Houston at Cincinnati: Game preview, TV schedule, prediction

The Houston Cougars could use another signature win to strengthen their at-large profile. They will have their work cut out for them against Cincinnati.

Date and time: Wednesday, January 31 at 7:00 p.m. ET

TV schedule: CBSSN

Arena: BB&T Arena in Highland Heights, Kentucky

Houston grabbed a signature win over Wichita State last week and has the opportunity to strengthen their resume even further. Winning at Cincinnati will be no easy task, even though the Bearcats are playing at a temporary home arena.

Cincinnati is ranked No. 8 in the AP Poll and has the second-best defense in the country according to KenPom, but they too could really use a statement win. The Bearcats look great in metrics, but their resume lacks wins over projected tournament teams. Their best wins are at UCLA, Buffalo at a neutral site, and at home over SMU. All three of these teams could realistically miss the Big Dance.

So, this game has enormous stakes for both sides. Cincinnati is not in any danger of missing the tournament, but they could get a lower seed than expected unless they add some substance to their resume. Houston is on the right side of the bubble for now, but ugly losses to Tulane and Drexel could come back to haunt them in March.

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The Bearcats are led by senior forward Gary Clark, who is one of the best rebounders in the country and has developed into a skilled offensive player. He is averaging 13.3 ppg and is shooting almost 40% from beyond the arc. Junior wing Jacob Evans has also been a key cog for Cincinnati. His ability to create offense and knock down 3-pointers has him on the NBA’s radar.

Cincinnati’s biggest weakness is its point guard play. The Bearcats split the position between Cane Broome and Justin Jennifer as neither has distinguished himself as the definitive starter. Broome was known more as a scorer coming into the season but actually leads the team in assists at 3.4 per game.

Conversely, Houston’s backcourt is its biggest strength. Senior guard Rob Gray is one of the best scorers in the country and is averaging just under 19 points per game. JUCO transfer Corey Davis and steady floor general Galen Robinson Jr. complete Houston’s talented three-guard attack. All three guards average at least three assists per game, which shows how unselfish this team is.

Houston also has some talented interior players, most notably Devin Davis. Davis is an Indiana transfer who has found success in the AAC. He is the Cougars’ starting power forward and is averaging 10.5 ppg and 6.3 rpg. Expect a competitive matchup between Clark and Davis in the frontcourt.

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This will be an excellent defensive battle as both teams rank among the leaders in 2-point percentage defense. These two teams are not afraid to get physical and have the depth and size inside to make this a rock fight. Cincinnati is the more talented team and playing at home should give them the edge.

Prediction: Cincinnati 70, Houston 62