajectories with five games remaining before the Big 12 Tournament begins in two weeks.

(Photo: TCU Athletics)

UC is trying to end a two-game losing streak following road losses at Iowa State (81-70) and West Virginia (62-59), while TCU has won 5-of-6 and are coming off a big home win over No. 9 Texas Tech (69-66).

Jamie Dixon's squad is currently ranked No. 82 in Kenpom's rankings and No. 72 in the NCAA NET ratings. TCU hasn't struggled as much in Quad 1 games as UC, but still enter Saturday with a 3-7 record against Quad 1 opponents. TCU is 2-6 on the road this season which includes a win at No. 25 Baylor and its last away game at Arizona State

TCU by the numbers:

• Offensive adjusted efficiency: 107 (183rd)
• Defensive adjusted efficiency: 96.9 (28th)
• Effective field goal percentage: 47.6 (311)
• Defensive turnover percentage: 19.8 (61st)
• Offensive rebound percentage: 32.3 (103rd)
• Offensive 3P percentage: 30.7 (321st)
  
• TCU ranks third in the Big 12 and 62nd nationally in 3-point defense, allowing 31.2 percent from beyond-the-arc.
• Offensive 2p percentage: 48.5 (275th)
• Defensive 2p percentage: 54 (287th)
• FT percentage: 64.9 (350th)
• Defensive steal percentage: 11.1 (75th)
• Defensive non-steal turnover percentage: 8.7 (55th)

TCU Players to know:

6'2" Soph PG Vasean Allette (11.7 pts, 4.0 reb, 3.3 ast, 38.5 FG%, 22.1 3P%)

6'3" Sr G Noah Reynolds (12.9 pts, 2.3 reb, 3.2 ast, 45.1 FG%, 35.2 3P%)

6'5" Fr F Jace Posey (3.7 pts, 2.1 rbs, 43.2 FG%, 20 3P%)

6'7" Fr F David Punch (6.0 pts, 4.3 reb, 48.4 FG%, 31.6 3P%)

6'11" Jr C Ernest Udeh (6.9 pts, 7.5 reb, 1.3 ast, 60.4 FG%)

6'8" Sr G Brendan Wenzel (7.5 pts, 2.7 reb, 35.7 FG%, 33.9 3P%)

6'6" Sr G Trazarien White (8.4 pts, 2.7 reb, 39.4 FG%, 34 3P%)

Final Thoughts:

Noah Reynolds is averaging 15.2 points per game during Big 12 play, which ranks 13th. He will be at the top of UC's scouting report defensively but the Bearcats will also have to account for the inside play of former Kansas big man, Ernest Udeh. 

Udeh is eighth in the Big 12 with 7.5 rebounds per game and has five double-doubles this season. Udeh is one of 10 players in the Big 12 averaging at least six points, seven rebounds and one block per game. The Orlando native does the majority of his work around the rim, with 44 of his 58 field goals coming via dunks.

While the Bearcats' tournament chances are extremely slim at the moment, a win over TCU to open a two-game homestand would go a long way in giving the Bearcats confidence with two of their final three games coming on the road.

Rebounding will once again be the biggest key for UC Saturday afternoon. TCU is 10-1 this season when out-rebounding their opponent. 

It is unclear whether or not Simas Lukosius after sitting against West Virginia with a shoulder injury. Getting him back in the lineup is crucial to the flow and rhythm of the offense with the type of attention he commands on the perimeter. 

UC is a 6.5 point favorite with the over/under set at 132.5.