Game Day Essentials: Game #12 vs Cincinnati Bearcats

[hhcmatt]

Nebraska Cornhuskers (8-3) vs Cincinnati Bearcats (10-2)

Location: Fifth Third Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio (Cap 13,176)

Date: Sunday, December 28, 2013

Time: 11 am, CST

TV: ESPN2

Radio: Across the state on the IMG Husker Sports Radio Network, including KLIN (1400 AM/94.5 FM) in Lincoln, KFAB (1110 AM) in Omaha and KRVN (880 AM) in Lexington.

Play-by-play: Kent Pavelka; Color: Matt Davison

Kent Pavelka Tailgate Pump up MixCincinnati Info

Head Coach: Mick Cronin

Location: Cincinnati, OH

Conference: American Athletic Conference

Nickname: Bearcats

Mascots: Bearcat

Last time out: Beat Chicago St

Typical Rotation Depth: 8-9 players

Line: Cincinnati by 10

Fun Fact: The Bearcat nickname came about during a game against the Kentucky Wildcats in 1914 where someone came up with the nickname "Baehr-Cats" after the last name of their starting fullback

Possible Starters

Huskers

0 Tai Webster 6-4 194 Fr

5 Terran Petteway 6-6 209 Jr

31 Shavon Shields 6-7 219 So

15 Ray Gallegos 6-2 182 Sr

35 Walter Pitchford 6-10 234 So

Bearcats

23 Sean Kilpatrick 6-4 210 Sr

5 Justin Jackson 6-8 230 Sr

2 Titus Rubles 6-7 220 Sr

3 Shaquille Thomas 6-7 205 So

14 Ge'Lawn Guyn 6-2 185 Jr

Player to Watch: Sean Kilpatrick

Low end NBA prospect and senior guard Kilpatrick has been the leading scorer for Cincy their last two years and the Bearcats look to him to provide the spark for their offense. Cincy isn't a big 3pt shooting team and Kilpatrick's 84 attempts account for approximately half the team's total attempts. To that in perspective, Ray Gallegos currently leads the Huskers with 49 attempts.

Players to Watch: Justin Jackson

The Bearcat's only other player in double digits leading the team in offensive rebounds and blocks. The 6'8" 230 Senior is also shooting only 47% from the free throw line.

The Skinny

Unlike Nebraska's only other true road game in Omaha, this Cincinnati crowd should be a bit less overwhelming with the 11 am starting time and some of their fan base down the road to watch the Bearcats in the Belk Bowl.

In the past we would talk about the other team's best player and talk about that Husker who would shut him down. Can you name the Husker that is the defensive stopper this year besides an offensively limited Benny Parker? Today's guy to stop is Sean Kilpatrick who is a threat to either drive or shoot a three. Who is going to cover the 6-4 future pro player?

Cincy isn't that great of a shooting team and doesn't run at a fast pace so this should be a game in the 60s. The thing you do need to worry about on defense is that they're among the best in the nation at securing offensive rebounds, especially Justin Jackson. While they don't have anyone over 6'8" who plays significant minutes, the Bearcats are athletic and make driving to the paint difficult. The Huskers need to remain patient enough to keep slashing to the paint instead of settling for 3s, which Cincy will allow them to take.

Deverell Biggs missed a team film session this week so he is out for this game. His outside shooting ability will be missed but his lack of defense and driving ability on this sort of team we can overcome. Who is the scoring spark of the bench for the Huskers today? Will it be Nate Hawkins? Will David Rivers be needed against all this length?

This Bearcat team is bound for the NCAA tournament. A win today on the road is necessary for the Huskers if they have any serious thoughts about making the tournament themselves. Huskers keep it close but still don't have themselves figured out.

Prediction: Cincy 63 - Nebraska 56

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[nuhusker7]

Grant Gibbs plays for Cincinnati too?