TO CLOSE

UC basketball coach Mick Cronin discusses the fact that the Bearcats are finally playing again in the Ohio State after a long period of drought
Tom Groeschen, [email protected]

Cincinnati Bearcats goaltender Jarron Cumberland leads the field team for last week's demonstration game against Tusculum, a 68-41 victory for the Bearcats.(Photo: Sam Greene)

After 98 years and just a few hours, the Ohio State Buckeyes finally travel to Cincinnati to play a college basketball game.

Wednesday night at 6pm at the University of Cincinnati Fifth Third Arena recently renovated, the Bearcats and Buckeyes will open the season on ESPN2 in a first round of two home and away matches. Next year, the teams will meet at Value City Arena in Columbus.

Schools have not met on the field during the regular season since 1921. The Bearcats won this game 33-17, which was the home opener for the Buckeyes. Ohio State has not played against the Bearcats in Cincinnati since January 3, 1920, a 35-13 win for the Buckeyes.

"It's great to play against them and I hope we'll play long," said UC coach Mick Cronin. "What I like best is that we do not hate each other – it's a basketball game."

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The general view is that the state of Ohio has refused to play UC primarily because of the unpleasant feelings of the NCAA championship games of 1961 and 1962, both won by the Bearcats, upset by the Buckeyes. Other times have seen each school blame the other for recruiting violations or other mischief.

Ohio State and UC have played only twice since 1962, both times on a neutral site. The Buckeyes beat the Bearcats at Indianapolis in the 2006-07 season, and then at the 2012 NCAA Sweet 16 in Boston.

Recently, relations between UC and OSU were released when the sports directors (Mike Bohn at UC and Gene Smith at OSU) and the head coaches (Cronin and Chris Holtmann of OSU) found a field of play. agreement and found no reason not to start. series.

"I just enjoy (OSU) for their forward thinking," said Cronin. "People who follow basketball, who buy subscription tickets in our two schools deserve to see us play."

UC players do not know much about the coolness that sometimes prevented a UC-OSU series, but now they have understood the importance of what will happen to the coming of the Buckeyes on UC's Ed Jucker Court tonight.

"There was something about some championship games and the UC beat them?" The junior attacker of UC, Trevon Scott, "The only thing I know, is that they have not played here for 98 years." they offer us to play our first game in the new arena, it's just motivation.They want to play against us and we want to play them.We are ready. "

The forecasts: The game itself is a bit unknown, but the ESPN match predictor gives the UC 63.3% chance to beat the Buckeyes.

Both teams participated in the NCAA tournament last season, but both lost some of the best players. UC is without Jacob Evans III, Gary Clark and Kyle Washington and OSU is less Keita Bates-Diop, Jae Sean Tate and Kam Williams.

UC will be led by junior goalie Jarron Cumberland (11.5 points per game last season), senior guard Cane Broome (7.9) and senior goaltender Justin Jenifer (4.8). Scott (3.1) and Nysier Brooks Junior Center (2.6) complete the top five.

The main returnees from the state of Ohio are High Guard C.J. Jackson (12.6 points per game last season) and Kaleb Wesson (10.2 points per game). Jackson should be a leader ahead, while the 6-foot-9 and 270-pound Wesson is stronger than any UC player.

UC was chosen to finish second in the American Athletics Conference coaching preparatory survey, which was established prior to the pre-season session. OSU was voted eighth in the Big Ten by the conference reporters.

Game Keys: "You have to be hard to score and not return the ball," said Cronin, summarizing his game plan for this game and almost every game.

Cronin also said the defensive rebound would be essential.

"Holtmann's coaching teams play very hard," said Cronin. "They are doing very well after the ball." Our defensive rebound was an area in which we were in the middle of the pack (last year) .We were eliminated from the tournament due to a defensive block. A defensive rebound would be a concern, especially when playing against a Big Ten team. "

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SCOUTING REPORT

STATE OF THE OHIO

Record: 25-9 (15-3 Big Ten last season)

Offense: 76.2 points per game (No. 4 in the Big Ten)

Defense: 67.6 points per game (No. 9 in Big Ten)

PROJECTED LINE

PLAYER POS. HT. KEY STAT

Andre Wesson F 6-6 2.9 ppg

Kyle Young F 6-8 1.8 points per game

Kaleb Wesson F 6-9 10.2 ppg

Luther Muhammad G 6-3 Freshman

C.J. Jackson G 6-1 12.6 games per game

PLAYER TO WATCH

C.J. Jackson

The main point guard is the Buckeyes' top scorer. It is a running back and a powerful passer who can hit the ball deep (38% from the range of 3 points). Jackson is also a good distributor but must reduce his business figures.

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CINCINNATI

Record: 31-5 (16-2 AAC last season)

Offense: 74.2 points per game (No. 3 in AAC)

Defense: 57.5 points per game (No. 1 in AAC)

PROJECTED LINE

PLAYER POS. HT. KEY STAT

Justin Jenifer G 5-10 4.8 points per game

Jarron Cumberland G 6-5 11.5 games per game

Broome G Cane 6-0 7.9 games per game

Trevon Scott F 6-8 3.1 Ppg

Nysier Brooks C 6-11 2.6 ppg

THE GAME

tipoff: Wednesday at the fifth arena (12.012)

TV / Radio: ESPN2 / WLW-AM (700)

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REMARKABLE

Cat chat: UC opens the season at 96-21, including 85-10 at home and 25-1 at Fifth Third Arena. UC has won its last 10 openings.

KenPom.com watch: Ohio ranks 42nd and UC, 43rd nationally, in the Pomeroy College Basketball preparatory classification.