NCAA Betting Lines: Providence Friars and Cincinnati Bearcats
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
by Mike Stewart
Cincinnati Bearcats, loser of four of its last six, needs to bounce back from its worst defensive effort to keep hopes of a second straight NCAA Tournament berth solid. Luckily, Cincinnati begins a stretch of three straight home games, starting with a matchup against lowly Providence Friars.
The Bearcats have the edge in depth, as the Friars rely almost exclusively on their five starters. The biggest key will be whether Providence’s guards can handle the Bearcats’ pressure.
Cincinnati is fourth in the Big East in steals (8.2), while the Friars are fourth-worst in turnover margin (-1.6). Cincinnati has prevailed in the last two meetings after Providence won four of the first five. Yancy Gates had 21 points and eight rebounds, and Dion Dixon added 16 points in a 93-81 overtime win last season.
- Providence Friars @ Cincinnati Bearcats
When: 9:00 PM ET, Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Where: Fifth Third Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio
TV: ET, ESPNU
The Bearcats have opened as 11-point favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NCAA Basketball Odds.
Providence Friars (13-13): The Friars have lost three straight and seven of eight. Most of their woes can be attributed to the fourth-worst defense (68.3 points) in the Big East. Junior guard Vincent Council, the team’s leading scorer and lone upperclassmen in the starting lineup, leads the Big East in assists (7.4) and turnovers (3.6). Meanwhile, sophomore guard Bryce Cotton is the conference's best 3-point shooter at 40.9 percent, but he was 1-of-9 in Saturday's loss to South Florida. The frontcourt is led by outstanding freshman forward LaDontae Henton, who had been averaging 18.0 points and 7.2 rebounds over five games before being held to a season-low seven points against the Bulls.
Cincinnati Bearcats (17-8): The Bearcats are determined to redeem themselves after allowing a season-high 95 points in a loss to Marquette on Saturday. Cincinnati, which still boasts the fourth-best defense in the conference (61.5 points), had held 19 of its 24 opponents under 70 prior to that debacle. The Bearcats are one of the best in the league at ball security (11.0 turnovers – 3rd), but they shot themselves in the foot with 14 turnovers versus Marquette. Leading scorer Sean Kilpatrick, who averages a Big East-leading 2.7 3-point makes, will try to rebound after being held to a season-low seven points the last time out.
1. The Bearcats’ resume includes three road wins over teams that were ranked at the time (Georgetown, Pittsburgh and Connecticut). However, the latter two aren't as impressive given the Panthers' and Huskies' struggles.
2. Cotton (38.6) and Council (38.4) are second and third in the nation in minutes per game, respectively.
3. Cincinnati leads the conference in 3-point shooting (35.9 percent).
NCAA BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Bearcats 79, Friars 59.
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bryce cotton - cincinnati bearcats - dion dixon - fifth third arena - ladontae henton - providence friars - sean kilpatrick - vincent council - yancy gates
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