The Cincinnati Bearcats are a study in contrasts this year. \u00a0After the brawl with Xavier they regrouped and played very good basketball, so good they surprised Syracuse in the Big East Tournament.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
#6 Cincinnati Bearcats (24-10) vs #11 Texas Longhorns (20-13) Matchup<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Preview<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Cincinnati<\/strong><\/p>\n Still this team can be limited, especially if they are not allowed to play the physical brand of basketball they are accustomed to and is accepted in the Big East. \u00a0These guys are a real question mark heading into the Big Dance.<\/p>\n The key for Cincy is Yancy Gates. \u00a0The senior forward is the most intimidating presence in all of college basketball and this year he has been more productive than ever before. \u00a0Texas does not have anyone who can move him away from where he wants to go in the post and they should keep feeding him.<\/p>\n He has to play smart though, offensive fouls totally take him off his game. \u00a0They need a post presence to balance what can be a sporadic perimeter offense. \u00a0[soliloquy id=”82219″]<\/p>\n Texas<\/strong><\/p>\n Texas must have pictures of someone on the Selection Committee members or else how would they be here. \u00a0It was nice that they beat Iowa State in the Big 12 tournament but I didn\u2019t think that would be enough to get them an invite. \u00a0That was the only time all year they beat a ranked team and they were just .500 in the Big 12 regular season.\u00a0\u00a0[soliloquy id=”82219″]<\/p>\n This team is solid but well below what we have seen from the Longhorns in the past.<\/p>\n The only chance the Longhorns have is if guard J\u2019Covan Brown can go off. \u00a0He is more than capable with four 30 or more point games this year but the Big 12 is not exactly known as the toughest league on defense.<\/p>\n He scores almost twice as many points as second leading scorer Sheldan McLellan and can carry the team for a game if center Clint Chapman and whoever else they throw at Gates can be effective.<\/p>\n
\nFriday March 16
\nEast Region – Nashville, TN
\n12:15PM
\nMoneyline: \u00a0No money line currently posted.
\nSpread: \u00a0Cincinnati -2
\nO\/U: \u00a0129.5<\/strong><\/p>\n