Bearcats return to Fifth Third to play Big East home opener

After struggling the last two games, the University of Cincinnati men’s basketball team looks to redeem themselves when they take on the Providence College Friars, Wednesday, Jan. 7, in their Big East home opener.

Sunday, the Bearcats shot 32.7 percent from the field in a 84-50 loss to Marquette University. One week ago, against Memphis, UC shot 26.1 percent in a 60-45 loss, which was UC’s lowest scoring game since head coach Mick Cronin was hired in 2006.

“We have to bounce back as a team and play harder,” said junior guard Deonta Vaughn. “We have to stay aggressive and [not] let things get to us. If we start to get down then we need to keep playing.”

Providence in coming into Wednesday’s game against UC with two consecutive Big East wins against St. John’s University and DePaul University.

Senior guard Weyinmi Efejuku is Providence’s main offensive threat, averaging 13.6 points per game.

Sophomore guard Marshon Brooks is second on the team in scoring, with 12.9 points per game. He had a 30-point game against Sacred Heart University earlier in the season.

Leading Providence in rebounding is junior forward Geoff McDermott, who averages 8.4 rebounds per game. McDermott led the Friars in rebounds in nine games this season and also leads the team in blocks, averaging 1.1 per game.

Providence has had an easy out-of-conference schedule with the exception of a couple of teams.

Two weeks ago Providence lost to Boston College by five points. BC knocked off the University of North Carolina last week.

Shooting 45.1 percent from the field and 29.5 percent from behind the three-point line, Providence will look to put up plenty of shots against UC.  The Friars also average eight steals per game, while forcing their opponents to average 16.4 turnovers per game.

“Providence can score; that’s the thing that scares me about them,” Cronin said. “They can put up a lot of points in a hurry if you don’t play great defense.”

Monday the Bearcats held a players-only team meeting to discuss their play and talk about what they need to improve as the season goes on.

Vaughn was held scoreless for the first time in his collegiate career Sunday against Marquette, but managed to dish out 10 assists in the process. 

“The biggest thing for [Vaughn] is no-sub, no-rest,” Cronin said. “His turnovers are down and his assists are up recently, but his biggest problem is having to play at such a high level for 37 minutes per game.”

The Bearcats have lost their last two meetings to the Friars, which include an 81-79 overtime loss last season and a 71-70 loss in 2007.

“We already know what we have to do, and we know Providence is a good team who is well balanced,” Vaughn said. “Like Marquette they have a lot of great experience behind them and what it takes to win a game. We just have to play harder than our opponent on our home-court.”