*****Oklahoma-Cincinnati Game Thread*****

[OUHoops]

Some excerpts from SoonerSports.com's OU-Cincinnatti preview below. Click here for complete notes.

THURSDAY’S GAME BASICS
A winner of five straight games, Oklahoma (9-1) plays its fifth contest away from home when it takes on Cincinnati (9-3) on Thursday at 8 p.m. CT at off-campus U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Sooners have won by an average of 20 points during their five-game winning streak. The Bearcats, who were ranked as high as No. 20 in the AP poll (Nov. 14), have rebounded from three losses over a six-game stretch to win their last four outings by an average of 34 points. Thursday’s contest will air on the Sooner Radio Network (KOKC AM 1520 in Oklahoma City; KTBZ AM 1430 in Tulsa) with Toby Rowland and Mike Houck announcing. The game will be televised by ESPNU with Mike Crispino and Tim Welsh calling the action.

PREVIEWING CINCINNATI
Preseason No. 21 in the AP poll and No. 22 in the ESPN/USA Today version, unranked Cincinnati enters Thursday’s game with a 9-3 record. The Bearcats, who are 7-2 at home and 2-1 on the road, have won their last four games by an average of 34 points. Their losses have come at home to Presbyterian (56-54) and Marshall (73-69 in overtime), and at Xavier (76-53).

Cincinnati ranks No. 1 in the Big East Conference with its 8.2 3-point field goal makes per game and No. 2 in 3-point field goal percentage (.405) and scoring defense (57.2 ppg). The Bearcats are averaging 13.8 treys over their last four games.

Sophomore guard Sean Kilpatrick is averaging a team-high 15.4 points per game. He ranks No. 2 in the Big East with his 2.6 treys per game and is shooting .413 from deep. Kilpatrick has scored in double figures 11 times and has three games of at least 20 points.

Senior guard Dion Dixon has also scored in double figures in all but one outing, and averages 13.3 points, 3.9 boards and 1.9 assists.

Junior point guard Cashmere Wright averages 11.7 points and 5.1 assists per game, but over the last three outings is averaging 19.7 points and 6.0 assists. He is shooting .600 from the field and .583 (14-for-24) from 3-point range in those games.

Senior forward Yancy Gates (13.5 ppg, team-high 9.5 rpg), is serving a six-game suspension and will miss Thursday’s contest.

Head coach Mick Cronin is 96-80 in his sixth year at Cincinnati. The former UC assistant coach returned to the Bearcats following a three-year stint as head coach at Murray State (posted a 69-24 record there).

OU-CINCINNATI SERIES HISTORY
Thursday’s game will mark the sixth between Oklahoma and Cincinnati, with the Bearcats owning a 3-2 series edge. OU won the first two meetings, 78-65 in 1985-86 in the All-College Tournament in Oklahoma City and 89-81 (in overtime) in the second round of the 1991 postseason NIT in Norman. Third-ranked Cincinnati posted a 72-59 home win during the 1998-99 season and, as the nation’s No. 4 team the following year, beat the No. 21 Sooners by a 72-57 score in Norman. UC won 66-56 last year (Dec. 18) in Oklahoma City.

LAST YEAR VS. THE BEARCATS
Oklahoma shot .333 from the field (its fourth lowest mark of the year) and .182 from 3-point range (second lowest figure) in a 66-56 loss to Cincinnati (10-0) at the All-College Classic in Oklahoma City last Dec. 18. OU held Cincinnati to .420 field goal and .176 (3-for-17) 3-point marks. The Bearcats improved to 10-0.

The Sooners, who never led, trailed 28-21 at halftime before scoring the first six points of the second half to draw within one. Cincinnati led by just five (49-44) with six minutes remaining before going on an 8-1 run to go ahead by 12 (57-45) with 3:22 left.

Sophomore point guard Carl Blair finished with a game-high 15 points and OU highs of six rebounds and four assists, but also committed six turnovers. He was the only Sooner who shot at least 50 percent from the field (6-for-12).

Steven Pledger netted 13 points while Andrew Fitzgerald contributed 10 points, five boards, two assists and three steals.

Cashmere Wright and Dion Dixon led the Bearcats with 12 points each.

 

[OUFANFOREVER1]

Re: OU-Cincinnati Pregame Notes [SoonerSports.com]

I am from Mississippi and i have no clue about the sports channels in Oklahoma. I know the game will be shown on espnu and sooner sports tomorrow, but is there a local channel that I can watch the game. If any one can answer this I would really appreciate it

 

[darlingt]

Re: OU-Cincinnati Pregame Notes [SoonerSports.com]

The game isn't scheduled to be on local TV anywhere so far as I can tell. It will be on ESPN3.com, which is how I'll be watching it.

 

[AdaSooner]

Re: OU-Cincinnati Pregame Notes [SoonerSports.com]

I am from Mississippi and i have no clue about the sports channels in Oklahoma. I know the game will be shown on espnu and sooner sports tomorrow, but is there a local channel that I can watch the game. If any one can answer this I would really appreciate it

OUFF1, I doubt if the game will be broadcast on a local channel in Mississippi. Wish I had better news. Your best options may be ESPNU, ESPN3 or Soonersports.com, if you want to pay to watch it on the Net. I checked, and it's not even on ESPN Game Plan.

By the way, Welcome to the board!

 

[OUFANFOREVER1]

Re: OU-Cincinnati Pregame Notes [SoonerSports.com]

Thanks

 

[BozemanSooner]

here's a link to the game

http://www.firstrowsports.tv/watch/100080/1/watch-oklahoma-vs-cincinnati.html

 

[BigTime]

Let's do this thing.

 

[MNsooner]

Even with the suspensions this will be a tough one. I think we can get a W. Boomer sooner.

 

[mc_soonerfan]

I looked to see if I had ESPNU and couldn't find it (in standard def) but went to my ESPN HD channel and clicked on the guide button and found that I have ESPNU in HD. I was stoked because I didn't think I would get to watch the game. :woot

 

[OUHoops]

Only one possession but it looks like OU is going to see the toughest defensive pressure they've faced this year.

 

[OUHoops]

Looks like an All-College type crowd for this one.

 

[BigTime]

Kilpatrick has really been the difference during this stretch of wins for Cincy.

 

[BigTime]

moving screen on cincy! 2-0 OU early.

 

[OUHoops]

Two early buckets for Fitz. OU up 4-0 at the 16:47 mark.

 

[BigTime]

sloppy game early. Fitz with both baskets for OU.

 

[opsooner]

Good early D by both teams and a lid on the basket as well.

 

[BigTime]

Grooms looks scared. We need to push it and start taking control.

Still 4-0 OU

 

[Crocker's Long Sleeves]

Cinci is not shy about jacking them up. Lets hope those dont start falling

 

[OUHoops]

Cincy is all up in the passing lanes on the perimeter.

 

[opsooner]

Yes, they have some good defensive athletes on the perimeter and we can't create off the dribble.