UC Basketball Absorbs Midweek Punches

The Bearcats lost out on a top recruit and took it on the chin from NKU.

Author:
Alex Frank
Updated:
Nov 18, 2022 2:59 PM EST

MACON — It started as a day filled with anticipation.

Alas, Wednesday was a day that ended with UC facing some serious questions. The Cincinnati Bearcats, a program with just four scholarship players less than two years ago, were finalists for the nation's top-recruited player, Isaiah Collier.

The fact that the Bearcats made it to the end with Collier is a testament to how quickly head coach Wes Miller has restored the program to relevance. And there was hope Collier would maybe commit to Cincinnati after his Atlanta high school team scrimmaged Sycamore High School in Cincinnati.

Collier ended up committing to USC.

Is it disappointing that Collier didn't commit to Cincinnati? Yes. But is it unexpected? No. This is only the second-worst Cincinnati sports loss to Los Angeles this year. And Collier committing to USC was the second-worst thing to happen to Cincinnati basketball today.

What was that at NKU Wednesday night?

Eleven points in the second half. No player scoring in double figures. 6-of-21 from three-point range, 5-of-13 from the free throw line, only shooting 3-for-22 in the second half. It was one of the biggest home games in NKU history, and they were ready. They came out firing, shooting over 50% in the first half, and finished 6-of-11 from the field.

After such a promising start following a phenomenal offseason and recruiting momentum, this felt like a major speed bump for a program hoping to get back to the NCAA Tournament and headed to the best basketball conference in the country next year.

You simply can't afford to lose games to NKU, ranked 182nd in KenPom going into the contest. This was a game the Bearcats were supposed to win, and they didn't. Now they got to Maui to face a loaded field. And for a team without a difficult nonconference schedule to boost their tournament resume, the pressure is starting to rise.

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