Bearcats Beat: Players to watch, keys to the game at West Virginia Tuesday night

CINCINNATI — It may have been Saturday or never for this Cincinnati Bearcats men’s basketball team. Beating Houston Saturday would have been a huge confidence boost this program has lacked for the last several seasons. After all this team has endured this season as far as wins and losses are concerned, they could have set the tone for Big 12 play by beating the team that has become the measuring stick for every other team in the conference. Instead, it was more of the same for the Bearcats. This has been the Wes Miller experience. Show promise in flashes, but not when the game is on the line.

Tuesday night, the Bearcats hit the road for the first time in Big 12 play this season when they take on the West Virginia Mountaineers. This is a winnable game for the Bearcats, and they really need to take advantage of that. If they drop this game, things could get really bad within the program. Like, unraveling bad.

Let’s look at the players to watch on West Virginia, keys to the game, and score prediction for Tuesday night.

Players to watch on West Virginia

1. No. 3: Honor Huff — 5-10, 165 lbs. Sr. Guard; Brooklyn, N.Y. (Chattanooga Transfer)
Stats: 16.6 pts, 1.4 rebs, 39.6 FG%, 40% 3-PT FG, 81.5 FT%, 33.6 mpg

2. No. 13: Chance Moore — 6-6, 210 lvs. 5th-Year Guard; Brookhaven, Ga. (St. Bonaventure Transfer)
Stats: 12.9 pts, 6.3 rebs, 47.9 FG%, 2-11 3-PT FG, 77.5 FT%, 23.6 mpg

3. No. 0: Brenen Lorient — 6-9, 215 lbs. Sr. Forward; Ocala, Fla. (North Texas Transfer)
Stats: 10.7 pts, 5.7 rebs, 22 blk, 54% FG, 36% 3-PT FG, 73.3 FT%, 27 mpg

4. No. 52: Treysen Eaglestaff — 6-6, 205 lbs. Sr. Guard; Bismarck, N.D. (North Dakota Transfer)
Stats: 9.1 pts, 4.3 rebs, 39.3 FG%, 30.9 3-PT FG%, 70% FT, 24.2 mpg

5. No. 1: Jasper Floyd — 6-3, 195 lbs. Sr. Guard; Tampa, Fla. (North Texas Transfer)
Stats: 7.9 pts, 3.3 rebs, 50 ast.-34 TO, 31 stl, 43.5 FG%, 40% 3-PT FG, 71.1 FT%, 27.6 mpg

6. No. 55: Harlan Obioha — 7-0, 265 lbs. Sr. Center; Hoxie, Kan. (UNC Wilmington Transfer)
Stats: 6.3 pts, 5.5 rebs, 56.4 FG%, 59.1 FT%, 20.2 mpg

Head Coach: Ross Hodge (1st Season, 9-5; 3rd Season Overall, 55-29) — 45 years old
Hodge has brought his defensive tenacity from North Texas to Morgantown, where the Mountaineers are allowing just 61.6 points per game this season.

In two seasons as the Mean Green’s head caoch, Hodge led them to 46 wins and an NIT Semifinals appearance in 2025. Last season, North Texas was No. 3 in the country in allowing just 59.9 points per game, That was only 1.5 points per game more than national runners-up Houston.

Prior to his head coaching stint at North Texas, Hodge spent six seasons on the staff as the associate head coach. The Mean Green upset Purdue in the First Round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Hodge was also had assistant coaching stints at Arkansas State, Colorado State and Southern Miss.

Keys to the Game

1. Three-point shooting
West Virginia does allow opponents to shoot 35.3 percent from three-point range. If the Bearcats can knock down some open shots from beyond the arc, that will set themselves up for better looks in the paint.

2. Take care of the ball
Mountaineers’ opponents average 13.2 turnovers per game this season. Taking care of the ball will be a big key in Tuesday’s game.

3. Rebounding
Even though the Mountaineers average 36.1 rebounds per game, they allow just 32.1 Cincinnati is going to make a dent in this game on the glass, particularly Baba Miller.

4. Set the tone early
The Bearcats did this against Houston. Do it again Tuesday night, and it will put them in position to get a road win and get to .500 in Big 12 play.

Score Prediction: Bearcats 70 — Mountaineers 67
Whenever it feels like the season is going to completely unravel, the Bearcats have always responded in that situation in Wes Miller’s first four seasons. They need to respond again Tuesday night to keep the confidence within their team afloat. In what could be a physical battle, the Bearcats will pull this one out and get in the win column in Big 12 play.