Cincinnati Bearcats Lose, Don’t Say That Often

Feb 8, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs forward Ben Moore (34) blocks a shot by Cincinnati Bearcats guard Sean Kilpatrick (23) during the first half of a men

Going into Dallas Saturday night the Cincinnati Bearcats were playing their second game in three days thanks to some wonderful scheduling by the American Athletic Conference. While that is no excuse for their performance it certainly played a role. After winning 15 in a row and squeaking their last 4 wins out this was bound to happen. Cincinnati would lose to SMU 76-55.

Infront of a raucous SMU crowd that only measured 7,278 the Bearcats struggled all night. The first half saw Cincinnati down by 14 at the half after a dismal performance. From the start Cincinnati only appeared to be interested in shooting threes, as soon as SMU started to force the Bearcats to play half court Cincinnati stopped trying to get in the paint and headed to the perimeter, that would be fine if Cincinnati didn’t have a .427 field goal percentage. Sean Kilpatrick made a few but the team went 16% from beyond the arc and shot 35% from field goal range.

As shot after shot clanged off the rim, Cincinnati started to get frustrated. Mick Cronin picked up a technical in the first half after initially arguing a bogus call Jermaine Lawrence, Cronin shut his mouth and stood there only to have an AAC official look at him a T him up. That comes as no surprise considering how awful the refs have performed this season.

In the second half it was much of the same, Cincinnati got out worked, out played and showed that they were soft. Cronin told the media after the game that the Bearcats had to be physical from here on out and he is completely right. If the Bearcats want to advance in March they need to be physical, and hope AAC officials aren’t calling their games.

There isn’t much to say about last night, Cincinnati got beat it happens. Although everyone that tweeted “Fire Cronin” needs to go. In fact they can join the SMU student section because neither group is educated in basketball. A pivot isn’t a travel students, just stop. And buy some SMU gear, the whole jerseys from other sports thing is so ironic not even hipsters think its cool.

Cincinnati gets a much needed break and will return to the court next Saturday against Houston at 3:00pm in Fifth Third Arena, surely ranked in the mid to low teens.