Colorado 1/14 7:00 Peacock

[longtimefan]

The biggest difference between the two halves (and the Cats' performance) is that Tad Boyle abandoned the matchup and 3/4-court 1-2-2 press. The Buffs played man-to-man the entire second half because UC carved up the zones for 43 points. Almost all of the points came from the paint, with a great portion of them in transition. UC had 24 fast break points to 2 for CO. CO jammed up the lane and Jizzle obliged by dribbling around looking for someone to pass to. Boyle had his team deny Day Day, leaving weak shooters to try to score, often via mid-range jumpers, which are bad shots.

Yes. I kept thinking how Colorado was down 24 to TTU and lost by 2. Good defensive adjustment by Boyle.

[sedz]

Torvik gives us a 70% chance to win with a 76-71 score prediction.

Good call from Torvik. We put up 77 points in 73 possessions. 1.06 points per possession is decent, but we should be doing better at home against the second worst defense in the B12. As swilsonsp4 noted, we took too many midrange shots in the second half. 21 midrange looks, more than our 19 rim attempts. But we got to the free throw line 35 times! Good enough to win, paired with holding a good offense under a point per possession.

Baba was our best player with 6.5 net points. 20 points from the field on 17 shots. Got to the rim 8 times and the stripe 9 times. Added 11 rebounds (our only player with more than 3), 4 assists, and 2 blocks. Thiam was second best with 3.2 net points. 12 points from the field on 8 shots, 3 for 4 at the line, 2 blocks, and 2 steals. Harris was third best, going 3 for 4 at the rim and leading in DBPM with 2 steals and a block. Day Day and Abaev (finally!) were also on the positive side.

Jizzle was our worst player with negative 5.2 net points, going 1 for 9 from the field (0 for 6 from midrange) and the only player with a negative DBPM. Celestine was second worst, making 1 of 4 threes and not much else. Tillery and McKinley were close to neutral, just on the negative side.

[Carthage World]

We have the talent to beat them by double digits but Boyle is a much better coach than Wes, so we can just as easily lose as well.

I say we win 74-66.

I was pretty spot-on.

We jumped up to #56 in KenPom. We're now the highest ranked team in the country that still has single-digit wins.

[leo from jersey]

Good call from Torvik. We put up 77 points in 73 possessions. 1.06 points per possession is decent, but we should be doing better at home against the second worst defense in the B12. As swilsonsp4 noted, we took too many midrange shots in the second half. 21 midrange looks, more than our 19 rim attempts. But we got to the free throw line 35 times! Good enough to win, paired with holding a good offense under a point per possession.

Baba was our best player with 6.5 net points. 20 points from the field on 17 shots. Got to the rim 8 times and the stripe 9 times. Added 11 rebounds (our only player with more than 3), 4 assists, and 2 blocks. Thiam was second best with 3.2 net points. 12 points from the field on 8 shots, 3 for 4 at the line, 2 blocks, and 2 steals. Harris was third best, going 3 for 4 at the rim and leading in DBPM with 2 steals and a block. Day Day and Abaev (finally!) were also on the positive side.

Jizzle was our worst player with negative 5.2 net points, going 1 for 9 from the field (0 for 6 from midrange) and the only player with a negative DBPM. Celestine was second worst, making 1 of 4 threes and not much else. Tillery and McKinley were close to neutral, just on the negative side.

we need blowouts as Tillery and Tyler just are not ready. Tyler plays well in spurts but often is a frosh. Tillery has the speed but the speed of the game is beating him, Kerr may have helped, but since the Cats won, Tillery needed the pt. Thiam needs to clog that lane more and go get some rebounds. His new success in scoring has upped the entire team's game.

[leo from jersey]

Question for who was at the game. Abaev was not very good. CWM yanked him and then quickly put him back. What did Abaev do on the bench to get put back in so quickly. When he returned, he proved without a doubt what a bad decision that was by CWM.

[bearcatjd]

I was at the game & they played great in the first half. Threw the ball down low & didn't take too many 3's or bad shots. Second half not so great. Stopped thowing the ball down low & missed a lot of shots. However, it was a good win. Bring on Iowa State!

[bearcatlifer]

I was at the game... not one bag! Abaev is clearly as liability whenever he gets in. Give credit to Colorado coach for changing defense at half. If only Wes could do something like that.

[bearcatbret]

Baba Miller’s 25 Points Power Cincinnati Past Colorado - University of Cincinnati Athletics - Official Athletics Website

[leeraymond372@gmail.com]

I was not able to watch the game on Peacock. First time in years I was not able to watch a UC basketball game. I listened to it on a U of Colorado audio app. Not the same as watching. Early in the second half UC was up by 21. I went to take a shower and when I returned, UC was up by only 7. What happened?

Second straight game where UC has drastically cut down on its three-point attempts. Only 28% of the shots were from three. Same as the UCF game. It appears that getting the bigs more touches in the paint is the strategy now. It appears to be paying off. Thiam and Miller have the best shooting percentages on the team. Thomas hit some clutch shots late. What has happened to James during conference play? He is shooting only 27.9% and 12.5% from three. If he can really get going, that would help a lot. Is time to give Tillery a few more minutes? It is difficult to really gauge where Tillery is because he gets so few minutes.

Second straight game for UC with decent TO numbers. UC turned CO over 17 times which lead to 30 points for UC (wow!). UC had 10 TOs. That ain't bad.

Good news. This is UC's first non Q3 or Q4 win. Colorado was a Q2 win. Also, this was UC's first Power Conference win.

Probability was on UC's side last tonight, along with Baba, Thiam, and Thomas (late in the game).

