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Cincinnati Basketball: Bearcats’ keys to a victory over Georgia State

By Charlie Salek

WICHITA, KS - MARCH 04: Cincinnati Bearcats players celebrate after beating the Wichita State Shockers on March 4, 2018 at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
WICHITA, KS - MARCH 04: Cincinnati Bearcats players celebrate after beating the Wichita State Shockers on March 4, 2018 at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /
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ORLANDO, FL – MARCH 11: A detailed view of the AAC Championship banner displayed on the backboard after du the final game of the 2018 AAC Basketball Championship between Cincinnati Bearcats and the Houston Cougarsa at Amway Center on March 11, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
ORLANDO, FL – MARCH 11: A detailed view of the AAC Championship banner displayed on the backboard after du the final game of the 2018 AAC Basketball Championship between Cincinnati Bearcats and the Houston Cougarsa at Amway Center on March 11, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

Take it slow

While Georgia State doesn’t play at a particularly fast pace (238th in adjusted tempo), Cincinnati plays even slower (322nd). The fewer possessions the better for the Bearcats in this game. If Georgia State consistently labors on offense but comes up empty, the Panthers may get discouraged. The Bearcats are good at discouraging and demoralizing opponents.

Also, they are one of the most efficient teams in the country especially defensively (second-best). The Bearcats can take the air out of the ball and drain the clock on offense. On defense, they make it difficult to find clean looks at the rim and each offensive possession is a grind for opponents.

As a result of the Bearcats’ style, they are a headache to play. They force nearly 15 turnovers per game and protect the ball well on offense. As a result, the Bearcats claim a stellar +3.3 turnover margin (19th best). When you can’t turn a team over and you can’t speed them up, you find yourself in a precarious situation. No rush, Bearcats; slow and steady wins the race.

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