CINCINNATI — Despite missing Dan Skillings Jr. to an injury the third-year Bearcat sustained in Monday night’s season-opener, the Bearcats shot 60 percent from the floor in their 83-56 win over Morehead State on Friday night at Fifth Third Arena.
Bearcats head coach Wes Miller said after the game that Skillings’s knee swelled between after the game Monday night and Tuesday’s film session. Miller added that he didn’t have a big update on Skillings’s condition and that he would provide one potentially next week.
Although the Bearcats still managed to win by 27 points, Skillings’s absence was definitely noticeable. Cincinnati, which Miller says hangs its hat on rebounding, only tied Morehead State 30-30 on the glass Friday night. Worse, the Bearcats trailed 11-5 in offensive rebounding.
“To not have one offensive rebound after 32 minutes of play, you guys know me well now, that frustrates me,” Miller said. “Dan’s [Skillings Jr.] not playing. He’s a terrific offensive rebounder, but one guy shouldn’t affect our ability to get to the board. I don’t want to be the Negative Nancy just to be the Negative Nancy, but I didn’t think that we rebounded to our standard tonight.”
Day Day Thomas, who aggravated his broken foot sustained in last year’s NIT Tournament, also didn’t play on Friday night. Miller said that Thomas progressed this week, and he added that it wouldn’t be surprising if Thomas made his season debut next Friday night when the Bearcats host Nicholls State.
The Bearcats front court led the way offensively Friday night, including a career-high 13 points from USC transfer Arriten Page. Page was also 7-8 from the free-throw line, on a night where the Bearcats were a much better 11-15 as a team.
“AP works hard and he practices hard, so I think it just translates on the court,” Miller said. “That’s the kind of player AP is. He’s someone we can depend on, count on, and he’s a big presence for us. AP works hard every day in the gym, practice, workouts, whatever it is. We’ve all got confidence in him, and he helps us a lot.”
It wasn’t just Page, though, who had a solid night on Friday. Texas transfer Dillon Mitchell was one of three Bearcats to lead the team with 14 points in a perfect 7-7 shooting performance. Mitchell also led the team in rebounds with nine. Wes Miller called Mitchell a difference maker on both ends of the floor.
“It’s fun playing in front of the [Bearcats] fans, I think that’s what’s most fun and showing out,” Mitchell said. “It’s the reason why we go so hard for the name across our chest, like I said before. I usually don’t get nervous before games, but it’s fun. It’s a lot of fun.”
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Aziz Bandaogo had 12 points, on 5-6 shooting, and five rebounds to continue his solid start to the season.
Look, non-conference games can feel like a slog. You’re playing games against teams that are considered low-major to mid-major schools at best. And sometimes, especially on a Friday night in early November, it can be hard to create a high level of energy to go out and dominate opponents.
Whereas Monday night was an offensive domination, Friday night saw the Bearcats defense completely shut down Morehead State’s offense for much of the game. The Bearcats led by as many as 34 points, and the Eagles didn’t cross 30 points until over six minutes into the second half. Morehead State shot just 35.7 percent from the field and 4-14 from three-point range. On Friday night, the Bearcats did what they needed to do; dominate a Morehead State team that entered this season without their top five scorers from a season ago.
If there’s one thing that stands out about this Bearcats team through the first two weeks of the season, it’s that they are a really good passing team. They don’t just pass the ball a lot, they make smart passes. This Bearcats team is really good at making the extra pass.
Earlier this week, I was remembering how former Bearcats head coach John Brannen wanted to implement an offensive system that would invigorate the fanbase and capture their hearts. Part of that system emphasized taking the first available good shot. We all know how those two years went for the Bearcats. Those Bearcats teams turned the ball over way too much.
This version of the Bearcats, they stress every part of an opposing defense. It’s not just because the Bearcats are athletic and versatile. This team is smart with the basketball. They don’t take the first available good shot; they take the best shot. Them making the extra pass allows them to pass up good shots for great shots.
Friday night, the Bearcats had 18 assists to just four turnovers. That’s why Wes Miller emphasizes offensive rebounding. That, combined with not turning the ball over, is going to give the Bearcats a significant possession advantage.
Through two games, you have to like what this Bearcats team is doing, can do and continue to improve upon. The health of two of their top three scorers is a concern right now, but Jizzle James, Simas Lukosius, Dillon Mitchell and the rest of the team look more than capable of carrying it without Skillings and Thomas if they need to.