[Bearcat1996]

Good call from Torvik. We put up 77 points in 73 possessions. 1.06 points per possession is decent, but we should be doing better at home against the second worst defense in the B12. As swilsonsp4 noted, we took too many midrange shots in the second half. 21 midrange looks, more than our 19 rim attempts. But we got to the free throw line 35 times! Good enough to win, paired with holding a good offense under a point per possession.

Baba was our best player with 6.5 net points. 20 points from the field on 17 shots. Got to the rim 8 times and the stripe 9 times. Added 11 rebounds (our only player with more than 3), 4 assists, and 2 blocks. Thiam was second best with 3.2 net points. 12 points from the field on 8 shots, 3 for 4 at the line, 2 blocks, and 2 steals. Harris was third best, going 3 for 4 at the rim and leading in DBPM with 2 steals and a block. Day Day and Abaev (finally!) were also on the positive side.

Jizzle was our worst player with negative 5.2 net points, going 1 for 9 from the field (0 for 6 from midrange) and the only player with a negative DBPM. Celestine was second worst, making 1 of 4 threes and not much else. Tillery and McKinley were close to neutral, just on the negative side.

The bigs are blossoming into go-to guys, which is refreshing. Positive development in that area. Advice to CWM, it is obvious this team plays 1000% better when adhering to a game plan (just look at how we typically start games NOT shooting 3's and going inside / driving). I can understand taking an open 3 from time to time, but it doesn't appear they have the discipline to do so. I'd love to see side by side stats on how we start to how we finish and shot selection.

[leo from jersey]

I was at the game... not one bag! Abaev is clearly as liability whenever he gets in. Give credit to Colorado coach for changing defense at half. If only Wes could do something like that.

they were not allowed to bring bags - the one who suggested it knew that. Security searched for bags before fans entered. It was a way to get attention and nothing more.

[leo from jersey]

again why was Abaev yanked in the horrid second half and instantly put back in. One said it was because he was sulking. Once again CWM personally is not fitted to winning. That being doing whatever is necessary and that includes benching even the well paid. That includes realizing that you are the HC and on the court you are in charge regardless what happens when you walk off.

BTW the lead was shrinking due to the poor play of Abaev and the lack of a floor leader who is in a shooting slump and has been in a passing slump his whole career.

[Rufus]

It appears to me that Miller is getting more adamant about guys straying from the game plan. That could be why JJ is struggling early in conference play. There was no dribbling around looking for a shot in the first half. In the second half he began to get into that habit again. He needs to find his points in the rhythym of the game and not by trying to create his own shot. It is a team sport.

I don't know what has Miller so enthralled with Abaev. He shows me absolutely nothing when he's on the floor. He can't defend, he can't, don't know how to, or refuses to rebound. As soon as he gets in, he stands at the wing area and claps for the ball, shoots only around 25% and apparently don't know how or is uncomfortable driving to the basket. If his three point shooting prowess is what has him so highly ranked it's not being realized now. Maybe the college game is just too much for him now. But on a team that struggles with a high percentage of missed three point makes putting him in to shoot more air balls, especially early on the time clock, with no one to rebound is sabotaging the team.

Finally I would like to see more of Baba like he was last night. He has a tendency to be a wall flower in past games but somehow he needs to get some confidence, team up with Day Day and be more vocal, more aggressive, and more physically present if this team is going to succeed at all. The Baba Miller that played last night needs to appear every night. It was a good win last night, hopefully it boosts everyone confidence a bit.

[swilsonsp4]

It appears to me that Miller is getting more adamant about guys straying from the game plan. That could be why JJ is struggling early in conference play. There was no dribbling around looking for a shot in the first half. In the second half he began to get into that habit again. He needs to find his points in the rhythym of the game and not by trying to create his own shot. It is a team sport.

I don't know what has Miller so enthralled with Abaev. He shows me absolutely nothing when he's on the floor. He can't defend, he can't, don't know how to, or refuses to rebound. As soon as he gets in, he stands at the wing area and claps for the ball, shoots only around 25% and apparently don't know how or is uncomfortable driving to the basket. If his three point shooting prowess is what has him so highly ranked it's not being realized now. Maybe the college game is just too much for him now. But on a team that struggles with a high percentage of missed three point makes putting him in to shoot more air balls, especially early on the time clock, with no one to rebound is sabotaging the team.

Finally I would like to see more of Baba like he was last night. He has a tendency to be a wall flower in past games but somehow he needs to get some confidence, team up with Day Day and be more vocal, more aggressive, and more physically present if this team is going to succeed at all. The Baba Miller that played last night needs to appear every night. It was a good win last night, hopefully it boosts everyone confidence a bit.

The primary reason why there was no dribbling around in the first half was that they attacked the matchup in the paint. They were able to find the gaps via the pass. Dribbling against a zone is a waste of time. After halftime, the Buffs' man-to-man defended hard inside, challenging everything. They wound up fouling (a lot), but otherwise the Cats' offense stagnated, leaving Jizzle with his favorite shot - 18' jumper. He finished 1-for-9, with 7 FGA inside the arc, but not close to the basket.

[sedz]

The primary reason why there was no dribbling around in the first half was that they attacked the matchup in the paint. They were able to find the gaps via the pass. Dribbling against a zone is a waste of time. After halftime, the Buffs' man-to-man defended hard inside, challenging everything. They wound up fouling (a lot), but otherwise the Cats' offense stagnated, leaving Jizzle with his favorite shot - 18' jumper. He finished 1-for-9, with 7 FGA inside the arc, but not close to the basket.

Yep, we had offensive success when playing against bad zone defenses in the last two games. That's about to change with a couple of top 10 defenses in Iowa St and Arizona on deck.

Another thing that concerns me is Thiam's breakout is mostly from midrange. He's 9 for 12 over the last two games. Nobody shoots 75% consistently. He'll revert back to around 50%.