Bearcats Look to Take Down Skyhawks in Regular Season Basketball Opener

Mar 21, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats guard Sean Kilpatrick during practice the day before the semifinals of the east region of the 2012 NCAA men

The No. 24 Cincinnati Bearcats are kicking off the regular season of NCAA Men’s basketball play on Sunday at 2:00 pm in Fifth Third Arena. They are welcoming the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks as their first guests in a four game home stand to start their 2012-13 campaign.

Cincinnati was perfect in its two exhibition games this year and is hoping the success carries with them when they go head to head against the Skyhawks. Last year the Bearcats lost in the Sweet 16, but they have the ability to go further into the brackets come March. UC is returning most of their starters from last year’s team and will have a lot of experience on the court.

The team is adding a newcomer, junior forward Titus Rubles, who just transferred from Blinn Community College to a list of talented starters returning this year. The senior point guard Cashmere Wright, senior guard JaQuon Parker, junior guard Sean Kilpatrick and senior forward Cheikh Mbodj have all returned to a Bearcats squad on a quest for a championship.

Rubles is coming to the Cincinnati program after spending two years dominating in junior college. He was considered one of the top JC transfers in 2012 and will be a great fit in the starting lineup. The team also welcomes another newcomer, forward Shaquille Thomas. Thomas is a redshirt freshman from Paterson, New Jersey and comes in to the program at 6’7” and 177 lbs. Last year at NIA Prep, he averaged 28 points and 8 assists per game. He was tabbed the 20th best small forward in the country by Scout.com.

Tennessee-Martin is traveling to Cincinnati with a loss to Arkansas-Little Rock already under their belt. The Skyhawks will be looking to get their footing back so that they don’t start the season 0-2. However, the match up does not bode well for their cause.

The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports Ohio and will be a good chance for Cincinnati fans that didn’t get a chance to catch the team in exhibition play to get a look at their hometown team for the first time this season.