Bearcats Beat: Players to watch, keys to the game Saturday vs. Houston

CINCINNATI — At 8-5, the season isn’t over just yet for the Cincinnati Bearcats. But for a team, particularly its head coach, that came into this season with pressure to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019, time is running out to build a résumé. Had they handled business at home against Eastern Michigan in late November, maybe things would feel different going into Big 12 play. But this Bearcats team doesn’t have anything to really show that they could be an NCAA Tournament team.

Saturday, the Bearcats open Big 12 play against the vaunted No. 8 Houston Couagrs. The Bearcats haven’t beaten Houston in nearly six years. Their last win over the Cougars was February 1, 2020. Joe Burrow hadn’t even been to the NFL Combine at the time that year, let alone get drafted by the Bengals. COVID-19 was still in its early stages. It was the day before Patrick Mahomes won his first Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV. That’s how long ago that day was.

Anything can happen, but there is minimal hope amongst Bearcats fans of an upset Saturday afternoon.

Let’s look at the players to watch on Houston, keys to the game, and score prediciton for Saturday afternoon.

Players to Watch on Houston

1. No. 21: Emmanuel Sharp — 6-3, 205 lbs. R-Sr. Guard; Tampa, Fla.
Stats: 17 pts/gm., 3 rebs/gm., 46.1 FG%, 41.5 3-PT FG%, 85.1 FT%, 28.5 minutes

2. No. 4: Kingston Flemings — 6-4, 190 lbs. Fr. Guard; San Antonio (William J. Brennan High School)
Stats: 15.3 pts, 3.4 rebs, 64 ast.-24 TO, 27 stl, 56.4 FG%, 44.4 3-PT FG%, 80.5 FT%, 30.2 minutes

3. No. 7: Milos Uzan — 6-4, 195 lbs. Sr. Guard; Las Vegas, Nev.
Stats: 11.1 pts, 2.9 rebs, 35.9 FG%, 26.3 3-PT FG%, 78.6 FT%, 33.2 minutes

4. No. 5: Chris Cenac Jr. — 6-11, 240 lbs. Fr. Forward/Center; New Orleans (Link Academy in Branson, Mo.)
Stats: 9.4 pts, 7.4 rebs, 48.6 FG%, 40.9 3-PT FG%, 11-18 fT, 23.8 minutes

5. No. 11: Joseph Tugler — 6-8, 230 lbs. Jr. Forward; Monroe, La. (Cypress Falls HS in Houston)
Stats: 7.8 pts, 5 rebs/gm., 24 blk, 52.9 FG%, 1-1 3-PT FG, 11-16 FT, 22.1 minutes

6. No. 25: Mercy Miller — 6-4, 200 lbs. So. Guard; Los Angeles
Stats: 5.1 pts, 1.5 rebs, 48.1 FG%, 6-19 3-PT FG, 10-12 FT, 11.5 minutes

7. No. 24: Chase McCarty — 6-5, 215 lbs. R-Fr. Guard; Madison, Ala. (IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.)
Stats: 3.5 pts, 2.5 rebs, 31.1 FG%, 27% 3-PT FG, 7-9 FT, 11.3 mpg

Head Coach: Kelvin Sampson (12th Season, 311-85; 33rd Season. 736-312) — 70 years old
The culture Sampson has built in Houston is remarkable, and it has led to unprecedented success for the Cougars. Three straight No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament, two Final Fours in the last five seasons, seven straight NCAA Tournament appearances, six straight Sweet 16s, back-to-back Big 12 regular-season champions, 2025 Big 12 Tournament champions, and Sampson being Big 12 Coach of the Year in both of the Cougars first two seasons in the Big 12; that’s the winning pedigree Sampson has brought to Houston.

Sampson is a nationally acclaimed head coach, with two AP Coach of the Year Awards, two Henry Iba Awards, and the 2025 Sporting News Coach of the Year.

It’s not just at Houston where Sampson has worked his magic. He was the head coach at Indiana for two seasons, at a time where the Hoosiers needed stability. Sampson took them to the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 in 2007. Prior to Indiana, Sampson led Oklahoma for 12 seasons, taking the Sooners to the Final Four in 2002 and the Elite Eight in 2003. The Sooners made the NCAA Tournament in 11 of Sampson’s 12 seasons. Before going to Norman, Sampson led Washington State for seven seasons, leading the Cougars to the NCAA Tournament in 1994.

In addition to his lucractive college coaching career, Sampson was an NBA assistant for six seasons. He spent three seasons each at the Milwaukee Bucks and Houston Rockets, leading both teams to the Playoffs.

Sampson began his coaching career at Michigan State as a graduate assistant for two seasons.

Keys to the Game

1. Have a plan
The Bearcats need to have some sort of gameplan that’s intentional and clear. They can’t just go out there and feel Houston out for the first half and then make adjustments for the second half. This game requires a clear and obvious gameplan.

2. Shot selection
This is not a game where the Bearcats can hoist up a bunch of three-pointers. They need to somehow work the ball into the paint and get high-percentage shots to keep up with Houston’s relentlessness.

3. Don’t get sped up
The Cougars move the ball with a lot of zip and pop. Cincinnati can’t get sped up and frantic as a result of how Houston plays because that will lead to turnovers. Houston will feast on turnovers.

4. Be relentless
Cincinnati has to match Houston swing for swing. The Cougars will keep coming at them, as they do every opponent. Keep punching back, and the Bearcats could have a chance in this game.

Score Prediction: Cougars 82 — Bearcats 58
The Bearcats have played Houston tough in recent seasons, but this team just doesn’t have the horses, talent, or coaching to totally compete with this Cougars team. This game could get out of hand very quickly, and, unfortunately, set the tone for what could be a long and disastrous Big 12 season for the Bearcats.