BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: CINCINNATI @ NOTRE DAME

January 15, 2008


The Cincinnati Bearcats wake up this morning tied for 1st place in the Big East conference standings with a 3-1 record in conference play. Already with wins over Louisville, Syracuse and Villanova, Mick Cronin and his squad will look to add Notre Dame to the list of victims.

Mike Brey and his club return home after being pasted by Marquette in the Bradley Center on Saturday, 92-66. Saturday was the first road game of the season for the Irish, who have been dominant at home. They will look to get back on track tonight and move into a tie atop the conference standings.

Here are the local media previews on tonight's game:

Long Road Just Beginning (Cincinnati Enquirer)
Despite Start, Cronin Guarded (Enquirer)
From Stout to Big Drought (Chicago Tribune)
Match-up: Cincinnati @ Notre Dame (Chicago Tribune)


Notre Dame started Big East play with home wins over West Virginia and Connecticut, stretching their Joyce Center win streak to 30 games. The win over UConn was the team's 10th straight victory. They had a chance to seize control of the conference when they headed to Milwaukee to face Marquette, but the Golden Eagles showed the Irish how tough life is on the road in the conference, handing them a 92-66 loss.

Cincinnati is one of the few conference teams with an 'unexpected' road win. The Bearcats opened the Big East conference schedule with a win at Louisville. The Bearcats have shown that win was not a fluke by protecting their home court with wins over Syracuse and Villanova last night and have earned a surprising 3-1 record in conference play.

The Bearcats will certainly have their hands full in the lane with Notre Dame sophomore big man Luke Harangody. The 6'8, 250 lb power forward is averaging over 24 PPG and 13 rebounds in his three Big East contests. Harangody is an ox in the paint and uses nearly flawless fundamental post moves to score against players of all sizes in the paint.

Harangody is aided by a very capable inside/out game with Kyle McAlarney, a junior sharp-shooter, and a senior power forward Rob Kurz who takes some rebounding and post scoring pressure off.

Cincinnati's start has been ignited by the hot-shooting of Deonta Vaughn. The stocky sophomore is averaging almost 23 PPG in the first four conference contests and was voted the Big East Player of the Week in our latest Big East Bloggers Power Poll after averaging 27 PPG in wins over Syracuse and Villanova.

The Bearcats like t keep the score in the lower 60's and point guard Jamual Warren controls the tempo and allows Vaughn to play off the ball in a role to score points. Mick Cronin uses several freshmen in the mix, including Rashad Bishop and Anthony McClain, but the Bearcats also got a big lift from Alvin Mithcell in their win over Villanova, adding another weapon to th emix.

The oddsmakers really like Notre Dame, making them a 12-pt favorite. The Irish score a lot of points on their home floor, but this is the first defensive-minded team that will be paying them a visit. However, coming off the lopsied loss, look for the Irish to be after it themselves on the defensive side and the comforts of home should cure any of their shooting woes that hit on Saturday.

NBE Blogger Prediction: Notre Dame 77 Cincinnati 63