Basketball: Game #1 at Cincinnati

Game #1 - at Cincinnati Bearcats
Day: Friday
Date: Nov. 13, 2015
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio/Fifth Third Arena (13,176)
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN3
Talent: Tom Gelehrter and Kyle Macy
Radio: Catamount Sports Network

Bearcats head coach:  Mick Cronin
Game Notes:   Western Carolina     -      Cincinnati

Team Information
2014-15 Record:  23-11
American Athletic Conference Record:  13-5 (T-3rd)
Starters returning/lost:  5/0
Letterwinners returning/lost: 9/2 Newcomers.: 4
Percent of scoring returning:  88.0 percent (1,860 of 2,113)
Percent of rebounding returning:  88.2 (950 of 1,077)

Cincinnati returns all five starters, its top six scorers and nine lettermen from the 2014 that saw the Bearcats finish 23-11, tie for third in the American Athletic Conference (13-5) and advance to the Round of 32 in the NCAA tournament. This will be the first regular season game for both teams, however, the Bearcats have played two  home exhalation games, beating Grand Valley State, 83-63 and Bellamine by a final of 81-60.

Heading into 2015-16, Cincinnati is arguably the best team in the American Athletic Conference and if  they live up to expectations, the Bearcats should be a mainstay in college basketball’s top 25 for most of the season,

In 2014-15, Cincinnati ranked No. 6 in points allowed per game and No. 11 in the defensive efficiency rankings, making the Bearcats one of the most dangerous defenses in college basketball. Their problem last season was their stagnant offense, which only produced 62 points per game. Maybe that is something the Cats can take advantage of.



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