Cincinnati Bearcats vs Temple Owls Preview.

The Cincinnati Bearcats Men’s Basketball team will look to extend their winning streak to nine games tonight as they take on the Temple Owls (5-9, 0-3).

After the team got embarrassed, by their rival Xavier Musketeers on Dec 14th. The Bearcats have used that as motivation and since been on mission not to push around like they were that Saturday night at US Bank Arena.

As we said, they haven’t lost a game since. The Bearcats have a 15-2 overall record and 4-0 in the new AAC (American Athletic Conference). Yesterday, they move into the top 25 for the first time this season.

The 19th ranking is the first time the team has been ranked since they were high at number eight in the country last season.

The team is led by their stinging defense.

They are ranked sixth overall in the nation in points allowed, giving up 56.2 per game and remarkably have held their last 24 opponents to under 70 points.

Not only the defense has carried them, but the offense has started to score consistently, which has been the problem for this team this season.

The freshman have stepped up big time and the veterans on the team have all the confidence in the world in them.

Freshman point guard Troy Caupain has been a big contributor, giving the offense a life in his ability to lead fast breaks. Caupain dropped 14 points in the team’s win over Rutgers on Saturday.

Even though, the team is playing at a high level in these last eight games, they’re best player and leader is in a deep shooting slump from the arc. Senior gurad Sean Kilpatrick leads the AAC in points per game with 18.4, thanks to the number of free throws he has made, but Kilpatrick has gone 4 for 33 from the arc in the last five games. The Bearcats must have their reliable scorer snap out of this funk.

Head Coach Mick Cronin wants Kilpatrick to take more shots inside. I totally agree with Cronin, he has strength to go the down the hole with force.

Their opponent tonight the Owls have three players, who averaged at least 16.0 ppg. So, expect a good game tonight at fifth third. Bearcats must keep an eye on Dalton Pepper and Quenton DeCosey.

A win tonight over Temple would leave the Cats at 5-0 in conference play for the first time since the 2002-2003 season, and would extend their home winning streak to 15 games.

Tip off is at 9pm on CBS Network or listen to it on 700 WLW.