Cincinnati Basketball Keys to the Game: Evansville Purple Aces

Cincinnati is trying to close out non-conference play with an 11-2 record.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Dec 28, 2023 9:05 AM EST

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CINCINNATI — UC men's basketball better come ready to play on Friday night in a sneaky matchup against the 10-2 Evansville Purple Aces. The balanced, high-powered Aces offense has given teams trouble all year as Cincinnati tries to close its non-conference slate with a much-needed win.

Evansville is the third-best team Cincinnati has faced thus far in 2023-24, entering this game ranked 159th in KenPom to UC's 40th ranking. They've only played three games over the past three weeks, going 3-0 in that stretch with plenty of rest carried into Fifth Third Arena.

UC is 3-2 all-time against the Purple Aces as another great scorer tries to show up the Bearcats this season.

When Evansville Has The Ball

Top scorers have had their way with Cincinnati over the past few weeks and forward Ben Humrichous (16.3 points, 5.6 rebounds) is trying to join those ranks.

The 6-foot-9 sharpshooter plays a lot like former Creighton star Doug McDermott as a deadly shooter outside with a bruising shotmaking package around the basket. Humrichous is shooting a scorching 48.4% from deep this season (third-best nationally). It's rounded out to a 68.5% true shooting rate (second-best among all MVC players).

Cincinnati goes from arguably the best scorer in the country in Stetson's Jalen Blackmon to an equally good outside shooter with way more size. Humrchous can go absolutely nutty from deep and then utilize that gravity to unlock the five other Evansville players averaging at least eight points per game.

Humrichous leads a balanced scoring and passing offense (82.6 PPG, 46th nationally) as Evansville sits 56th nationally with 16.3 assists per game, all while it sports three rotation players at least 6-foot-9 or taller.

Guard Tanner Cuff (7.1 rebounds, 4.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists) is a do-it-all engine for this team and is the best passer on the floor when he plays. Cuff is fourth in the MVC with a 27.1% assist rate, as he loves to set up open teammates and control the pace at a stout 6-foot-7.

UC will not have a significant size advantage in this game and must eliminate the bonehead fouls that have popped up in recent weeks. Do that, while rotating soundly on the perimeter and they should be able to outlast this offense.

When UC Has The Ball

Does Cincinnati lean into the fast pace both teams have enjoyed this season, or flip the script and slow things down? Evansville sports the 60th-fastest pace in the country this season, while Cincinnati is 122nd.

UC has to limit turnovers and get nice, sound performances from its backcourt to combat a sneaky Purple Aces defense holding opponents to 41.4% shooting this season (117th nationally). They have three players averaging at least one steal per game as the 117th-best team in the country on that front (7.5 steals per game).

Evansville has a strong defensive backcourt driving this unit and it's led by Cuff and 6-foot-9 guard Yacine Toumi (10.2 points, team-high 6.2 rebounds). Those two are going to do all they can to make life difficult on a UC guard platoon that hasn't exactly settled into consistent performances just yet.

Continued growth from Day Day Thomas and Jizzle James is crucial here, plus, it won't hurt one bit to possibly get Simas Lukošius back from a shoulder injury. Another strong passing outing from CJ Fredrick would help nullify the defensive challenge as well.

Around the rim, UC can eat with its powerful front court against an Evansville team with just two players posting 10-plus blocks total this season. Humrichous and freshman big man Josh Hughes (8.3 points, 4.7 rebounds) have taken on most of the rim defense. It could be a nice way to attack Humrichous on one end and tire him out more on offense.

Still, Evansville is very balanced with eight players owning a 16% offensive usage rate or higher. They come from plenty of angles in a matchup unlike any other UC's faced ahead of Big 12 play.

Prediction: 85-81 Cincinnati

I anticipate UC having problems with a team that has a great chance to win the Missouri Valley Conference and go dancing this season. Humrichous will go off again as the Bearcats have shown no reason to believe they can cull a great scorer so far.

That leads to plenty of Evansville ball movement, but UC outlasts in the fast-paced affair by shooting far better from outside, compared to the non-Humrichous Aces, and pairing it with a breakout two-man performance from Jamille Reynolds and Viktor Lakhin for the victory.

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