UC hoops matches up against No. 5 Houston on Saturday trying to break a nine-game losing streak in the series.
Check out our top players to watch in the contest.
Players To Watch For Houston
The Cougars are led by a talented guard in Jamal Shead, as the senior is the engine that makes the train go for Kelvin Sampson's team. Shead returned to the Cougars after testing the NBA Draft waters this past offseason and is having arguably the best year of his career averaging nearly 13 points, four rebounds, and six assists per game while shooting nearly 46% from the field.
Shead has also made a huge impact on the defensive end as he has been arguably the best guard in the Big 12 this season to date on both ends of the court. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound point guard has been a physical, tough, gritty player on both ends of the court over the last three seasons at Houston and is someone the Bearcats are quite familiar with. He's scored in double digits the last two times these teams have squared off.
However, the last time Houston came to Cincinnati back on January 8th of 2023, Shead finished with just five points on 2-of-8 shooting across 35 minutes of play. Despite Houston being led by now NBA players Marcus Sasser and Jarace Walker, who combined for 37 of the Cougars' 72 points in that contest a season ago, is a much different roster than this 2023-2024 team.
Alongside Jamal Shead in the backcourt for Baylor standout LJ Cryer joins the fire for Kelvin Sampson, as the senior guard leads the Cougars in scoring averaging just over 15 points per game on 40/40/83% splits. Cryer has become an immediate impact for the Cougars in his lone season, especially after the Cougars saw Terrace Arceneaux tear his Achilles back in December.
Another interesting name in that backcourt for the Cougars is former Temple star Damian Dunn. The same Damian Dunn that dropped 34 in Fifth Third Arena last year in a back-and-forth battle with now former Bearcat Landers Nolley, as the two just traded basket for basket down the stretch. Despite only averaging 7 points per game this season, it is something worth monitoring just simply due to the performance he had the last time he was in Cincinnati.
Players to watch for the Bearcats
Day-Day Thomas can make a tremendous impact on this game on both ends of the court. I think Thomas's tenacity will give Shead some problems on the defensive end, especially after the way Thomas has played over the last few games.
It's a battle of the guards, as Houston is outmatched in the front court in terms of size and physicality. Although their guard play is phenomenal between guys like Shead, Dunn, and Cryer, I truly think this is a game where Thomas could have the most efficient night of his young Bearcat career.
For the Bearcats, they'll need a solid night from Thomas, especially on the defensive end.
Prediction: 72-69 Bearcats
UC gets the job done at home as they are coming off a bye week with six days to prepare for this one they have a potential chance to have a fully healthy team for the first time all season depending on if CJ Fredrick will be available or not.
I think the Bearcats get the big win they are needing and defeat the Cougars 72-69 in a back-and-forth battle.
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